General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

problem bleeding brakes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 17, 2011 | 05:45 PM
  #1  
whtnuklz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
Default problem bleeding brakes

I had my front calipers powder coated and rebuilt. Now everything is all back together and the fronts aren't holding very well and the pedal goes to the floor. Since the system drained out while the calipers were off I bled the entire system. I bled the master and then used a tech2 to auto bleed the ABS. Everything went fine it seemed but I can still turn the front rotors by hand when the pedal is pressed. The backs are holding and will not turn. The pedal feels good but will go all the way to the floor.

I bled the brakes again but the fronts are not building pressure. When opening the front bleeders after pumping the pedal the fluid just runs out with no pressure, on the rears it has good pressure. The thing that has thrown me off is doing the ABS bleed there was good flow from each caliper and everything seemed good. What could be causing this? Is there a proportioning valve in the system that could be stuck and cutting fluid to the front? I'm a little lost now
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2011 | 10:34 PM
  #2  
whtnuklz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
Default

what would cause weak fluid flow to the front calipers??? I pulled the master cylinder off and checked it out it seems to be working as it should. I really have no idea what the problem is does anyone have an idea?
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2011 | 10:40 PM
  #3  
joshp14's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
From: WDM, Iowa
Default

Still got air in there or the master cyl is bypassing. I would let it gravity bleed for a little while, then manually bleed with an assistant. After you do that, then perform the auto bleed with tech 2.

IIRC, prop valve is internal to the BPMV, but I cant remember for sure.
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2011 | 10:47 PM
  #4  
whtnuklz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
Default

This thing is a real PITA. I guess I'll try bleeding it again tomorrow after work and see if it gets better.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2011 | 01:03 PM
  #5  
1 FMF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: CT
Default

"gravity bleed" won't help with anything, as fluid drains out because of gravity the air bubble in the lines just rises and stay in there. If you got air in the lines it helps to have a pressure bleeder attached to the master to force fluid through the system, to push the air through the lines and out the caliper bleeder. Or if the scan tool commanding the abs module to purge flows enough fluid then you may be able to use that. I would push a 1/2 quart through left front and 1/2 qt through right front.
You need to get a good fluid flow to push air down the lines,
doing the method of pump pedal-stop-open & close bleeder-repeat doesn't move fluid fast enough if you got air way up in the lines, it only really works for pushing fluid into the caliper and pushing air out of just the caliper.
Other than that, look for leaks or you have a bad master.

yes, the proportioning is all done in the brake pressure modulator valve.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2011 | 05:27 PM
  #6  
joshp14's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
From: WDM, Iowa
Default

Gravity bleeding is an ok method to START with if you dont have access to a pressure bleeder...which most people dont. Thats also assuming you didnt loose a lot of fluid completly draing the M/C.

The pump method works fine if you do it properly, it just takes a little extra time. Obviously everyone would love to have a pressure bleeder, but a decent one isnt cheap.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2011 | 06:50 PM
  #7  
1 FMF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: CT
Default

other problem with "gravity bleeding", no offense not directed at you josh, is you have to leave the cap off the master cylinder and the caliper bleeders open if you don't have the lines disconnected. And you are leaving it off and open for a significant amount of time... brake fluid absorbs moisture, and the longer you have the system open the more moisture and water is getting into the brake fluid and contaminating the system. It's no different than leaving a bottle of brake fluid with the cap off. So I highly recommend against the gravity bleed idea, i think you're better off just pumping the brake pedal with the bleeders open or lines off to move the fluid down the lines. Then perform the normal bleed procedure to get the little last bit of air out of the calipers, or use solo-bleeds, or a pressure/vacuum bleeder kit. The whole point is moving brake fluid at a significant enough speed to push and force the air down the lines and out the end. remember the master cylinder is the highest point of the system and the air bleed point is the lowest point of the system, fortunately cold brake fluid is viscous enough to push the air downward. This applies to any hydraulic system- brakes, clutch, power steering, log splitter, etc.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2011 | 06:30 PM
  #8  
whtnuklz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
Default

Well I have made some progress just bleeding them like normal; pumping the pedal and cracking the bleeders. I finally have a good pedal but its just taking for ever and I still have to bleed it more to get the all the air out
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:46 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE