Brake problem

[dnova89]

Hi,

My right rear caliper bleeds fine, but when I move on to the left rear caliper, nothing comes out, does this mean I have to replace the brake line? My brake system is all fucked up right now, I got lots of air into it the first time because I did not check the master cylinder and I accidentally let it go dry.

Also when I connect the pressure bleeder to the master cylinder and open the bleeder nipple, the brake fluid comes out in a constant stream from the right rear caliper, but I noticed that the fluid level in the master cylinder and pressure bleeder does not go down. Also I found out that one of the hose clamp/brass connectors on my Motive bleeder leaked a bit.

Thanks!

[downernsp]

Start all over air in the system is very bad, you shoulfd of bench blead the master cylinder first.

[jlevie]

Bench bleeding the master is not a bad idea, but not strictly necessary. Stuff a rag under the outlets of the master cylinder and crack each line until fluid runs out. It will help to pump the brakes a time or two while doing this.

Lack of fluid from the left rear caliper will be a bad line or a plugged bleeder. You can remove the bleed screw and use a wire to make sure that the bleed orifice isn't plugged. You can loosen the soft line connection to see if the line is plugged. Be sure to use a flare wrench on the brake line fittings. Note that each rear caliper has two soft lines. One at the caliper and another above the subframe.

To completely flush the brake lines, push a measured 250cc through each rear caliper and 150cc through each front caliper.

[dnova89]

Thanks, I understand I need to start over with the brake bleeding, that's what I'm trying to do.

What do you mean by pushing 250cc? Is that an amount of pressure? How would I go about measuring that?

Thanks for the input!

[jlevie]

Those are the fluid quantities that you'd collect at each caliper in the process of flushing/bleeding the brakes. The numbers are conservative and will ensure that all of the old fluid (and any air) is flushed out of each brake line and caliper. Starting with a liter of fluid those quantities will leave enough to fill the reservoir. Since an opened container of brake fluid has the same lifetime as the fluid in the car, there's no reason to be stingy when bleeding the brakes.