Bleeding hell!!

Paulbav · 05-02-2004, 07:13 AM

Can somebody please help me I've just fitted new discs pads and ss hoses on my 89 3.2 but can't seem to get any pressure when i press the pedal!. I'm using racing blue fluid and have bled from all corners in the right order untill no more air has come out but still nothing! it has taken about 1 and a half litres of fluid now. Am i missing some thing?

Ta paul

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Did you press the pistins all the way in to get the new pads in? That might be your problem. The proper way is to push them in only far enough that you have a hard time to get the pads in. Almost like an interference fit. Pump each piston out without the pad installed, push it back carfully and wedge the pad back in. That should give you a rock solid padle.

Ingo

Paulbav · 05-02-2004, 07:25 AM

Hmmm pad were a tight fit when i fitted them and I can't pump them out as the pedal just goes straight to the floor yet it pumps the fluid through when the bleed valve is open!

masraum · 05-02-2004, 07:26 AM

What Ingo said. If you pump the pedal do they eventually get hard?

Par911 · 05-02-2004, 07:35 AM

Frozen calipers? Try to pry the pistons out further with a screwdriver.

Paulbav · 05-02-2004, 07:40 AM

if it were the calipers frozen would i not still have pressure at the pedal just inefective brakes??

Par911 · 05-02-2004, 08:38 AM

Quote:

if it were the calipers frozen would i not still have pressure at the pedal just inefective brakes??

It depends, usually you would still have some pressure. Just to make sure they aren't frozen get someone to look at the pistons while you depress the brake pedal. If the pistons move then its probably not a frozen caliper problem.

Quote:

Did you press the pistins all the way in to get the new pads in? That might be your problem. The proper way is to push them in only far enough that you have a hard time to get the pads in.

What Ingo said, the loss of pressure could be caused because your pistons are pushed too far. Make sure there is no space between your pistons, and brake pads. It should be a little difficult to put the new pads in, that's how tight the fit should be.
Did you try pumping the brake pedal with the pads out as Ingo suggested?

Paulbav · 05-02-2004, 02:14 PM

I'm doing this on my own so hard to see the calipers while pressing the pedal, but if i really pump the pedal it does get some pressure and if I move the car it will stop when pressing the pedal just not any where near as good as it should!! so I guess that the calipers are moving??

Paul

cyprusx · 05-02-2004, 02:23 PM

You can't pedal bleed the brakes by yourself. You have someone pump 5-7 times and on the last pump, hold the brake pedal to the floor and close the bleeder while the pedal is on the floor. Repeat for each corner and you will be good to go....

Paulbav · 05-02-2004, 02:25 PM

I have non return valves on the nipples and a friendy lump of wood to hold the pedal down normaly works fine! but not this time.

Paul

Jim Smolka · 05-02-2004, 03:49 PM

Bleed the rear brakes. Then put the old pads back in the calipers. Bleed system. See if the old pads close on the rotor. Remove old pads and see if the new pads will allow the system to bleed.

Steve W · Steve W's Garage

Air in the master cylinder? You could be pumping your own air in there back and forth.

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Why don't you get a friendly neighbor to help. I think it'll be very hard to get the bleeding right with just one person and the wood block method.

Cheers,
Ingo

350HP930 · 05-02-2004, 05:02 PM

Your one man bleeding operation is your problem.

+1 on getting someone to help you.

Even if you have return valves on the bleed nipples air can still be drawn back in through the bleed screw threads.

Vipergrün · 05:31 PM

The only way you can pedal bleed the brakes yourself is if you have Speed Bleeders installes in place of the original bleeder screws. These allow fluid out, but no air in. In your case, you MUST close the bleeder screw whilst fluid is coming out..... BTW, I have Speed Bleeders and they are absolutely terrific...

-B

Early_S_Man · 05-02-2004, 07:20 PM

You don't need speed bleeders or pressure-crap-hardware to bleed brakes by yourself!!! Some of you guys don't have ANY imagination, and apparently no clue how to improvise! Buy a new gadget seems to be your only modus operandi ...

I've been doing it 35+ years with a section of 2x2 braced against the seat ... never had a problem, yet!!!

David · David's Garage

MOTIVE, Motive, motive,........................

Guy911 · Guy911's Garage

Hey , I had the same problem some weeks ago , and after checking the manual, I've found out that you should not use the "pedal system" , but have to use a "bendix" system where you put airpressure in the oiltank.
Did this (in a friend garage) and all problems where solved right away.

maybe it's this ?

bye

Jim Smolka · 05-03-2004, 01:57 AM

Warren,

Don't be letting that information getting around. Having a buddy come over to help bleed brakes is a great reason to consume a couple of cold ones...

Paulbav · 05-03-2004, 03:20 AM

Ok I have had my dad round to help me this morning but still no joy, the calipers are not stuck or frozen as I can see them out and pushing the pads against the discs and if I really pump the brekes I do get pressure but as soon as I let off the Pressure goes! we bled the whole system again several times and there is no more air coming out. Is it possible that there is air in the master cylinder? and that I am just pushing it around the system and never getting it out??, I think that I'm getting to the stage of giving up now and crawling my way down to the local mechanic using the hand brake! as I figure that brakes arn't the best thing not to have faith in my own work!.

Paul