87 carrera- brake bleeding??

[VMAX1]

Is it possible to bleed the system without a pressured bleeder? I has used almost 2 quarts of fluid, using the family member style of bleeding. Pump up the brakes, some pressure about half pedal, open the rear cal. and the pedal stays, open the front cal. and the pedal goes to the floor? Is there a way to bleed the MC? Car has been sitting for 8 months and the system was drained. Any help appreciated...

[JeremyD]

May have a bad master cylinder. Sometimes pumping them can extend the seal and bang - you have air in the system.

Have you replaced hoses? Have you checked all the calipers for leaking?It's bad to drain a system and leave empty - easy to intrioduce corrosion.

[VMAX1]

why would the pedal hold when I bleed the back? Fluid comes out strong. When I bleed the front the pedal will go to the floor. I have about half pedal.. Nice car. Looks like mine except the steering wheel is switched.

[911mot]

Are you saying that when you open the rear bleed nipple and press the pedal, nothing happens. Pedal stays firm and no fluid comes out whichever side you try to bleed?

[911mot]

Re-reading your first post it sound like youre not doing it quite right. Try this method:
Start from the caliper furthest away from the master cylinder
Top up reservoir.
Open bleed nipple on caliper.
Press pedal down as far as it will go and hold it there.
Close bleed nipple.
Release pedal.
Open nipple.
Press pedal down as far as it will go and hold it.
Close nipple.
Release pedal
..continue until you get a steady stream of fluid from the nipple as the pedal is pressed.
Keep a third eye on the fluid level in the reservoir.
If you can't get fluid pumping out master could be shot.

Alternatively If you have a clear plastic bottle and a length of tubing and don't want to make a mess you can bleed them this way:
Fit tubing over nipple, with the other end submersed in a small amount of new fluid in the bottle. Open the nipple and pump pedal until bubbles stop coming out. Close nipple and move onto next caliper.
Good luck

[masraum]

you should get fluid from the nipple if someone is pressing the pedal, if you don't then something is wrong in the system. The '87 should bleed the same as any other pre ABS type car.

[creaturecat]

gravity bleeding has worked well for me.

[VMAX1]

should I not pump the brakes to get pressure then open the valve? Open the valve then press brake down? Pump brake pedal then open back caliper, good stream of fluid-pedal stays up about half. Pump pedal open the front and pedal goes to floor?

[Bill Verburg]

Problem w/ pumping the brakes is that the seals are pushed beyond their usual range, damage can easily result.

[911mot]

Originally posted by VMAX1
should I not pump the brakes to get pressure then open the valve? Open the valve then press brake down? Pump brake pedal then open back caliper, good stream of fluid-pedal stays up about half. Pump pedal open the front and pedal goes to floor?

That sounds normal and it's due to the split circuit braking system.
What's the pedal travel like in normal use?

[VMAX1]

half pedal is all I can get.

[VMAX1]

Don't really know about normal use-have'nt drove it

[Don Plumley]

Yes, you can bleed a Carerra brake system without a pressure bleeder. It is more convenient, but not a requirement.

However, as Bill pointed out, the downside is large - excess pedal travel may damage internal seals. Not sure how much rebuilding an MC costs, but a great pressure bleeder (Motive) is only about $45.

So in deference to 911MOT, I respectfully disagree with his instruction to "Press pedal down as far as it will go and hold it there"

As it seems you are in a RHD car, the order would be LR, RR, LF, RF.

But something smells like a problem in your MC.

Good Luck!

Don

[JeremyD]

On any 911 it would be passenger side rear, driver's side rear, passenger front, then driver's front.

[UK Carrera]

I'd go with the pressure bleeder.

Extending the pedal travel to bleed manually on my 88 without a pressure bleeder meant I had to replace the master cyclinder.

The pressure bleeder is cheaper and makes the job a doddle.

[Guavanecta]

Two words: SPEED BLEEDERS.

Makes this a 15 minute job.