replaced rear calipers and have no pedal pressure now

[LMHmedchem]

Hello,

One of my rear calipers was frozen up pretty good and I decided to just replace both calipers along with the pads and rotors. The repair went fairly smoothly. I put a plug in the brake hose after I removed the banjo bolt. The plug didn't fit very well and the hose still dripped a bit.

When I had finished the drivers side,

- hooked up a hand vacuum pump
- opened the bleeder screw a 1/2 turn
- I tried to put some vacuum on the line, but it wouldn't hold any
- I pressed the brake pedal until fluid came out into the tubing and then put one some vacuum
- pressed the braked pedal a couple of times to make sure fluid was coming out the hose
- closed the bleeder screw
- pressurized the brake pedal

All of this seemed to work. I didn't do much of a test other than to go back and forth a bit in the driveway but the brakes seemed fine.

Today I did the passengers rear. Everything went well again with the repair except that I didn't notice that my plug had fallen out. This resulted in more brake fluid in my pan. Oddly, when I checked the reservoir, the level had not gone down, which is a bit disturbing.

I repeated the same procedure as above, but I was not able to get much of any fluid to come out into the tubing. There was a little, but I was never able to create any vacuum with my pump and I never got any solid flow. I cannot pressurize the brake system at all with the pedal. It just goes straight to the floor. Again, the level of fluid in the reservoir has not gone down at all.

I am not sure what to do now. I guess I need a more involved bleeding procedure but I don't know where to start.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

LMHmedchem

 

[drdoom]

Maybe if you bleed it some more it will come around. Have an assistant. But if air went into the ABS you will probably need to "Use The ForScan, Luke..."

 

[LMHmedchem]

Maybe if you bleed it some more it will come around. Have an assistant. But if air went into the ABS you will probably need to "Use The ForScan, Luke..."

Is there a write up on how to do that? I more or less understand what is happening but it would be nice to have some instructions.

I don't understand why I can't get much brake fluid to come out the bleeder. On the drivers side, I was able to get the tubing solidly filled for 6" or so, and then I closed the valve. On the passengers side, I have just got some intermittent bits to come out. Total there was a 1/4 cup or so. Maybe my little pump isn't any good. I was going to say that is sucks, but possibly it doesn't as the case may be

I also don't understand why the level in the reservoir has not gone down as much as I expect given the amount of fluid that has come out.

There is some pressure on the brake pedal when the engine is off. The pressure goes away immediately when I start it up. I don't know if that helps or not.

LMHmedchem

 

[Mbrooks420]

Did you mount the calipers upside down? (Left on the right, right on the left).

 

[LMHmedchem]

Did you mount the calipers upside down? (Left on the right, right on the left).

Not as far as I can tell. I would have expected to have had the same bleeding problem on the drivers side as well if I had done that.

LMHmedchem

 

[Mbrooks420]

Both bleeders point up from the tops of the calipers? It’s possible they sold you two drivers.

 

[LMHmedchem]

Both bleeders point up from the tops of the calipers? It’s possible they sold you two drivers.

I did the drivers rear yesterday. Before I started taking it apart, I took the caliper out of the box and compared it to the one that was still on the hub. I took note of the position of the bleeder, and it didn't match the one I had so I put it back in the box and took out the other one. The second one did match so I installed that one.

I don't think that they sent the wrong parts but I will look again. It is supposed to be Noah's Ark here tomorrow so it will probably not be until Sunday. My house predates the automobile by quite a bit so it doesn't have a garage. I guess the folks who lived here then couldn't afford a horse.

LMHmedchem

 

[Mbrooks420]

If both bleeders are at the highest point on the caliper they are correct.

I’d suspect you’ve got an air bubble trapped in the abs module as mentioned above. I’m surprised it won’t move fluid through it, though.

I believe the procedure is covered here somewhere on the forum. If you can get the ABS pump to activate while driving it should push the air out.

 

[Mbrooks420]

 

[LMHmedchem]

I decided to start again with the bleed. I did all the wheels in order again. This time I used the old fashioned method of a glass jar with about 1" of brake fluid in it and a simple hose connected to the bleeder. I put the other end of the hose in the jar below the level of the fluid and opened the bleeder. I pumped the pedal until I got a solid stream of fluid with no bubbles.

I got allot of air out of the wheel I was having trouble with. I got about 2" of fluid in the line and then a stream of bubbles. Eventually I got a stream of fluid without the bubbles. I had to pump the brake quite a bit and run about a quart of fluid into the reservoir. The other wheels were fine and gave fluid right away. I must have run nearly all the fluid out of that line. Next time I will be more careful about the plug.

Everything seems fine now. The pedal is very firm and the brakes work well. The next time I have it into the shop I may have them do an ABS bleed. I almost never have anyone to work with me when I do these things and some jobs are difficult without at lest a helper.

Now for a different question about the brakes...

Thanks for the advice.

LMHmedchem