Help with bleeding brakes
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Help with bleeding brakes
Brakes were stuck. Replaced both front calipers, pads and rubber brake hoses at the calipers. Bled the brakes two ways, with the bottle and hose method and the old school where you pump up, hold, crack the bleeder and repeat. Never could get peddle to feel great so started the truck just to see if some computer, sensor or whatever would make a difference and had no peddle at all,, or least a lot worse. A code popped up on the dash but couldn't read it good. Maybe was TDC. Or TBC. Any help would be great. Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
Order some Russell speed bleeders. IMHO the best thing since sliced bread for bleeding brakes. Takes about 30 minutes to install and bleed/change the brake fluid the first time and about 15 minutes or less from then on. I got 4 shipped to the house from Jegs for less than $20. Also take the time and flush your power steering fluid. Your brake pedal will be incredible.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
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Order some Russell speed bleeders. IMHO the best thing since sliced bread for bleeding brakes. Takes about 30 minutes to install and bleed/change the brake fluid the first time and about 15 minutes or less from then on. I got 4 shipped to the house from Jegs for less than $20. Also take the time and flush your power steering fluid. Your brake pedal will be incredible.
You wouldn't happen to remember the thread pitch or part number would ya?
Thanks
Joe
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From: Florida
Order some Russell speed bleeders. IMHO the best thing since sliced bread for bleeding brakes. Takes about 30 minutes to install and bleed/change the brake fluid the first time and about 15 minutes or less from then on. I got 4 shipped to the house from Jegs for less than $20. Also take the time and flush your power steering fluid. Your brake pedal will be incredible.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,369
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
All I know is that the hydroboost uses the powersteering pump as part of the brake system since there's no vacuum to power it. Flushing the fluid greatly improved my pedal. I bet one of our resident engineers can explain exactly why.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: N. Fort Worth, tx
Tim you pretty much spot on. Knowen issues with ps fluid causing poor performance with stoping do to hydroboost
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Didn't really see the answer, sorry. So are you saying there is still air in the system? That I need to bleed better? Thanks
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From: Middle Tn.
Did you bleed all 4 brakes? Start with the right rear first, then left rear, then front right and last, left right. Farthest to closest. I also installed a Magnefine filter in the ps return line after flushing. Brakes are at the top of the pedal with over 60,000 on the original pads and calipers. Incidentally, I always bleed with the engine running. Much quicker and easier that way. Never did get around to ordering Tim's speed bleeders but then that would take time away from my garage time. LOL
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
I don't remember the part number but they're easy to site reference from the vendor.
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master cylinder bleed
always be sure to do the "bench bleed" on the master cylinder (or the equivalent on the truck) the critical issue is not to push the cylinder more than an inch (3/4 to be safe), elsewise the rear piston sucks air due to generated vacuum and never will bleed properly. You see this by attaching a line to the output of the rear cylinder and running it back to the reservoir and pushing the cylinder all the way in. You will see continuous bubbles. If you only push it 1 inch it clears. Sometimes it may take 20 or more one inch pumps to get the rear cylinder bled. This can be very frustrating if the master cylinder is not bled properly to start.
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Do you have to bleed the rear if I only replaced the front calipers? And as far as doin it with the engine running, it did seem to have decent peddle until I started it.? What does bleeding with the engine running do?
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Joined: Aug 2001
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I use the Speedbleeders as well. Front and rear calipers are the same.
Josh
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
I only know of one way to bleed brakes and that's with the farthest wheel from the master cylinder first, just like 69CJ said. I've never done them with the engine running so that part I don't know.
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Brake pedal, engine running vs. not
Sort of the same question I guess. Brake pedal after bleeding felt pretty good until I started it. What would cause this? I didn't bleed the rear but I will tomorrow. Master cylinder may have gotten low so maybe some air in the back?