bleeding the brakes
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 276
From: Billings Montana
What wollow and 62 ford said. It is crucial that all brakes be correctly adjusted first. I have always adjusted them up till the wheel will not turn then backed of the adjusters until the wheel would turn again and you could hear a slight drag. And then with bleeding always close the bleed valve before the person holding the brake pedal down takes his foot off the brake to make another push. If he releases the brake before you close the bleeder you are just sucking air back into the wheel cylinder
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 298
Likes: 3
+1 for adjustment. Before bleeding, adjust every wheel (not just the one you're bleeding) until the shoes are tight against the drums and the wheels won't turn. Spend a long time bleeding the rear right, there could be an air bubble way up by the MC that takes a while to get out. If you do the first one right, the others will be easier. Once you're sure all the air is out you'll have a hard pedal that barely moves. Then adjust the drums to a slight drag.
But before all that, the MC does have to be properly bled.
But before all that, the MC does have to be properly bled.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 239
Likes: 3
Hi all,
So the basic problem is I have zero brake pressure. I replaced the wheel cylinders, filled the brake fluid, and went through about 6 rounds of trying to bleed the brakes. I followed the procedures online; I started with the one farthest from my master cylinder (right rear) and worked my way up to the closest. Every time i opened a bleeder valve it squirted fluid and i tightened it yet my Dad and I continuously got no pressure. We refilled the master cylinder after every round so we know that there is fluid going through the lines so now i need to know what my next step is? Am i doing something wrong? Am i better off sending it to a shop? I have spent a lot of frustrating time on these brakes and to be so close to finally having it on the road again only to run into this roadblock has been really annoying. Any ideas or recommendations?
So the basic problem is I have zero brake pressure. I replaced the wheel cylinders, filled the brake fluid, and went through about 6 rounds of trying to bleed the brakes. I followed the procedures online; I started with the one farthest from my master cylinder (right rear) and worked my way up to the closest. Every time i opened a bleeder valve it squirted fluid and i tightened it yet my Dad and I continuously got no pressure. We refilled the master cylinder after every round so we know that there is fluid going through the lines so now i need to know what my next step is? Am i doing something wrong? Am i better off sending it to a shop? I have spent a lot of frustrating time on these brakes and to be so close to finally having it on the road again only to run into this roadblock has been really annoying. Any ideas or recommendations?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Reno, Nv
Might sound trivial but make sure that your self adjusting screw is adjusted out to the right length. I just ran into a similar situation where I bleed and bleed and got no where until I adjusted the screw out a bit more and the pressure appeared.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Reno, Nv
Might sound trivial but make sure that your self adjusting screw is adjusted out to the right length. I just ran into a similar situation where I bleed and bleed and got no where until I adjusted the screw out a bit more and the pressure appeared.
"+1 for adjustment. Before bleeding, adjust every wheel (not just the one you're bleeding) until the shoes are tight against the drums and the wheels won't turn. Spend a long time bleeding the rear right, there could be an air bubble way up by the MC that takes a while to get out. If you do the first one right, the others will be easier. Once you're sure all the air is out you'll have a hard pedal that barely moves. Then adjust the drums to a slight drag.
But before all that, the MC does have to be properly bled."
sorry Inline66 stepped on your toes, good advice.
"+1 for adjustment. Before bleeding, adjust every wheel (not just the one you're bleeding) until the shoes are tight against the drums and the wheels won't turn. Spend a long time bleeding the rear right, there could be an air bubble way up by the MC that takes a while to get out. If you do the first one right, the others will be easier. Once you're sure all the air is out you'll have a hard pedal that barely moves. Then adjust the drums to a slight drag.
But before all that, the MC does have to be properly bled."
sorry Inline66 stepped on your toes, good advice.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Sounds like it could be an issue downstream of the wheel cylinder to me too, but this is puzzling to me as well. *getspopcorn*
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