OK, so I gutted the hold off valve. It's nothing more than a brass fitting now. I took the line off at the junction block and it squirts fluid. I hook it all back up, and I still can't get fluid to the rear. What gives???:confused:

Maybe you still have some air trapped in the master cylinder. Try to bleed it out a little at the master cylinder bleeders then gravity bleed the rear brakes.

Only thing now is the master cylinder. Make sure you're getting pressure from it and that it is bled.

rear rubber line collapsed on the inside not letting fluid through?

Thanks for the info guys. I'm leaning towards the master. Maybe my bench bleed sucked. There aren't any fittings on it, so it has to be bled out of the line outlets. Fluid will make it to the rear once out of every 20 or 30 pumps on the pedal. The line has been open on the right rear all day yesterday and all night last night. It just won't gravity bleed. Further, if I remove the line going into the hold-off, I'll get one squirt, then nothing no matter how many times you pump it. This is most aggravating as it's the only thing holding me up from driving my new Convertible! For the record, every piece on this brake system is new except the distribution block. But like I said, removing the rear outlet line there seems to squirt just fine. Maybe I should see if it squirts multiple times or just the once. I feel I'm one part away from fixing this thing, but I can't figure out which part it is. I'll be back!

Well wait, when you are testing at all these points, you do have the line submerged in fluid, correct? Needless to say, if you didn't you DEFINITELY need to bench bleed again.

I pulled the rear outlet line at the distribution block and it only squirted what gravity would allow. Repeated pumps on the pedal squirted air, and the reservoir was full. Off to get a new master.

I pulled the rear outlet line at the distribution block and it only squirted what gravity would allow. Repeated pumps on the pedal squirted air, and the reservoir was full. Off to get a new master.


Did you bench bleed the master cylinder? Sounds like it just needs to be bled.

I have successfully bled them in the past, but I think I unsuccessfully did this one. How exactly do you bench bleed a master?

I have successfully bled them in the past, but I think I unsuccessfully did this one. How exactly do you bench bleed a master?


You need to run the port directly into master cylinder. Go to a parts store and they should have a very cheap kit with fittings and a rubber hose. You screw one fitting into the front port and another into the rear port. Make sure they are fairly tight so no fluid leaks (and more importantly no air can get by).

Then push the hose over the nipple on the fittings and run the hose into the master cylinder. Fill the master cylinder to about 1/4" from the top. Make sure the hoses are submerged in fluid. Then slowly push the MC plunger in and slowly let off. Keep your eyes on the hoses to make sure no air is being sucked back in. Keep doing this until NO bubbles come out of the hoses. You will know if you do it correctly because the second you take the fittings off to hook the brake lines back up, fluid will start to flow from the ports, that is gravity bleeding:thumbsup:

I can not stress to take your time enough! When I did my first bench bleed I was SURE I was done in a minute but once everything was hooked up, I had a hell of a time getting fluid to flow. This last time I did it, I did it for about 5 minutes, tapped the master cylinder and did it for another 5 minutes. I knew the second I hooked everything up that it had worked because not only did I ONLY have to gravity bleed my brake system, but it also found leaks without me even pushing the pedal, the way a hydraulic system should be!

Oh, and this can be done on the vehicle, just make sure there is no vacuum in the booster and have someone slowly push the brake pedal as you watch the hoses.

Good Luck!

It appears that with nothing but air in the lines from the master down, it just needed a liitle boost. After pressure bleeding, it shoots a mean stream from the rear fittings. I didn't have this problem on my last Chevelle (both 70's with hold off's), so I didn't think anything special was required. Anyway, I now have brakes. Thanks to everyone for their input.

Jeff

Congrats!

Now go have some fun:thumbsup: