trouble bleeding brakes [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: trouble bleeding brakes


maddmetalmike
Feb 14th, 04, 10:27 PM
here's the deal. today I went to try to bleed the brakes on my 70 el camino. I have done many brake swaps and repairs, recently, disc conversion on my 69 chevelle and the wife's 70 wagon. no problems.
so originaly I think I got a lame remanufactured power booster for the EC about 2 years ago but at the time had no choice but to go with it. knowing that the "feel" and the pedal travel on the wagon and the chevelle is way beter then the EC I thought I would investigate. first I played with the pedal linkage under the dash. went about 3/4 inch both directions only to have it go from bad to worse. so I put it where it was. then tried bleeding. I have one of those cheap self bleeder things that has seemed like a miricle on many other cars. I ended up doing it twice by myself, then finaly made the wife help for an hour and a half. I cannot seem to get the right rear bled. just when I get some steady fluid flow a bunch of air comes through and it starts all over. I have basicly gone through an entire quart of fluid just trying to get this farthest wheel bled. what am I missing?? I have done this many times with no problems and the brakes worked ok just a realy hard pedal. the brakes on the wagon and the velle are so good you can skid to a stop by laying your shoelace on the pedal. the 3 cars have the same components and I have done the same process on all. I did drain the rear res dry once so I am thinking I now need to bleed the master cyl. is this my problem??? it was doing the same thing for a long time before I ran it dry so I am tending not to think so. am I having a brainmelt?
also, when bleeding the rear the pedal only goes half way then seems like its up against a wall. but when I bleed the front it does go all the way to the floor. like I think it should. is this normal? unlike my other 2 cars this one is a factory disc, the others were just converted to factory stuff from front drum.
ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated befor I dive back in tomorow. thank's, mike

gnunzio
Feb 15th, 04, 7:40 AM
Mike I would bench bleed masster cylinder again reinstall. Close all fittings and lines tight pump pedal about 20 time with motor running. Do not let pedal go all the way to the floor about 1 inch from the floor. Shut the motor off open Rt Rr bleeder with cover off master cylinder. Let it gravity bleed for about 5 min. With bleeder open have someone press pedal down about on pedal 3/4 of the way close bleeder before releasing pedal. Go back to master cylinder have someone in the car and you at master crack open the lines at the master have them push down on pedal very very very slowly before they reach bottom of pedal travel close both line starting with the one closest to booster. Do this a few times may be three then bleed all 4 wheels normaly. Good luck Gary.