brake help needed

[jimthebin]

dear all

i am about to head from cambridge to somerset in my 1970 bay with drum brakes front and rear, but to be honest if things don't get better soon the holiday is off.

i my brakes were never great, i have recently put new cylinders and pipes at the front and all the back ones are fine, all the pads are good, but when i hit the pedal there is a definate spongy feeling before the brakes kick in, they are there and if you pump it twice they are really hard

if you read everything this is from the air in the fluid compressing
i have bled my brakes for around about 4 hours but still get air what the f@ck am i doing wrong i have a non return pipe on the nipples and have read most things

help please please

jimthebin

help please or the van is going to get a kicking

 

[Joval]

Are you holding the pipe with the valve above the level of the system when bleeding?

Any damp patches around the master cylinder?

 

[67 BAY]

Sounds like they want adjusting

 

[Clarkson46]

If there is no air coming out of the bleed nipples, then the system is bled. As 67 Bay puts it, your brakes need adjusting. Read your manual and it will explain how to adjust the brakes front and rear. You will be amazed the difference it makes.

 

[Bookwus]

Hiya Jim,

Anytime you're thinking about bleeding the brakes, make sure that you first go around to each wheel and adjust them. This creates more pressure quickly in the braking hydraulic system and forces any trapped air in the fluid out the bleeder valve.

Also it's a very good idea to run a clear plastic hose from the bleeder valve (fit it tightly around the head of the bleeder valve) down into a receptacle (a 2 litre soda bottle is ideal) that is already partially filled with brake fluid. This will allow you to observe the actual bleed, will help to prevent air from "backwashing" into the bleeder valve, and it's heckuva lot neater.

 

[jimthebin]

there is a little bit of air in the front of the system when i bleed it , it has just had a new master cylinder which is dry all the pipes from the cylinder are dry so why have i got air?

am i cracking the nipple too much?? i seem to get a big bubble every time i pump it

i have been bleeding with a clear pipe with a non return valve, can i get air in evern if no fluid is comming out???

 

[Joval]

I know the pipe/valve you have, I have the same - just crack the nipple open a tiny bit, and hold (or tie up) the valve above the level of the
cylinder, give it a couple of pumps until you hear the squirt.
When the pipe is full of fluid tighten up the nipple.

I have these now -

http://www.mpsracing.com/products/Earls/Solo-Bleed.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Makes brake bleeding a pleasure, it only takes seconds. :mrgreen:

 

[chrisby]

I always adjust them all first,then bleed with a length of plastic tubing stuck in a hole through the screwtop of an old jam jar partially filled with fluid.I then get someone to pump the brake pedal a few times,to get some resistance,then I open the valve just enough for the fluid to pass .The person on the pedal does 3 strokes and on the 3rd holds it down,I then close the valve. Repeat this again until no more bubbles appear in the jar,move onto next one.
I have tried the tube with the none return valve and found it left the pedal feeling spongy.
Joval : Those valves look like a good piece of kit, I will replace mine next time I have to work on my brakes.What sizes did you order (mines 71 Westy).

 

[Joval]

Can't remember, have a pair of rears here if you want them £10 delivered - the fronts are different...

 

[chrisby]

Joval,PM sent

 

[Araon]

Nice link

 

[froggy]

I always adjust them all first,then bleed with a length of plastic tubing stuck in a hole through the screwtop of an old jam jar partially filled with fluid.I then get someone to pump the brake pedal a few times,to get some resistance,then I open the valve just enough for the fluid to pass .The person on the pedal does 3 strokes and on the 3rd holds it down,I then close the valve. Repeat this again until no more bubbles appear in the jar,move onto next one.
I have tried the tube with the none return valve and found it left the pedal feeling spongy.
Joval : Those valves look like a good piece of kit, I will replace mine next time I have to work on my brakes.What sizes did you order (mines 71 Westy).

Think your method might be the problem, pumping the pedal with the valve open will allow any air to travel back into the system.
I usually get the wife to pump the pedal a few times until it hard then keep it pressed, open the bleed nipple and with the pedal still pressed down close the valve, pump the pedal again until hard and repeat, normally 3 or 4 times per wheel and its all good.

 

[jimthebin]

thanks for all the help off on my hols now

thanks again

jimthebin