Loss of all Brake Fluid. Now brakes still soft after bleeding.

[Grandad]

I am new to this forum and would be grateful for any help.  I am a retired HGV mechanic and have, up to now, had no problems maintaining our two vehicles.  Now - I am at a loss and I think if I tell you how this came about you will get the picture -

My problem started like this -

1. Drove wife's car to quickly get to Docs - heard warning go and thought windscreen washer! It was not that warning and within minutes - no brakes.

2. Got back on tarmac drive and saw fluid leaked onto drive. Put car over my pit in garage.

3. NR Side rear hand brake mechanism on caliper leaking out. All fluid gone.

4. Replaced caliper and bled brakes.

5. Road tested - still not right. Pedal going straight down - but - ABS light out.

6. Bled brakes again and thought it all leads to MC gone.

So - I went to my local garage - mechanic and I have known each other for years.  (I had searched on web and found posts that seemed to indicate this needed to be done under pressure.) 

This is what we tried -

1. We wound back all caliper brake pad pistons and replaced all pads.
2. We then pressure bled brakes using a Sealey Pressure Tester from the Master Cylinder resevoir.
3. Bleeding calipers individually.
4. Removed about half pint of brake fluid from each caliper.

Checked brakes and they are still 'soft'. He came to conclusion I may need a new MC.

So......

One thing that is confusing me, after reading other posts on net AND the Haynes Manual, there seems to be for me a confusion as to whether I should bleed the Brake Master Cylinder also - which I have NOT yet done.  In the Haynes it states not to touch Master Cylinder.  BUT - because of what happened my MC was emptied (see above).

In my head it seems logical to bleed this MC.  On the theory 'two heads are better than one' any thoughts from you guys would be appreciated. 

 

[EsSeX dAn]

what you need to do is find somewhere with a program called vag com. theres a feature in there that operates the abs pump for bleeding purposes. bleed it up with this and job should be a goodun

[Grandad]

So you do not think it is worth bleeding the MC first then before trying to locate someone with a VAG com?

[gm8]

bleeding the MC made a big difference on my brakes when I sorted a leak

[Hoggy]

Bleeding the mc is a must on golfs!!

Won't get a good pedal without doing it!

[Grandad]

Ok - your help is really appreciated.  So here is the question.... what is the best method to bleed the MC?  I have done bled the brakes manually according to Haynes Manual.

(I have bled my old land rover MC years ago but not a MC on a 'modern' car with 'whistles and bells' - hence I am a Grandad)

Back to being serious not done this job before so what is my first move please on 1999 Golf GT TDI?

[gm8]

there is 2 bleed nipples , just bleed both.

[Hoggy]

As Gm8 said above, two bleed nipples on the mc, just bleed both as you would with a caliper, one at a time, doddle!

[Grandad]

Thanks - will do.

[Nicky753]

Very handy tips here guys...thanks