Need help with my brakes!!!!!!

[Horney]

Hi Guys,

Replaced the caliper on the side that the handbrake failed on with a recon one (couldn't afford a pair of MKIII ones). I've blead it and blead all the others several time and still the peddle goes to the floor.

Also the handbrake still doesn't work on that side. The cable pulls up fine and the mechanism goes all the way round to the stop and yet still the wheel turns freely with the handbrake on, what's going on?

Please help I have till friday morning to sort it before the MOT retest.

Cheers folks,

Nick

[Horney]

Oh yeah pads and discs have loads of meat on em so that's not the problem.

Nick

[turbodub]

What did you use to bleed the system? Did you bleed the system with the brake bias valve on the rear axle fully open?

[Horney]

The what? TBH I didn't read the haynes manual for brake bleeding. I just went ahead and did it. I was getting plenty of fluid through without bubbles.

To bleed the brakes I used an Eezibleed style pipe to stop it sucking back any air.

Nick

[rubjonny]

You still not fixed it!
On the rear beam theres a rear brake bias valve, you need to clamp it open before you bleed the brakes.  If you imagine how the beam would move when it is pushed upwards by weight in the rear, thats how the valve needs to be clamped open.  Oh and I have some bad news, if the pedal has gone to the floor chances are the master cylinder is now buggered!
Also some calipers have the bleed screw at the bottom, if this is the case on yours take it off and flip it upside down

[Horney]

Humm ok given me some things to think about.

How does the bias valve effect bleeding? I get plenty of fluid through so I can't see how that effects things?

I can understand the problem of the nipple, didn't think of that. Are you saying to remove the caliper, bleed it off the car up side down and then refit?

The peddle does go to the floor but if you pump it it does harden up so I'm prety sure it's just air trapped somewhere and not the master.

Nick

[NewStu]

Until you get the system bled propperly the handbrake wont work as the adjuster will not adjust.

[rubjonny]

If the bias isn't fully open it can trap air in it, and you wont get a good strong flow of fluid thru to the rear brakes.
Yeah just unbolt the caliper and hang it upside down to bleed, then refit.

Problem is, if the pedal goes to the floor you normally end up tearing the seals inside unless its very new.  After this the cylinder is never the same again
This doesn't explain the problem with the rear caliper though, that is most probably air in the system

[Horney]

Oh arse biscuits. I can't afford to replace the master I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed it's ok.

Nick

[NewStu]

Oh and hanging the caliper upside down while bleeding wont work if your bleeding the old fashioned pumping the pedal way as the piston will just pop out. But it will be fine to do this if using a pressure bleed kit.