New brake line and bled twice, still no brakes??

pARTner81

My brake line was rotten through, so I replaced the hose and line to the back drivers side. I have bled the brakes twice and still no brakes. New brake pads in, back brakes are fine. I'm thinking of tackling the master cylinder, but haven't the first clue what to look for. Any suggestions on what/where to look before taking the master cylinder apart? 96 Fiesta 1.3.

no1beemerfan

Are you sure you are bleeding them correctly - what exactly have you done? And bleeding all four? If you are do you see brake fluid leaking anywhere in the system - right from the filler tank to the bleeding nipple?

burrentech

You don't say what make/model/year it is. Are you trying to do this yourself? Sometimes the calipers can form an airlock, it will need a pressure or vacuum bleeder. Gunsons, gunsons.co.uk do one for around the 20euro mark, and lots of choice for below 50 euro, check amazon.com

foxmulerider

Buy a new master cylinder if no leaks anywhere:rolleyes:

mickdw

You might need to bleed the master cyllinder as its possible that all the fluid drained from the reservoir when you removed the rotten brake line leaving an air trap in the master cylinder.

burrentech

foxmulerider wrote: »

Buy a new master cylinder if no leaks anywhere:rolleyes:

Master cylinders pretty much never fail, at least not on cars in the last 25 years! Besides, they're expensive sobs :eek: If you're doing the bleeding right (I'm sure you are), there is an air lock that the normal process cannot remove, get a pressure bleeder, much cheaper than a master cylinder and bleeder

pARTner81

I'm a little embarrassed to be posting this, but I was bleeding them wrong!:eek: Anyways, this is a DIY forum isn't it not a mechanics forum! That's my excuse. I was opening the bleed nipple and having the brake pumped thinking this was gonna clear it, it didn't.:rolleyes: A fella I went up to to get a master cylinder off a fiesta(for €10 I might add) laughed when he heard my way of bleeding the brakes and proceeded to explain how to do it right! So I didnt buy the new part and got the brakes bled, now they're much better, I think though they'll nee more bleeding. Thanks for the replies:).

jimmyw

pARTner81 wrote: »

I'm a little embarrassed to be posting this, but I was bleeding them wrong!:eek: Anyways, this is a DIY forum isn't it not a mechanics forum! That's my excuse. I was opening the bleed nipple and having the brake pumped thinking this was gonna clear it, it didn't.:rolleyes: A fella I went up to to get a master cylinder off a fiesta(for €10 I might add) laughed when he heard my way of bleeding the brakes and proceeded to explain how to do it right! So I didnt buy the new part and got the brakes bled, now they're much better, I think though they'll nee more bleeding. Thanks for the replies:).

Were you using the type bleeder with the one way valve? or the two man method closing and opening the nipple.I gather you were just opening the nipple and then pumping without the one way valve.This will never do it as you found out.All your doing is pushing fluid out and drawing air in.You will know for the next time, thats what car maintenance is all about, learning from your mistakes.

pARTner81

jimmyw wrote: »

Were you using the type bleeder with the one way valve? or the two man method closing and opening the nipple.I gather you were just opening the nipple and then pumping without the one way valve.This will never do it as you found out.All your doing is pushing fluid out and drawing air in.You will know for the next time, thats what car maintenance is all about, learning from your mistakes.

yeah, the two man method, It's true though, you only really learn from your mistakes. I would usually pride myself on problem solving, but this one needed sound advice and experience.

illegalpower

pARTner81 wrote: »

I'm a little embarrassed to be posting this, but I was bleeding them wrong!:eek: Anyways, this is a DIY forum isn't it not a mechanics forum! That's my excuse. I was opening the bleed nipple and having the brake pumped thinking this was gonna clear it, it didn't.:rolleyes: A fella I went up to to get a master cylinder off a fiesta(for €10 I might add) laughed when he heard my way of bleeding the brakes and proceeded to explain how to do it right! So I didnt buy the new part and got the brakes bled, now they're much better, I think though they'll nee more bleeding. Thanks for the replies:).

At least you're giving it a go, we all have to start somewhere. Fair play:)