Okay. So I was working on my 88 Formula and I installed the Driver Side Rear Caliper a few weeks ago, I bled the system and the pedal was still going to the floor. So I thought I might have destroyed the Master Cylinder through the bleeding method (pump the brakes and crack the bleeder valves). So I purchased a new Master Cylinder, bench bled it and installed it in the Fiero. I then bled the entire system again, but this time using a Mighty Vac Vacuum Bleeder using the correct bleeding Sequence (RR,LR,RF,LF)
Well, my pedal still goes to the floor and my brake light is still on. I am growing frustrated with Fiero Hydraulics.
should have been lr, rr, rf, lf Fieros have the lines going down the right side to the rr then the lr, opposite to most other gm vehicles. Did you fill the caliper before you installed it, that can be a problem as well, it will take forever to bleed just that one caliper. As well as it is not uncommon to have a bad brand new caliper for a Fiero, got a couple myself from NAPA Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 02-22-2014).]
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
If you have access to a vacuum hand pump I would put the suction to the caliper you replaced until you get some fluid coming out without air bubbles. I would also put speed bleeders on each caliper. That's what I had to do when I replaced all 4 calipers.
did you get good flow out of all the bleeders when you bleed them? A spongy pedal could be a weak rubber line.
Steve
The brake lines in the front are Stainless Braided Lines. The rear brake lines are okay. I think there is still some air in the system, there must be lots of little bubbles throughout the system. I think I am going to look into Reverse Bleeding the system, the vacuum method I have been using isn't as effective as I would like it to be. I should have to go through 2 big bottles of brake fluid to get all of the air out of the system.
For some reason, the Right Rear the fluid comes out perfect, but the rest of the calipers the fluid comes out with really small bubbles. It looks like carbonated brake fluid.
Okay. So I was working on my 88 Formula and I installed the Driver Side Rear Caliper a few weeks ago.........
Did you remember to ratchet/work the parking brake arm on the back of the Caliper that you installed ... to get the piston out and positioned for it to actually apply pressure to the disk. I've run into this with my 88GT and the foot pedal did the same thing... One way to try and fix this easily, is to apply the hand parking brake while pumping the foot pedal then keep working the hand brake. If this doesn't work.... You will have to go back to the caliper and work the caliper/piston by hand...
You said.... Did you remember to ratchet/work the parking brake arm on the back of the Caliper that you installed ... to get the piston out and positioned for it to actually apply pressure to the disk. I've run into this with my 88GT and the foot pedal did the same thing... One way to try and fix this easily, is to apply the hand parking brake while pumping the foot pedal then keep working the hand brake. If this doesn't work.... You will have to go back to the caliper and work the caliper/piston by hand...
Yeah, I did remember to clock the Parking Brake Lever Correctly. I made sure I did that right the first time before I put the spring back on. That spring absolutely sucks to put back on.
know anyone with a pressure bleeder for brakes? if the vacuum doesn't work I would be asking on here who is local and has one. That would be the best way to do them, and if no one has them, bring it into a shop and just have them pressure bleed them for you. if after that they are still soft, you got a bad MC.
Oh ya that spring, get yourself a door spring compressor at any local parts store, 10 bucks you will never regret spending, it works on the ebrake springs as well.
one thing I think wasn't said is when pumping the brakes, slow and easy when doing that make sure your helper knows that, I had one helper who was jamming them to the floor every time he pushed the pedal down and was making more air than we had to begin with.
Steve
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 02-24-2014).]
H Frt sells the vacuum can which I have used for 20 years to bleed all sorts of brake systems. You put 25 psi air pressure in one side and get vacuum out the other which is attached to the familiar plastic cup . One fitting on the lid is vacuum in from H Frt can ,the other is to the caliper nipple. Keep dumping the old brake fluid caught in the cup. It is slow. The can is cheap. You do need an air compressor.
