- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
- 812
- Location
- Midlothian, VA
- Corvette
- 1981 white/blue interior automatic
After discovering the brake fluid in my vette was at least 6 years old, and seeing that it was no longer clear, I decided I wanted to change the brake fluid out. The method I was going to use was gravity bleed through the rear calipers first, but making sure the fluid never got empty at the M/C. I got the brake fluid to flow out, but after a while, it completely stopped flowing. I did NOT pump up the brakes or disconnect the filter at the booster, so I'm guessing that was my problem....
Anyways, I broke off the outer bleeder at the right rear, so I replaced the caliper (after spending HOURS trying to extract the bleeder). Obviously now the brake light is on and the pedal goes to the floor. However, I cannot bleed the rear brakes at all. I get equal amounts of air and fluid coming out the back. I have drawn an entire large bottle of fluid through the rear brakes, but I'm sucking air in somewhere. It's driving me absolutely nuts. The fluid is clear at the M/C, and I haven't let it get dry. I have a mityvac hand vacuum pump that holds vacuum, but when I open the bleeder screw just a quarter turn, fluid and air are coming out. So air is coming in from somewhere. I have read and researched this for HOURS. I tried the grease trick where I coated all the connections; bleeder, hose, hose connections, but still I am sucking in air. What about Teflon tape around the bleeder screw threads? The front of the vette is slightly higher than the rear (if that matters; my jack stands are slightly uneven in height). Is there some trick or tip anyone has before I pull my hair out and get it towed to a shop? Should I get a helper to depress the brake pedal and try to bleed that way? I'm at wits end. Thanks for all replies.
-Tatortot
Anyways, I broke off the outer bleeder at the right rear, so I replaced the caliper (after spending HOURS trying to extract the bleeder). Obviously now the brake light is on and the pedal goes to the floor. However, I cannot bleed the rear brakes at all. I get equal amounts of air and fluid coming out the back. I have drawn an entire large bottle of fluid through the rear brakes, but I'm sucking air in somewhere. It's driving me absolutely nuts. The fluid is clear at the M/C, and I haven't let it get dry. I have a mityvac hand vacuum pump that holds vacuum, but when I open the bleeder screw just a quarter turn, fluid and air are coming out. So air is coming in from somewhere. I have read and researched this for HOURS. I tried the grease trick where I coated all the connections; bleeder, hose, hose connections, but still I am sucking in air. What about Teflon tape around the bleeder screw threads? The front of the vette is slightly higher than the rear (if that matters; my jack stands are slightly uneven in height). Is there some trick or tip anyone has before I pull my hair out and get it towed to a shop? Should I get a helper to depress the brake pedal and try to bleed that way? I'm at wits end. Thanks for all replies.
-Tatortot