Brake Bleeding Issue

SilverK96 · 03-24-2008, 03:56 PM

I recently changed the rear calipers, and pads on my wifes 2002 Ford Explorer. I bled the calipers with the truck not running until I had good pedal pressure. As soon as I start the vehicle the pedal goes all the way to the floor. If I pump the brakes I can get some pressure. Obviously I still have air in the system somewhere. I have re-bled all four wheels starting with the right rear, left rear, left front, and right front and I still have the same problem. As far as I can tell there is no bleeder on the ABS system that I can find. The only issue I had before I replaced the calipers and pads were extremely worn pads (down to the metal). Can anyone point me in the right direction. Any help would be greatly appreciated. What was going to be a typical brake repair has proved to be not so typical. Thanks in advance.

liftedtrucks4me · 03-25-2008, 01:37 PM

well...i would bleed it with the car running. if it is still doin it check out all the brake lines from the cylinder to the calipers and inspect them good. i had swapped to the stainless steel brake lines on my truck and within a few months there was a little cut in the line that would cause problems

if all that fails take it to the garage that you would go to and have a professional do it

gmctrucks · 03-25-2008, 04:16 PM

Make sure that your reservoir doesn't go dry when bleeding them again im sure you can do the job do one at a time have someone help you. Good luck! PS-They also make a tool for doing it by yourself I have never had to use one.

SilverK96 · 03-25-2008, 06:55 PM

Thanks for the info.....I feel a bit stupid here, but I'll post my findings so that the next person doesn't do what I did. I couldn't get all the air out no matter what I did, so I am sitting there looking at the rear calipers and it hit me.........the bleeder is the lowest point...it's below where the brake line attaches. Duh!!!!! I have the calipers on the wrong sides. When I bought them they took my old ones and put them in the boxes and sent me on my way without anything to tell me which was which. I put them on the wrong side. I switched them around and the bleeders are above the the brake line. I bled them out the old fashioned way with a helper and voila!! I have brakes. A note to anyone who replaces both front or rear calipers make sure you have the right one on the right side. With that bleeder below the brake line, no matter how much you bleed them you will never get all the air out. Consider it a lesson learned......

mudseeker · 03-25-2008, 09:27 PM

don't feel bad, something i probably would have done. glad you got it fixed.

gmctrucks · 03-26-2008, 07:50 AM

It happens to the best of us we thank you for sharing the good info with us im so glad that all is well now.

03chevy · 03-26-2008, 08:53 AM

glad to hear that you found your problem

SilverK96 · 03-26-2008, 09:47 AM

Thank you very much guys......I figure i came here looking for answers and posting my own find could be a learning experience for the next guy. That's why we come here. We hope that our situation has happened to someone and they can guide us in the right general direction.

87c10slammer · 04-01-2008, 07:11 PM

sorry i didnt see this before i did the same thing on my old 79 bronco when i changed it over to rear disks instead of the old drums. bronco owners beware if you start to get a notch on your rear drum back plate replace it before it starts to lock up on you. not fun going down the icy philly roads and have that happen

arkie4whlr · 10-08-2008, 11:34 PM

Quick tip on bleeding - find a piece of tubing that fits tight over yer bleeder fitting, put the other end into a jar with about 2 inches of brake fluid. you can open the bleeder, pump the pedal (slowly) until it's bled out. Watch the Master cyl resorvoir, with the end of the line in the fluid, air will not be sucked back into the cylinder or caliper. Remember SLOW or you just move the air up & down the tube. I'm used to havin' to do it myself!

03-24-2008, 03:56 PM	#1
SilverK96 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 17	Brake Bleeding Issue I recently changed the rear calipers, and pads on my wifes 2002 Ford Explorer. I bled the calipers with the truck not running until I had good pedal pressure. As soon as I start the vehicle the pedal goes all the way to the floor. If I pump the brakes I can get some pressure. Obviously I still have air in the system somewhere. I have re-bled all four wheels starting with the right rear, left rear, left front, and right front and I still have the same problem. As far as I can tell there is no bleeder on the ABS system that I can find. The only issue I had before I replaced the calipers and pads were extremely worn pads (down to the metal). Can anyone point me in the right direction. Any help would be greatly appreciated. What was going to be a typical brake repair has proved to be not so typical. Thanks in advance.

03-25-2008, 09:27 PM	#5
mudseeker mod-o-tator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 4,059	don't feel bad, something i probably would have done. glad you got it fixed. __________________ member map add yourself

03-26-2008, 08:53 AM	#7
03chevy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jax,fl Posts: 991	glad to hear that you found your problem __________________ A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste!

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03-25-2008, 01:37 PM	#2
liftedtrucks4me Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 113	well...i would bleed it with the car running. if it is still doin it check out all the brake lines from the cylinder to the calipers and inspect them good. i had swapped to the stainless steel brake lines on my truck and within a few months there was a little cut in the line that would cause problems if all that fails take it to the garage that you would go to and have a professional do it

03-25-2008, 04:16 PM	#3
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,722	Make sure that your reservoir doesn't go dry when bleeding them again im sure you can do the job do one at a time have someone help you. Good luck! PS-They also make a tool for doing it by yourself I have never had to use one.

03-25-2008, 06:55 PM	#4
SilverK96 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 17	Thanks for the info.....I feel a bit stupid here, but I'll post my findings so that the next person doesn't do what I did. I couldn't get all the air out no matter what I did, so I am sitting there looking at the rear calipers and it hit me.........the bleeder is the lowest point...it's below where the brake line attaches. Duh!!!!! I have the calipers on the wrong sides. When I bought them they took my old ones and put them in the boxes and sent me on my way without anything to tell me which was which. I put them on the wrong side. I switched them around and the bleeders are above the the brake line. I bled them out the old fashioned way with a helper and voila!! I have brakes. A note to anyone who replaces both front or rear calipers make sure you have the right one on the right side. With that bleeder below the brake line, no matter how much you bleed them you will never get all the air out. Consider it a lesson learned......

03-26-2008, 07:50 AM	#6
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,722	It happens to the best of us we thank you for sharing the good info with us im so glad that all is well now.

03-26-2008, 09:47 AM	#8
SilverK96 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 17	Thank you very much guys......I figure i came here looking for answers and posting my own find could be a learning experience for the next guy. That's why we come here. We hope that our situation has happened to someone and they can guide us in the right general direction.

04-01-2008, 07:11 PM	#9
87c10slammer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,174	sorry i didnt see this before i did the same thing on my old 79 bronco when i changed it over to rear disks instead of the old drums. bronco owners beware if you start to get a notch on your rear drum back plate replace it before it starts to lock up on you. not fun going down the icy philly roads and have that happen

10-08-2008, 11:34 PM	#10
arkie4whlr Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5	Quick tip on bleeding - find a piece of tubing that fits tight over yer bleeder fitting, put the other end into a jar with about 2 inches of brake fluid. you can open the bleeder, pump the pedal (slowly) until it's bled out. Watch the Master cyl resorvoir, with the end of the line in the fluid, air will not be sucked back into the cylinder or caliper. Remember SLOW or you just move the air up & down the tube. I'm used to havin' to do it myself!