Bleeding Brakes...Still need help

So i'm now resigned to the fact that it must be the master cylinder at fault now. I've bled the brakes numerous times, even got one of those auto ones today, no air at all the wheels, press the brake pedal and it goes straight to the floor, no resistance until it gets about 5mm off the floor, then the brakes come on ever so slightly. If I pump and pump and pump no pressure builds up at all, then air bubbles start coming up the pipe to the reservoir. Anyone else think it could be anything else before I buy a new M/C?


;D

 

put a kit in thats what i done last week with my trekker owen nw

 

what kit?
;D

 

Even if the brakes were full of air, you would still get resistance on the pedal, just a spongy / bouncy feel as the air compresses. If there is no resistance, I am afraid that the master cylinder is probably screwed.

 

I've got an old non servo jobby if you want it

 

VWH do one for LHD which is £54, GSF do one for £30 - they don't know if its handed or not though. This is for the US bus, mine is RHD and the M/C and servo look to be totally different - different even than the one that should be on my bus. Another case of the South African parts-bin hybrid ?


I'll get an M/C on Monday - gotta get it moving and in for MOT.
;D

 

so, I fitted a new master cylinder. The pipe between the master cylinder reservoir and the main reservoir was leaking too so I replaced this. When I filled the reservoir there was loads of air in this pipe, so I sucked all this out.


Bled the brakes at each corner, lots of air came out. Still nothing. If I pump a few times it builds up pressure, release it and there is no pressure at all, straight to the floor.


What am I missing? Its like the cylinders and pistons must be moving and not finding any resistance? There are no fluid leaks in the system, surely if air was getting back in fluid would be getting out? I'm stumped.


Am I supposed to adjust the back brakes? There are star shaped things visible through the backing plates, feck knows how you're supposed to turn these?


Rear shoes look to be quite worn - could it be this?
???

 

Yes you need to adjust the rear brakes first.

 

I spent ages doing what you're doing having forgot to adjust the rears first.

 

FFS!!!!!


Any ideas how you do this? They are weird little star shaped things, 2 on each side, what the hell sort of spanner fits in this?


what the hell kind of spanner DESIGNED this?
;D

 

They are simple adjusters and use a large flat bladed screw driver to lever them up or down.

You need a manual! (Haynes does this well for a change).

Basically jack the wheel off the ground, lever the star adjuster to tighten the shoe to the drum until wheel will only just turn and then back off the adjuster a few clicks until turns ok. Repeat this for the secons adjuster. Then do the other wheel.

Will need to do again once hand brake pulled a few times and brake pedal working.

Are you sure the nipples are the right way up and calipers etc.. the right way up on the van?

Ben

 

Tiny squirt of brake cleaner never went amiss in the rear shoe adjusters

 

You will indeed gets bags of pedal travel if the rears aren't adjusted.

 

I know whenI did my calipers I fitted them the wong way around and had to change them over after not being able to bleed the brakes!

Don't quote me on this but should the nipple be at the top? I have just been out and checked mine and they only have one bleed nipple which is at the top.

Cheers
Ben

 

Your nipples should indeed be at the top.

 

i am sure i ve 2 nipps on each side of my import is this normal!!! ???

 

I have two nipples each side as well

 

my other bus has 2 top and bottom, but for the other I should have nipples at the top? If so that could be part of my problem as I have 2 on one side and the other side one at the bottom