BRAKES AARGH!!!!

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 05:51:49 PM

Okay I just got my prior reman PMIII from Jeff this week, just got around to installing it yesterday, and finishing the job today- my GOD I am the new member of the I HATE PMIII CLUB! After installing the new PMIII, I bled the brakes today, but when I tried to let the fluid out of the bleeders on BOTH of the rear wheels, no fluid or air came out. What is the deal with this? I bled the fronts, and they cooperated normally. What is going on with my rears? Also, now when I go drive the car and step on the brakes, I can hear a "hissing" sound, and the brake pedal feels firm at first, then after the hiss, the brake pedal drops a little bit. It has never done ANY of this stuff prior to replacing the PMIII. The rear bleeders worked when I bought the car back in July. Also, I haven't driven the car in about 3 weeks if that makes any difference.
Please help me!

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 07:03:41 PM

Oh, also when I had the REAR end in the air, when I step on the brakes, the REAR brakes DON'T work- the rear wheels keep spinning when I step on the brakes.
Any ideas?

sleeperred90tgp · December 10, 2006, 07:20:01 PM

I have said it on here or there before and I guess I"ll say it again.. When replacing the PMI bleeding the entire brake system is a joke. It's allot of work and a lot of fluid with often poor results.

I am on my 3rd PMI and have only barley pooped the bleeder valves open after driving a while just to see if I had air. No air. BLEED the PMI before you hook up the lines. DON'T EVEN PUT THE LINES IN THE HOLES. Thats master cylinder replacement 101. No I am not ASE certified but I did stay in a Holiday in last night. :icon_lol: Never install a master cylinder and hook up the lines whitout bleeding the MC FIRST. Hook up all the lines real loose .Bleed a line at the MC. Yea you will loose a little fluid, then bleed the others.

As far as no fluid out the back lines. I think you are totally f**ked sounds like you have air everywhere including the accum and pump passage and you should start from square one by bleeding the MC first until you have clear fluid coming out of it. Not just the lines but the bleeder valves also.

When doing the brake line bleeding at the wheels have the key on.

Damn I hate to hear of this again. :icon_sad:

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 07:25:45 PM

Couldn't I bleed the master cylinder from the bleeders on the sides of the master cylinder? Are those bleeders on the sides of the master cylinder? correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

sleeperred90tgp · December 10, 2006, 07:52:24 PM

Yes that where you do it. Just make sure you close the bleeders and put your fingers over the brake line holes upon pedal return. When you think you have the MC cleared run a good stream out of the break line holes. Don't forget the fingers on the holes.

Good luck.

Jud

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 08:06:27 PM

Alright sweet. After I have the master cylinder good and bled, I just bleed the brakes like normal then? - my rear brakes don't work AT ALL. When I tried to bleed them before, NO FLUID OR AIR came out of BOTH rear caliper bleeders. The fronts bled fine though? Any suggestions?
Thanks much!

sleeperred90tgp · December 10, 2006, 08:22:28 PM

Quote from: TGP Nick on December 10, 2006, 08:06:27 PM
Alright sweet. After I have the master cylinder good and bled, I just bleed the brakes like normal then? - my rear brakes don't work AT ALL. When I tried to bleed them before, NO FLUID OR AIR came out of BOTH rear caliper bleeders. The fronts bled fine though? Any suggestions?
Thanks much!

Make sure the PMI pump has run and shut off. Leave key on. Can't remember if you have to run the motor. Been awhile. If that doesn't work bleed at the portioning valve toward the PMI. Have you bled the brake lines at the PMI?

Jud

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 08:29:16 PM

Okay when I bled the brakes the first time, I had the ignition off, keys out of the car. I have NOT bled the brake lines at the master cylinder. Where is the proportioning valve?

sleeperred90tgp · December 10, 2006, 08:42:34 PM

Without the pump running you may not have enough pressure on the syustem to get through the proportioning valve.
Turn the key on and don't depress the pedal till you get a rear bleeder valve open. Really takes two people.

The valve is buy the fuel filter in front of the left rear tire.

Jud

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 08:50:39 PM

Great! I thought that was the proportioning valve, but wasn't sure. Thanks for clearing that up! I'll have my friend help me do that tomorrow.
Thanks ;)
Nick

sleeperred90tgp · December 10, 2006, 09:06:02 PM

Nick how have you bled the rest of the system. It takes two people unless you have a hose from the bleeder valves into a jar full of fluid. You can't just open a bleeder and push the pedal and then go close the bleeder. The return of the pedal will pull air into the system.

Just checking.

You can put a 2x4 on the brake pedal with the other end aginst the seat and use the power seat to apply the pedal. Neat trick when you don't have help. ;)

Jud

TGP Nick · December 10, 2006, 09:10:38 PM

Oh I see where u got that lol.-my bad! I had a friend help me bleed the brakes today. Otherwise we bled the system normally (we didn't bleed the master cylinder or proportioning valve though.) Bled from right rear (didn't work), left rear (didn't work), right front, left front. So yes a friend and I will be re-bleeding the whole brake system tomorrow. Hopefully it will stay semi-warm out for 1 more day!
Thanks
Nick

mfewtrail · December 11, 2006, 12:47:34 AM

Quote from: TGP Nick on December 10, 2006, 08:29:16 PM
Okay when I bled the brakes the first time, I had the ignition off, keys out of the car. I have NOT bled the brake lines at the master cylinder. Where is the proportioning valve?

Turn the key on, and then bleed the rears.

The PMIII bleed procedure is outlined on Chris A.'s webpage for future reference. ;)
http://www.tpsgarage.com/

TGP Nick · December 11, 2006, 11:14:51 AM

Quote from: mfewtrail on December 11, 2006, 12:47:34 AM
Quote from: TGP Nick on December 10, 2006, 08:29:16 PM
Okay when I bled the brakes the first time, I had the ignition off, keys out of the car. I have NOT bled the brake lines at the master cylinder. Where is the proportioning valve?

Turn the key on, and then bleed the rears.

The PMIII bleed procedure is outlined on Chris A.'s webpage for future reference. ;)
http://www.tpsgarage.com/

That's the procedure I used. ;)

TGP Nick · December 12, 2006, 07:10:46 PM

Alright I was bleeding the brakes yesterday- was going good, until my battery died, due to my taillights being stuck on after replacing the PMIII. :icon_rolleyes: Needless to say, it is sitting in my garage getting the battery charged. I pulled my brakelight fuse, so it shouldn't drain the battery this time. :laugh: Does anybody have a procedure for adjusting the stoplamp switch? I'll have to do that sometime here. :icon_rolleyes: