[Shotimes] What does it mean when you can't bleed one of your calipers?

[Tony Fratzke]

Thanks for the help guys!  I will replace the hose, sounds like that is
the problem!

Tony
93 ATX

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Mallinson [mailto:dmall@mwonline.net] 
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 10:09 AM
To: Tony Fratzke
Cc: SHOTimes
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] What does it mean when you can't bleed one of
your calipers?


Tony,

Almost certainly this is a bad flexible rubber hose on that 
corner.  They swell shut at the metal bracket holding the 
line to the strut.

The sure test is to remove the line from the caliper and try 
to bleed it.  If it still is just a trickle, then that is 
your culprit.  Chances are the proportioning valve is NOT 
the problem because you could bleed the other side.

Replace both lines if you can, the other one will have the 
same problem soon.

For the bleeder valve, put some penetrating oil on it for a 
few days, and you could try some heat on it, but don't try 
to get it red hot, you could damage the seals in the 
caliper.  GEt the best six sided brake tool/wrench you can, 
and whack the thing rather than put steady pressure on it.

Don't use a cheap wrench, they don't fit right, and can 
round off stuff.

Buy a back-up bleeder just in case, and if it rounds, go to 
vice grips and just replace it.

When tightening, you don't need to put much pressure on them.

Don Mallinson

Tony Fratzke wrote:
> I was replacing same pads and rotors last night and i wanted to bleed 
> my brakes because my pedal felt a little spongy.  All was going well 
> until i tried doing the the left rear.  I had to push will all my 
> might to get the pedal to move at all with the valve open.  The fluid 
> came out very, very slowly.  The pedal went to the floor immediately 
> on the other corners. Also, this brake seems to make noise a lot while

> driving slow. Does this mean the piston is shot? Bad line somewhere?  
> How to troubleshoot?  Also, my left front bleeder valve is frozen.  
> Can i use heat on it to try and break it loose?  Thanks!
>  
> Tony Fratzke
> 93 ATX
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