Zeus Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Hi all,I have just rebuilt most of the brakes on my '69 1200. It has type 14 calipers on the front. I stripped these and cleaned them before installing a new seal kit.Now re-fitted to the car, I cannot seem to bleed them properly using the 2 man method. It is definately the calipers as I have clamped off all the flexible hoses (4) and the pedal is solid. I remove one of the clamps from either front caliper and the pedal is squashy.Should I have primed them before fitting?I am about to unbolt the calipers whilst still plumbed in and try rotating them and bleeding them while holding them in my hand. I will have to find a chok to keep the pistons from extending. Any other tips?Zeus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herald948 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Are they mounted correctly, i.e., with the bleeder at the highest point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeus Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes. Other than swapping sides, which puts the nipple at the bottom, there isn't really many options for getting them mounted incorrectly. Zeus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam93 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 When you put the calipers back together was there a rubber seal between (I think), were the hole for the bleed nipple is ?Also, is there any fluid leaks on either caliper ?. This would indicate where the air could be getting in.If you find a leak, then you will probably need to split it into two halves & give each half a careful file flat. Other than that, you could look at if you have correctly assembled all the seals around the piston (s).Sam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberhead Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 you could try removing nipples ,fill master cylinder and let them gravity feed ,when you get clean fluid coming through refit nipples then bleed as normal. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Get the driver to pump the pedal until it goes hard and keep their foot pressed on it. Crack the nipple and watch loads of bubbles come out. Lather, rinse and repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeus Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Thanks for all the help with thise ideas. Tried them all now, and still no improvement.I am away for the weekend now but on my return I think I will try swapping calipers from my Spitfire. I hate breaking one car to fix another but there must be something wrong with the calipers and swapping them from a known working system should prove that.Once proved I guess I'll just have to fork out for refurbed calipers, but at 90 quid-ish for the pair plus another tener wasted on a seal kit it is starting to add up. Still, brakes are quite important arn't they?Zeus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeus Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Oh, by the way, When putting in new piston seals, I did not split the caliper body as the Haynes manual says not to do this and the seal kit contained no gaskets. There were two rubber washers that I could not find much use for. Should I have split the caliper body?Zeus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_1360 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I would prime the calipers, Ive done this before. Take out the pads, pump the pistons out about 1/2 way. Clamp hose, undo nipple push cylinders back in again.I hate brakes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paudman Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 If I'm right there are no gaskets between the halves; the rubber rings seal the hole for the fluid between the caliper halves when split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam93 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 If you didn't split the caliper body, then I would make the assumption that you didn't put one of the piston seals in correctly. Which would be the source of the problem. Sam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazfg Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 When i refurbished my calipers, I split them and used the new rubber ring seals as the old ones had perished. I'd definitely advise on splitting them and overhauling at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxbodger Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 In the Vitesse/early Spit/herald factory workshop manual in the brake section there's a paragraph about the problem of brakes that won't bleed- it refers to the possibility of air being drawn in via the bleed nipple threads, and it tells you to close the nipple after each push of tyhe pedal before allowing the pedal to return, and then close it during the final stroke...... maybe worth a try. If all else fails you can try the old trick for bleeding brakes with seized/broken nipples- remove the caliper but leave it connected to the hydraulics, manipulate the caliper so the hose joit is at the highest point, loosen the hose and bleed it through the joint. It's messy but it works, and has got many a Citroenist out of trouble when the tiny 8mm nipple has sheared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Will the pedal pump up & go hard? (stop it Smithy)If so, try this old trick. Pump it up then hold it down overnight using a suitable length of wood jammed againt the cross member under the seat. Worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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