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| | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 | I have a 51 3600. I redid my rear brakes, new everything. The fronts didn't look so bad so I just cleaned them. I'm trying to bleed the system using the 2 person pump and hold. I can't seem to get a firm pedal. I can pump all day and it just goes to the floor. With that said, I do get a little fluid and air when I open the bleeder value. I also don't see any fluid leaking from the system. I spent a couple of hours doing this and didn't seem to get anywhere. What am I doing wrong | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 | On my '46, I had to adjust all four w. cylinders, bleed all four wc, adjust wc again then bleed all again. This was after replacing all shoes, lines, w. cylinders and the master cylinder. Even early on when I first got the truck, I replaced one wheel cylinder and had to do adjustments and severals bleeds.
Hope this helps! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | You should check the rod for the master cylinder and make sure that you have some free play when the pedal returns. This is a common problem bleeding brakes. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 | Would you describe "free play" a little further? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 | Great advice!!! - You should check the rod for the master cylinder and make sure that you have some free play when the pedal returns. This is a common problem bleeding brakes. See this thread. thread re: free play
Last edited by Big Tee; 07/21/2010 6:54 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 9 | Thanks for the thread. I'll check the rod. So I'm taking from this that bleeding the brakes is not the half hour job it says it is in a how to book I have. That I should just keep working on it and one day it will happen. Thanks for the help, this web site is great | | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 | Make sure the shoes are adjusted out to where theyre just barely dragging on the drum before you start the bleeding process. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Make sure the shoes are adjusted out to where theyre just barely dragging on the drum before you start the bleeding process. To expound on that, it is better to adjust out until the drum won't turn then back off until it barely drags. This will assure the shoes are seated in the drum and not just a corner dragging. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 226 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 226 | The other thing to remember is that you bleed the brakes starting with the wheel the furthest away from the master. so, left rear,right rear,right front then left front. also, make shure that all your lines are tight and there are no leaks.
Poets Seat AutoAppraisals, Parts, ServicePast: General Motor's Master Technician Member: Northeast Chevy/GMC Truck ClubPhone Number: 413.774.5856 Collector of: 1951 Army Chevy Burb barn door,53 GMC COE,two 1934 Chevy Truck,1935 Chevy Army Truck.1950 Gmc Suburban clamshell these are just my chevy/gmc trucks.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | Check your brake line configuration... My 54 3100 turned out to be left rear,right rear, left front, right front...
The thread has good refresher information, thanks...
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 215 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 215 | Sometimes its an issue of getting the air out of the master succesfully, the master should be bench bled first.
Make a couple short lines from the ports back into the reservoir, so it pumps in a circle.
This will guarantee no air in the master before you start, good luck! | | |
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