brake bleeding problems.

[steve_k]

evening folks, looking for a bit of help & advise.

over the last two days i have been replacing & upgrading the brakes on my mates e30 (late chromie).
here's the list of what i've replaced/upgraded.

also, the car is non abs.

front,
hi spec billet 4 calipers (fully rebuilt).
284mm x 25mm mg zr front discs.
ds2500 pads.
braided steel lines,

middle
clio servo, non abs 25mm M/C
wilwood brake proportioning valve,
braided steel line all the way back to the T piece above the diff.

rear.
4 line braided steel lines on the back to rebuilt touring spec calipers.
ds2500 pads (again) & dot 5.1 fluid throughout.

now here's where i'm having problems,
when i came to bleed the brakes the rear (both sides) & the front passenger side all bleed up perfectly fine.

but, the front drivers side is completely dry, no fluid coming through at all,
before i fitted the 25mm M/C i bench bleed it to ensure it wasn't starting dry.

i know there is fluid leaving the drivers side port but nothing is coming through to the caliper.

i'm completely stumped with it, no ideas at all.

does anyone have any ideas what it could be??

[steve_k]

well after asking the same thing on the zone FB page i got told it could be a kink in the hard line to the drivers side caliper.

i'll be having a look at that tomorrow,

but in the men time does anyone have any other suggestions on what it could be?

i forgot to add earlier that the set up on my mates car is a near enough copy of what i have on mine, only difference is mine has abs.

[Brianmoooore]

i know there is fluid leaving the drivers side port but nothing is coming through to the caliper.

If you're referring to the outlet port of the ABS block here, then there in't a great deal that it can be.
Have you removed the bleed nipple completely from the caliper, and checked it's clear?
Take the caliper off from its mountings, and unscrew the flexi at the caliper, and see if fluid bleeds to there.
If both of the above check out, then it's likely that the bleed port in the caliper is blocked. Doesn't take much to block these very small holes.

[steve_k]

i know there is fluid leaving the drivers side port but nothing is coming through to the caliper.

If you're referring to the outlet port of the ABS block here, then there in't a great deal that it can be.
Have you removed the bleed nipple completely from the caliper, and checked it's clear?
Take the caliper off from its mountings, and unscrew the flexi at the caliper, and see if fluid bleeds to there.
If both of the above check out, then it's likely that the bleed port in the caliper is blocked. Doesn't take much to block these very small holes.

thanks for the reply brian,

no what i meant was the port on the M/C as his car is no abs,
i'll check the bleed nipples & the flexi & the bleed ports.

[joeyb]

Drivers side front hardline, isnt that the one that goes behind the engine along the firewall...I guess if one was going to be kinked somewhere it would be that one!

[steve_k]

Drivers side front hardline, isnt that the one that goes behind the engine along the firewall...I guess if one was going to be kinked somewhere it would be that one!

thats the one i'm having problems with.

i'll be having a look today, fingers crossed.

[steve_k]

Well I had a good loonat the brake hardlines (in between dodging the rain) & lo & behold there was a kink & split in the hardline from the M/C to the drivers side Union.

Took it out & replaced it with anew section of kunnifer. Also replaced the passenger side as well just to be on the safe side.

Brakes all bled up & my mate says the brakes feel so much better now.

Happy days.

[martauto]

Mart.