Problem getting brake fluid to M/C's on 289 car - any help?

[jcwheeler8921]

I am building a new 289 complete kit. I have installed the brake fluid reservoir as high up as I can get it on the front of the driver's foot box. The top of the reservoir appears to be higher than any of the hoses going to the master cylinders, and the master cylinders. I would have thought gravity would feed the fluid to the master cylinders. I assume that is how it is supposed to work. But, in my case, no fluid is getting to the master cylinders. Anyone else have this problem? If so, any suggestions? Thanks.

Jack

[FredG]

I am building a new 289 complete kit. I have installed the brake fluid reservoir as high up as I can get it on the front of the driver's foot box. The top of the reservoir appears to be higher than any of the hoses going to the master cylinders, and the master cylinders. I would have thought gravity would feed the fluid to the master cylinders. I assume that is how it is supposed to work. But, in my case, no fluid is getting to the master cylinders. Anyone else have this problem? If so, any suggestions? Thanks.

Jack

Hi Jack,
This might sound like a silly question but have you bled the brakes? When I did mine it took a long time and lots of pumping to get fluid to the MC and then the rotors. I installed two reservoirs, one for front and one for rear.
If you have then you may have an air leak somewhere.
Gravity, at least the small amount, should not really affect the system.

Fred

[narly1]

For me it was a 3 step process to get the brakes completely bled.

1. Bench bleed m/c's.

2. Back bleed by forcing brake fluid upwards though the lines using a syringe and rubber tubing pushed onto the bleeder screws.

3. Conventional 3-person - push pedal down & hold / crack bleeder screws on diagonal corners / close bleeder screws / repeat routine. Use bleeder bottes on the screws to make sure all the air is purged out.

Earl

[Dgc333]

Do yourself a favor and invest the $50 or so for a power bleeder.

These are a container with a hand pump and gauge attached. You add brake fluid to the container, attach the adapter cap to MC reservoir, attach the hose from the container to the adapter cap, pump up the container to 15-20 psi, then open the bleeder until fluid is flowing without trapped air. Easy Peazy.

The vacuum bleeders are cheaper and will work also but are not as effective because there is always air leaking past the threads in the caliper bleeder screws.

[gbranham]

I bench bled my MCs while installed in the car, using a bench bleed kit and a mason jar. I then used a pressure bleeder, and had no issues getting rock solid brakes quickly. I didn't put any brake fluid in the pressure bleeder; the MCs held plenty to bleed the system.

Greg

212703

[Presdough]

I regularly use a vacuum bleeder that runs on compressed air. Instant results and it was only about $15.00 on Amazon.

[FRM]

I bled them on the car, but was never satisfied with pumping brakes and opening and closing bleeder screw at the caliper so I bought an inexpensive pressure bleeder and that worked very well. It leaks a bit, but I very seldom use it so I'm happy with the purchase and its function.