No pressure on the front brake bleeders
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
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No pressure on the front brake bleeders
I have recently changed the front brake calipers on my 2500 RAM. I purchased two front sets at PEP BOYS. I have had lots of problems ever since. The problems started with all wheels locking up. After cleaning the pistons the wheels no longer lock up, but I can't find any pressure on the front brakes. Only the rear brakes work with the pedal all the way to the floor. Changing the master cylinder has not changed anything. When I try bleeding, I get no pressureat the front while I get strong pressure at the master cylinder, and at the rear wheels. Of course both the ABS and Brake Light stay on permanently. PLEASE HELP, I AM STRANDED !
Legend
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,843
Likes: 13
From: DFW, Texas
RE: No pressure on the front brake bleeders
Check the lines from the master cylinder all the way to the caliper to ensure you don't have any leaks.
You might need to pressure flush the brake system to the front two calipers. You can get a kit at the auto store to do this, just follow the directions. This is the easiest way if you've got that much air in the lines.
If that isn't an option you'll need a jar, lots of brake fluid, a tube to go from the bleeder to the bottom of the jar, a piece of 2x4, and an assistant. Put about 1" of brake fluid in the bottom of the jar and connect the hose to the tip of the bleeder and then run the hose into the jar. Be sure the hose is submerged in brake fluid. This prevents air from back flushing into the system. Open the brake fluid canister on the top of the truck and top off as much as you can.
Place the 2x4 under the brake pedal so that the pedal cannot be pushed all the way to the floor (you can use bricks too, if those are handy). This keeps you from extending the brake master cylinder beyond it's normal range of travel and blowing old gunk into the lines or blowing the brake master cylinder seals.
Turn on the truck so the brake booster helps push fluid thru the lines. Have your assistant pump the brake pedal as you open and close the bleeder valve. Be sure that you close the valve BEFORE the assistant gets to the bottom of the pedal. Do this just a few times and then check the fluid reservior up top. DO NOT LET IT GO EMPTY, or you'll just have to start everything over. Keep it up until you've chased out all the air. It takes a lot more fluid than you might think to fill up the calipers, I recall doing my cylinders in the back a while back and it took forever to get fluid to fill them up.
After you've chased out the air, my suggestion would be to start at the back passenger wheel and do all 4 wheels again, going from the back passenger wheel, back driver, front passenger, and end with front driver.
You might need to pressure flush the brake system to the front two calipers. You can get a kit at the auto store to do this, just follow the directions. This is the easiest way if you've got that much air in the lines.
If that isn't an option you'll need a jar, lots of brake fluid, a tube to go from the bleeder to the bottom of the jar, a piece of 2x4, and an assistant. Put about 1" of brake fluid in the bottom of the jar and connect the hose to the tip of the bleeder and then run the hose into the jar. Be sure the hose is submerged in brake fluid. This prevents air from back flushing into the system. Open the brake fluid canister on the top of the truck and top off as much as you can.
Place the 2x4 under the brake pedal so that the pedal cannot be pushed all the way to the floor (you can use bricks too, if those are handy). This keeps you from extending the brake master cylinder beyond it's normal range of travel and blowing old gunk into the lines or blowing the brake master cylinder seals.
Turn on the truck so the brake booster helps push fluid thru the lines. Have your assistant pump the brake pedal as you open and close the bleeder valve. Be sure that you close the valve BEFORE the assistant gets to the bottom of the pedal. Do this just a few times and then check the fluid reservior up top. DO NOT LET IT GO EMPTY, or you'll just have to start everything over. Keep it up until you've chased out all the air. It takes a lot more fluid than you might think to fill up the calipers, I recall doing my cylinders in the back a while back and it took forever to get fluid to fill them up.
After you've chased out the air, my suggestion would be to start at the back passenger wheel and do all 4 wheels again, going from the back passenger wheel, back driver, front passenger, and end with front driver.