Bleeding my bleeding brakes!

[shark_90]

Well I found the reason for the leaking caliper, ordered a seal kit from Hi-Spec, and rebuilt both front calipers.

Now I'm having trouble bleeding the brakes. Apart from shearing off one of the bleed nipples I just can't seem to get a firm pedal.

I'm using one of the kits that fits onto the bleed nipple with a non-return valve at the end of the pipe.

I got a satisfying amount of air out of the rear brakes and I had a lovely firm pedal when I'd finished doing all the calipers.. until I started the engine. Then the pedal hits the floor and the brakes are next to useless

What am I doing wrong?

[Acidburn]

IIRC you have to bleed these with the engine running (something about it bleeding thru the abs system), someone else also mentioned that the clutch might need bleeding as its on the same system.

[shark_90]

I also read that the clutch is on the same system, but I found it impossible to bleed without it being on a ramp. Maybe I could get to it a bit better from underneath.

So should I have done it with the engine running?

[Acidburn]

I think you have to have the engine running Matt D had a thread recently saying about this as he 2 boiled the fluid at combe, iirc you can get at the clutch thru the steering rack hole from what i've heard.

[Acidburn]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24287

Have a look thru this thread.

[GT500]

Make sure the handbrake is off!!

[shark_90]

Make sure the handbrake is off!!

Yep, read that one in Paul's thread of old!

[T2Andy]

If you still cant manage the brake bleed you can come over to sheffield where we can give you a hand .myself and a few of the lads on here can sort quite a few things between us .im 20 mins from worksop.

[mcandmar]

Make sure the handbrake is off!!

Yep made that mistake too

I've always been curious, what effect would it have depressurising the bomb first?

[S2central.net]

I've never seen any reference in the manuals to needing the engine running for brake bleeding. Only troubles I had was when I'd left that handbrake one.

Bleeding the clutch is indeed a right pain - bet mine has never been done yet.

Paul

[Azman]

Don't need the engine running IIRC. And from the sounds of it the clutch will need doing too. You can get to it with the passengers side front jacked up. Tis a pain though!!!