Cant bleed brakes

Tiny
COLIN2001
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER
  • 92,000 MILES
No abs on unit. Replaced two rotten rear brake lines. Replaced master. Replaced both front calipers.I am a licenced mech for over 20 years and this unit will not bleed.3 lines off front section of master and 1 on the rear.2 lines of the front section go to each wheel (no proportioning valve) one line goes to valve over the rear axle. The one line on the rear of the master also goes too the valve over the rear axle. Out of the valve comes one line to the rr wheel cyl then a line out of the rr goes across to the left. Cant gravity bleed even tried the vaccuum method and no luck. Any sugestions
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 AT 12:27 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
I'm not familiar with that specific system but it sounds like what happens on GM front-wheel-drive cars when you press the brake pedal too far during pedal-bleeding. A valve in the master cylinder trips and blocks the two ports that weren't building up as much pressure, as in when there's a leak. The only way I ever found to reset that valve was to give a quick short burst of compressed air into one of the open bleeder screws at a wheel that won't bleed, then let it gravity-bleed. If you have to irritate the brake pedal a little by hand to get the flow started, just press it an inch or two a few times.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-bleed-or-flush-a-car-brake-system

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-brake-master-cylinder
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Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 AT 12:34 AM
Tiny
RBROWN027
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 84,000 MILES
I have a 2001 chevy tracker lt 4wd 2.5v6---when you press on the brake pedal to stop the brakes almost go to the floor they also feel a little spongy.I've had the brakes bled does no good 1 mech. Said the master cyclinder is bad another said the brake booster is bad can you shed some light on this?
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Usually with a bad brake booster you get a hard pedal not a soft pedal. So do you have drum or disc brake in the rear?
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RBROWN027
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Disc brakes
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Alright if you had drum brakes I was going to tell you I would try adjusting up out of adjustment drum brakes can cause a low brake pedal. Can you pump the brake pedal up and make it hard?Do you have abs?Did you or a shop bleed the brakes?
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RBROWN027
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Sorry I have drum brakes also I have ABS. When you pump the brakes you do get a better pedal.I have had the brakes bled twice they also looked for any leaks and didn't find any.
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
You say you have rear drum brakes have you tried adjusting them up?If there out of adjustment it can cause a low pedal.
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 12:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CROMWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The non ABS tracker rear brakes has a valve mounted to the rear axle that cuts flow to the rear brakes if the body raises. Or if the body is blocked up and the axle is floating in the air. I am currently looking for a bleeding procedure for this as it only has a bleeder on the drivers side for the rear brakes. Doing a total rear brake rebuild so will need to bleed. One wheel cylinder leaky, so replacing both. I suspect that I will have to drop the vehicle down on it's wheels to bleed the rear brakes.
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Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 AT 4:30 PM
Tiny
MASTER ASE TECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 82 POSTS
On that car you bleed both rear cylinders from the one bleeder valve point. See attached.
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Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 AT 11:31 AM

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