Something happened where i lost all my brake fluid in my car... i had to make it the rest of the way home so i drove with no fluid/brakes for a while. I added fluid in, and its staying full and not leaking anywhere, yet when i push down on the pedal i still get no resistance or grabbing. A friend said that there is probably alot of air trapped in the lines from using the brakes empty, and it needs to be "purged". i got the instructions on doing so, but i want to get some more opinions before, in case something like this could cause problems if not done correctly. Could this really be the case that it simply needs to be purged, i mean the job looks somewhat easy. One more note, i will admit i cant even remember the last time i checked my brake fluid, so this could have been a real gradual loss, not instantaneous, in which case i would assume the problem to be a ruptured hose or line or something... thanks in advance!
2006-10-06 03:56:23 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If the master cylinder gets empty, air will be pumped into the system. The brakes now need to be bled.
However, if the master cylinder went dry, you do have a leak somewhere. Maybe minor, but you do have one. Probably a rear wheel cylinder. Hope this helps.
Master tech 40 yrs.
2006-10-06 04:06:30 · answer #1 · answered by Cal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you may have a small leak somewhere in your system, or maybe even a large one if they failed all of a sudden. To find it, you'll have to refill the system and bleed it. To bleed brakes, find the wheel that's furthest away from the brake cylinder, one of the back wheels, since if you start bleeding that one, it will get rid of most of the air in the system. Get a friend to help you pump the brakes while you are under the car bleeding the system.
The proper technique to use is to have your friend pump the brakes a few times and hold the pedal to the floor. Then you will unscrew the bleeder behind the brake cylinder on each wheel. When the air or fluid combination quits coming out, tighten up the bleeder and have your friend repump the brakes. Repeat this 4 or 5 times, and then recheck your master cylinder to see if you need to add more fluid to it. Keep going on each wheel until there is no air that squirts out with the brake fluid. If there is a major leak, it should be obvious to find while you are doing the work. If it's a minor leak, make sure that you clean off all the surfaces with brake cleaner and check for puddles under your car for the next few weeks, including inside behind your wheels. Keep checking your master cylinder as you drive it periodically too so you don't run out again. Good luck.
2006-10-06 11:05:01 · answer #2 · answered by sethle99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a buddy to bleed brakes if you have an empty plastic oil bottle and about 10 feet of clear aquarium air line.
Poke a hole in the top of the oil bottle so the aquarium line will be tight going into it. Put the lid on the bottle, and you now have a one-man bleeder kit.
It really doesn't matter which wheel you start with. Loosen the bleeder fitting on the slave cylinder and shove the other end of the aquarium line over it.
"Loosen the bleeder fitting" you will mutter as you strip it with a crescent wrench. No, never use an adjustable metric wrench on a bleeder screw. Brake fluid attracts water which rusts bleeder screws real good. Use a 6 point box wrench or socket. If it doesn't unscrew, use liquid wrench, but you'll have to wait 6 hours for liquid wrench to loosen it up.
Now put a full large bottle of brake fluid upside down into the master cylinder reservoir. Suction will keep it from emptying itself.
Lay the plastic oil bottle with the line coming out of it outside the driver's side door so you can see the clear aquarium line and pump the brakes until you see the dirty fluid being pushed out and clean fluid coming through.
The pressure in the sealed oil bottle will keep air from entering back into the bleeder screw. Tighten the bleeder screw and move on to the next wheel.
When you get done, your brake pedal will be viagra hard, and you will have changed your brake fluid.
2006-10-06 11:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you have new brakes installed , your master cylinder would be full. As the pads and shoes wear down, the level of fluid goes down as well but not to the point that you will lose your pedal and get air in the system. More than likely your master cylinder's rear seal is leaking fluid into the power brake booster. Remove the wheels and check the obvious 1st. Check the hoses, calipers and wheel cylinders. If they are all dry, then begin to suspect your master cylinder for a replacement. I bet if you remove it, you will see the rear of the master is wet and the source of your disappearing fluids. Replace the master, bleed the system and your good to go.
Good Luck
2006-10-06 11:15:25 · answer #4 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
air in your brake lines could be the problem. i had a car ones that just had air bubbles in the lines and it affected the brakes- it was like push the pedal to the floor and pray. i had to have them purged to get the air out and then they worked fine. i'd call a shop and ask them though and find the possibilities of it being something else.
2006-10-06 11:06:55 · answer #5 · answered by i_left_my_mind_with_the_baby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You definately have a leak somewhere although it might be small its there. As for bleeding the brakes (purging air) it is neccisary and from the sounds of it it is the cause of your problem and it is also pretty simple. so follow the directions and look for you leak at the same time
2006-10-06 11:01:35 · answer #6 · answered by diesmart2006 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like your friend might be right, so just have some one pump the pedal while the car is off and find the bleeder valves and go around the four wheels, starting from the furthest from the master cylinder first, you only need to bleed them two or three times, but after you finish one wheel check your fluid.
2006-10-06 11:01:33 · answer #7 · answered by kendo2_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to replace the brake line or a wheel cylinder that is leaking before you bleed(purge) the brakes!!!!
2006-10-07 03:19:51 · answer #8 · answered by SOLUN macedonia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
these answers are all correct.
2006-10-06 11:26:53 · answer #9 · answered by nate_625 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋