I have a 1999 Chrysler Town & Contry minivan. I have replaced the front brake pads, rotors, and calibers. Everything is back together, but now my left front brake will not work, it don't even compress the caliber to stop the wheel. I have bled the lines, I have fluid coming out of the brake line going to the caliber, but none coming out of the bleeder valve when I open it. The right side is working normaly. What is the problem, and how would I fix it? I thought it was a bad caliber, and retured one and exchanged it once and still same thing. Please help.
2007-07-04 06:32:24 · 5 answers · asked by jstme 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I have seen this numerous times when I wa sstill in the field. It sounds like you still have air in the lines. The best way to fix this is to gravity bleed the system. Open all the bleeder valves and wait until the fluid comes pouring out. May take a while, but eventually it will start pouring. When the fluid starts coming out close all the lines and bleed all 4 wheels. Always start with the longest line first. So blead them in this order: rirght rear, left rear, right front and left front. Otherwise you will just be chasing air.
2007-07-04 06:48:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From your post, you seem to know how to bleed brakes, so I won't get into that, unless it's your first time trying this... Do you have a one-man bleeding kit?
when installing new calipers, you have to pump awhile to get them filled, and it will take a good quantity of oil so you must be careful to have the master cylinder full.
Have you removed the bleeder valve completely to see if indeed you are pushing oil? Is there is enough pressure to push oil into the caliper? Check the copper washer between the line and the caliper to see if it's not blocking the oil flow.
If my memory serves me well, on older, non abs cars, the master cylinder had 2 pressure chambers, and the lines were hooked in a X pattern: front right with left back on one chamber, front left with back right on the other, with a pressure regulator controlling pressure distribution. It means that you could have to bleed a rear wheel as well, especially if oil level got low during the fix-up.
Good luck!
2007-07-04 06:53:07 · answer #2 · answered by scarypat2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rebuilt parts can have a high defect rate. Double check the entire left wheel install, making sure nothing is loose or installed backwards. If all is OK get another caliper after checking the bleeder valve isn't stuck.
2007-07-04 06:37:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have a problem with the ABS system (if you have ABS) causing the pressure to dump. Any warning lights on the dash illuminated?
2007-07-04 06:45:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Swelled or plugged flex line to the wheel?
2007-07-04 06:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋