brake help please....for a friend

[Psychobilly Boi]

Hello all,

I'm posting this for a friend. He is having some fustrating issues with his brakes - here is the low down:

Its a 54 Hudson, running later model Holden (GM) brakes and boosters - disks on the front, drums on the rears.

He recently installed air bags, and knicked one of the brake lines, which he replaced with new line.

He tried to bleed the system, but when he pumps the brake pedal it goes straight to the floor without getting hard. If he releases the bleed nipple at the brake, a tiny amount of fluid spurts out...but not enough to bleed the system.

He clamped the flexible line just before each brake, and then pumped the pedal - rock hard.

Does anyone have any generic pointers for him? He wants to get the Hudson back on the road so any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Danny

[Machinos]

Maybe one of the flex lines is bulging or something. That's pretty weird.

Maybe getting one of those hand-pumped brake bleeder things would work, since they suck the fluid out instead of trying to push it out with the pedal.

[PEDDRO]

I had a SIMILAR problem while bleeding my system with a new booster that I'd just mounted: Pumped pedal for ages (one-man bleed system hooked up) but no fluid...???? Turned out I'd bloody well forgotten to hook up one of the brake lines to the outlet!! It was pumping fluid all over the freshly painted area below my booster.

[Reggie]

You might try to bleed with an open line. Basically, open the bleader valve, slip one end of a snug piece of vaccum hose over the bleeder and the other end submerged into a bottle of brake fluid. Now pump the pedal about 5-7 times. You should see air bubbles flowing out of the vaccum hose and bubbling into the brake fluid. Top off the brake fluid. Repeat the these steps until no more bubbles are seen. Tighten the bleader valve (Do not remove the hose from the bleader valve and keep it submerged into the brake fluid until the bleeder valve is closed). Now see check to see if you have brakes. Hope that helps.

[1oldtimer]

make sure the bleeder is ok, the rubber line has a crush ring installed and the housing isn't cracked (line or caliper).

[tommy]

If the m/cyl went dry you might need to bench bleed the m/cyl. again.

[Psychobilly Boi]

Thank you all!

Problem turns out to be a faulty master cylinder. when the pedal is depressed it pumps the brake fuid through the system, but when the brake is released, it sucks the fuid back up again.

Thanks again for all who replied to this thread....much appreciated.

Danny