swapped axles now no brakes?!

[liamkeough88]

Alright, so the other day I finished up swapping in both my dana 35 and explorer 8.8 as well as installing my lift/extended brake lines.. all that jazz. before installing the axles i installed all new brake components and far as i know all is in working order. Now the axles and the truck had both been sitting for maybe a few weeks with no brake fluid (had broken line on the truck so all fluid drained out)

So i get everything done bleed the brakes.. and the pedal is still soft? maybe it is just coincidence that my master cylinder died .. but i do not kno. This is all on an 88 ranger.. axles that i swapped in are from a 93 explorer..as far as i know the master cylinders are the same so it shouldnt be an issue of my master cylinder not having enough power.. maybe it did just happen to go bad on me but it was working just fine before i dismantled everything. any thought?

 

[pyro4fun]

Not to question your capability but, did you make sure there was no air in ALL 4 lines?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If the master was drained completely, you need to bench bleed the master cylinder.

Bleed it a few times by cracking the fittings right at the master cylinder.

 

[chazzone]

Probably an issue with the ABS block. If it gets air in it, it requires a machine that hooks into the ABS system to pump it out.

 

[liamkeough88]

Not to question your capability but, did you make sure there was no air in ALL 4 lines?

I hooked up an air powered bleeder and sucked through atleast a bottle from each corner. So one would think all the air is out.

 

[liamkeough88]

If the master was drained completely, you need to bench bleed the master cylinder.

Bleed it a few times by cracking the fittings right at the master cylinder.

Well i had to replace the hardlines at the master cylinder bc the fittings busted when i installed the extended lines..i filled the master cylinder resevoir b4 doing this and fluid came pouring out no problem when i disconnected my old hardlines. I dont know if that is sufficient. i will try to bleed again where you r telling me tomorrow.

 

[liamkeough88]

Probably an issue with the ABS block. If it gets air in it, it requires a machine that hooks into the ABS system to pump it out.

no abs in my truck..

 

[liamkeough88]

is it possible that i am wrong and i do need the mastercylinder out of an explorer?

 

[Guilius]

you said you did not have ABS? or, like most of us you just disconnected the ABS, and still have hardware under the hood?
As far as i know you do not need to swap out the master cylinder only if you had the RABS or 4wheel ABS, as the cylynder is the same on the ranger/explorer for these.
you may want to get a new master cylinder to handle the rear disc brakes now on the vehicle.


then again, i still have not had the time to try and fix my soft petal problem, and swapping master cylinders is my next step, if it does not go away from trying to bleed the Hydraulic Control unit for the ABS.

 

[swamprat]

Did you use a master cylinder from the ex because the new axles have rear disc?

 

[Guilius]

Did you use a master cylinder from the ex because the new axles have rear disc?

was that a question for myself or the original poster? i did not swap out the master Cylinder as it was verified same part number used in the explorer and my ranger. i am not ruling out the fact that my master cylinder may be bad, but i am also 100% confident i have air in the HCU. i just have not gotten around to borrowing my friends breakout box to fix it, as he lives about 2 hours away and our schedules are off. i would like to try bleeding the HCU before swapping out my master cylinder.

 

[Andres629]

Umm... he doesn't have rear disc brakes. But as stated by Sasquatch, bench bleed the MC and go from there.

 

[liamkeough88]

donor vehicle for the front axle had abs. but when i rebuild the brakes for it i used all non abs parts... and my truck never did have abs. And the 8.8 has drums.. didnt have time to try to bleed the master cylinder today.. but i will let you guys know how it goes.

 

[brendank]

If the master was drained completely, you need to bench bleed the master cylinder.

This!

A master doesn't just die when you swap out an axle. There is air in the lines, or more likely, in the master.

 

[liamkeough88]

so, I did my version of bleedind the MC itself yesterday and the same problem persists. (disconneted the hardlines at he MC one at a time and pumped the brake. fluid sprayed out with no problems. Had a friend plug the flow outlet hole when i raised the pedal as not to draw in any air) then again bleeded the brake lines. Like i said the problem is still there..what do you guys think? I i figure my method of bleeding the MC is sufficient.