swapped axles now no brakes?!

[Adambomb946]

^^^ Vice grips work just as well as long as your clamping them on the hoses and not the lines. Acually thats pretty much how you have to do it with new cars these days anways cause if you push fluid back up through the lines you might destroy the ABS. Yeah Liam, I would think that the rears would at least have SOME grab but maybe as the fluid is traveling to the front calipers its meeting the trapped air and just forcing air through the entire system since there no resistance.

 

[liamkeough88]

Well hello adam. I bet ur wishing u still had your Bronco II..lol.. im thinking we should have time on weds. to fix the brakes.. if this caliper issue is the problem. Maybe finish up the fatmat on the interior too.

 

[Adambomb946]

I think about it everyday. I'm glad i sold it when i did because the axleshaft broke going into the knuckle and apparently exploded sending schrapnel everywhere causing the front ends' rust spots to crack and buckle. I had no clue it was THAT bad but I did get 2,000 bucks out of it Indeed my fellow afFORDable enthusiast, we will fix the brake issue and finish the fatmat on wednesday. I'll take pics of the install and give them to you so you can post them here or what have you. DIY article perhaps?

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

^^^ Vice grips work just as well as long as your clamping them on the hoses and not the lines. Acually thats pretty much how you have to do it with new cars these days anways cause if you push fluid back up through the lines you might destroy the ABS. Yeah Liam, I would think that the rears would at least have SOME grab but maybe as the fluid is traveling to the front calipers its meeting the trapped air and just forcing air through the entire system since there no resistance.

you should never clamp down on the brake hoses with anything. unless you're talking about putting a piece of rubber hose on the end of the line and clamping it shut? i guess that would work

 

[Adambomb946]

I understand the reasoning behind not clamping them because they may crack if they are old and dry rotted. In which case they should be replaced. I've yet to run into any problems while clamping down on rubber brake hoses. The vice grips im talking about have rubber boots over the jaws, like a glove so you dont tear the hoses. They are specificaly made for this job.

 

[chazzone]

You should still never clamp down on a brake hose. Old or not, it's likely to stress or tear the hose, and will definitely weaken it.

I'm not sure why anyone would do this, anyway.

All you have to do is wire the hose, end up, and it wont leak, then screw it into the caliper when you're ready. I do it all the time, and have never had an issue, but I've seen plenty of bulging brake line from where someone clamped them off.

If your calipers are full of air, then you're not likely to have any real brake pedal feel, and unless you've taken the vehicle down the road and drastically changed it's attitude, then the air is not likely to travel through the system.

Once you put the calipers on correctly, it should be able to be bled properly and be fine.

 

[Adambomb946]

^^^ I'm just wondering if something else is wrong because there is zero grab at all. The pedal has some resistance when the truck is off but when its running the pedal just goes all the way to the floor with no resistance at all. I know that the front calipers are upside down but I would think that the rears would at least grab. Can someone explain this to me? Also, lets just assume that the lines and master cylinder have been completely bled of air. What else could cause this problem?

 

[289-tiger-]

Glad you may have the issue under control, watch out for L and R on the boxes... you'll be fine.

Good luck

 

[liamkeough88]

Glad you may have the issue under control, watch out for L and R on the boxes... you'll be fine.

Good luck

I will know for sure on weds. if its under control..lol.. but i hoping this is the issue. I should have paid more attention. The funny thing is that the calipers have different part numbers depending on side, and i knew this.

 

[289-tiger-]

I will know for sure on weds. if its under control..lol.. but i hoping this is the issue. I should have paid more attention. The funny thing is that the calipers have different part numbers depending on side, and i knew this.

Let everyone know if it works.

Stay away from Vise grip methods read above and remember that brakes are always more important than the horsepower or set up of a vehicle. You cannot get around the laws of physics. And we have all done that before so don't sweat it.

Hope its fixed

Good luck

 

[leumas12]

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.

Is this for real??? Im having the same problem with my brakes after my axle swap: calipers are all right-side-up, getting clean fluid through all 4 bleeders, but pedal is still really soft. The fluid was most likely completely drained from the abs block. Is there any way to make it flow fluid normally or bleed it myself? I dont need the ABS to function since this is a trail truck only. If theres nothing i can do i will take out the lines and bypass it altogether. Sorry for the hijack!

Sam

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Is this for real??? Im having the same problem with my brakes after my axle swap: calipers are all right-side-up, getting clean fluid through all 4 bleeders, but pedal is still really soft. The fluid was most likely completely drained from the abs block. Is there any way to make it flow fluid normally or bleed it myself? I dont need the ABS to function since this is a trail truck only. If theres nothing i can do i will take out the lines and bypass it altogether. Sorry for the hijack!

Sam

yes it happens, i believe there is a bleeder on the ABS pump/valves itself that you can manually bleed. and if that doesn't work then you just have to cycle the motor.

 

[leumas12]

Once again, sorry for the hijack

I did try the manual bleeder on the ABS block but could not get anything out of it. I tried cracking the bleeder and pressing down on the brake but couldnt get anything out of it, no air or fluid. I tried with the engine off as well as running, abs block connected and not connected to the electrical system. Is there something Im missing about bleeding this thing?

 

[liamkeough88]

problem solved!! switched the calipers around and had to tighten up a few of the new lines.. and bam. .brakes work! thanks for all the help
Liam

 

[289-tiger-]

problem solved!! switched the calipers around and had to tighten up a few of the new lines.. and bam. .brakes work! thanks for all the help
Liam

Amazing how a little unpurged air will shut down a system.

Enjoy your brakes

Good luck