Brake Lines Suck!!

[toofun]

Bought all new brake lines, combination valve, master cylinder, and hydroboost. Connected everything together and for the life of me I cant get my friging brake lines to stop weeping fluid. From what I can tell it is only the main back brake line and the line going from the back of the master cylinder into the combo valve as well. ALL THE FRIGING LINES ARE NEW AND THEY STILL *&%$#@ LEAK!! Is there something I can put on them to help? How about thread sealer? I know it is a compression fit but this is ridiculous. EVERYTHING IS NEW!! Any help would be appreciated. I AM REALLY STARTING TO HATE BRAKES!!!

[rocketrod]

Are you using stainless steel or just steel? I used stainless steel and replaced everthing like you and had a few leaks. At each leak I examined the connection closely. i had to either backed it out a turn or two and retightened, or completely disassembled and bend the lines to ensure the male/female flares were in properly alignment and reduce any stress at the connection.

[Rick Dorion]

I initially had some leaks and with a combination of loosen/tighten got them sealed. I don't think there's a problem per se given you replaced all the lines. Did you flare them yourself?

[toofun]

THey are all stainless steel lines. I have reloosened them and retightened them and so far seems to be no leaks. One question I do have is how much fluid so it take to bleed out the lines. They all were completely dry and I am using a mighty vac hand pump at the furthest point. I so far have pumped up the vaccum pressure to about 30 lbs six times and am sucking mostly air and very little fluid. Is this normal? At this rate seems like I will be going through about three bottles of brake fluid. Is there a better way or better pump out there?

[Rick Dorion]

I have not had good luck with miti-vac unless you seal the bleeder threads with teflon tape. It will suck air around the threads, looking like air in the lines. SS is difficult to seal. Sometimes (Kyle at DSE mentioned this to me) concial seals are used to get a seal on stainless.

http://www.holley.com/types.asp?type=264

[MarkM66]

Yes brake lines do suck. I just had a fitting start to leak after a few weeks, just out of the blue. I let the car sit a few days without looking at it, then I look down at the frame as see a big spot of paint bubbled up. Damn!

To get air out of the lines, just fill the master cylinder, and open a bleader screw. Just wait awhile and it'll gravity blead itself. I always use this method, I don't bench blead the m/c either.

After I get fluid out of every caliper this way, I then get some help and pressure blead the whole deal. Once or twice around and it's done.

[rockdogz]

I had to bleed with new lines, and it took a LONG time... I did a lot of pumping with the brake pedal plus using a vacuum pump (which was of limited usefulness as the vacuum tube fitting on the bleeder screw kept coming off). I kept hearing fluid noises just behind the m/c (like sucking something up a straw) and thought it was a leak, but it was probably just fluid going over a bend in the tubing. Eventually it came all the way through, but like I said it was a while - several hours of work over a couple days, but then again it was my first time. I didn't bench bleed the m/c, but did plug the holes and pump it while it was on the car; not sure if that helped.

[Joe_Rocket]

I tried the Mity-Vac, too and it didn't work for sh*! I gave this info in another post, so I just repasted here.

I had a hell of a time bleeding the system when I made the switch (refering to DOT5). Not sure why, and I'm not all that experienced, but I grabbed a piece of steel stock I had lying around, drilled a hole in the center, and welded an air fitting on it. I clamped that down with a quick hand cut rubber seal and put a little pressure to it. That did the trick for me. Just be sure to check the fluid level every so often. It flows well under pressure.

[toofun]

Got all the lines to seal( AT LEAST FOR NOW) And I gravity bleed the brakes( Special thanks to Paul at HYDROBOOST for all your help so far) Everything is going great.....at least it was until I when to tighten the front bleeder screw and it snapped in half!!!! I think someone up there does not want me driving this car. Anyways it is off to the local SEARS to pick up an EASY OUT? If that doesnt work then off comes the caliper and down to the local machine shop. UGH!!!!!! These brake Gremlins are KILLING ME!!!!

[MarkM66]

If you don't mind taking the caliper off, you might be better off taking it to a machine shop. They're good at getting out broken bolts and such.

[toofun]

Now this is getting funny. I bought the tool, followed the instructions, and slowly started to turn the extractor so I could remove the bleeder screw and WHAM!! IT SNAPPED OFF. I took the damn caliper off and brought it to the machine shop. Upon inspecting it, the guy said that I would be better off buying a pair of new calipers for both sides since they are cheap enough and these have some wear on them. SO off I went in search of this readily available part. AUTOZONE, NAPA, LOCAL SPEED SHOP, BRAKE WAREHOUSE.... ALL OF THEM DIDNT HAVE IT ON THE SHELF. After about two hours of calling and searching, finnally have them in my hands. Funny thing is when I cross referenced the caliper numbers on the one I took off it is for a 70 camaro, not a 69. Dont really care since I wanted exactly what I took off the car. Long story short, the new ones are on and add another new piece of the whole brake system to the lot. I will gravity bleed again tommorrow and then pressure bleed the system with a pressure bleeder I picked up thanks to advice in this thread. Will keep you posted. To date the only pieces that are from the original braking system are the pad and rotors!! Just gotta laugh at this point. If I could have put this whole ordeal on film it would have made for some hilarious slap stick comedy.(at my expense of course......)

Mark
TOOFUN .........NOT!!!

[toofun]

Well after three different posts, numerous mystery problems with the whole braking system. New lines, New 11 inch drum setup in the rear, New master cylinder, New Hydroboost(WOW), New combination valve, New calipers and a power bleeder. I have my brakes back. MAN this thing really woes to a stop in a hellava hurry. The 11 inch back drum setup and hydroboost are really unbelievable. Couple of little bugs to work out but all in all I am very happy with the whole thing. Nice to be able to blast down the road knowing that you can stop when you need to. Finally will be able to get to the car shows now that half the summer is over!!......


Mark

TOOFUN.... AGAIN!!

[MarkM66]

Glad you got it fixed.

These damn cars can be fustrating at times.