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Hello all,
I replaced the front two calipers on my RX300 today after realizing that the RF caliper has been sticking. The slide pins were lubed but the piston boot was ripped, so I decided to just replace the caliper.
After replacing the calipers and bleeding the brakes using the 2 man method. The helper accidentally pumped the brakes while the bleeder bolt was still open.
I then decided it would be best to just gravity bleed it. So I did that for 30 min. Afterwards I decided to give the 2 man method another shot.
The brake pedal still felt soft. I did one panic stop and the ABS kicked in. After which the brake pedal felt firmer.
So should I try and bleed the brakes again? The pedal doesn’t feel too soft now, it almost seems normal. I didn’t bleed the rear brakes as I didn’t touch them, but do you think when the helper pumped the brakes and the air was introduced to the system that the air might have made it’s way back there?
Thank you in advance! Glad to be apart of this forum. I regularly visit Club Lexus & BITOG, so figured I would add another forum to my daily routine. Been watching ETCG since the beginning!
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Your helper’s inadvertent mistake might have introduced a little air at the caliper. The next stroke or two of the brake pedal would have pushed it all back out. The only way to get air elsewhere in the system is to run the master cylinder dry.
A soft pedal after a caliper swap, if it wasn’t that way before, is almost always air in the system. On rare occasions it could be a failed master cylinder but don’t go there until you are sure the brakes are completely bled.
A brake pro can let the system run dry and have the brake system working in no time. The rest of us need to do whatever we can when working on brakes to allow as little air to enter as possible.
In summary – more bleeding.
My assistant is always my wife – need to be nice – need to be nice.
Thanks!
I will attempt to bleed again most likely. I drove the car some more yesterday, and the pedal feels about right. I’ll drive it for a few days, and then bleed again.
I didn’t replace the pads as they are still fairly new, only about 10k miles on them. I caught the dragging caliper early enough that no damage was done to the pads or rotors.
I’m planning on buying this tomorrow: http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-kit-69328.html
Hopefully that will help bleed the brakes properly, and I will have a nice firm pedal! Will you posted!
Pay a little more and get this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-vacuum-pump-39522.html
The one you posted a link to can leak and cause air to get into the system (as can a loose bleeder screw).
[quote=”tbonedude89″ post=104879]Pay a little more and get this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-vacuum-pump-39522.html
The one you posted a link to can leak and cause air to get into the system (as can a loose bleeder screw).[/quote]
Ok, will get that one! Thanks!
Speaking of bleeder screws. When I loosen mine, there seems to be a lot of room around the threads for air to possibly go in maybe it just seems that way because there’s no rust since they are new compared to the old. But, would you recommend I put grease around the outside threads of the bleeder screw to stop any possible air intrusion?
They sell or used to sell a product called a Speed Bleeder. This was a bleeder screw with a check valve inside. The idea was that you could do one person bleeding using the brake pedal. Anyway, on the threads was a teflon like substance that supposedly kept air from leaking past the threads.
I had a set in a car I once owned and they seemed to do the job. I never heard of anyone wrapping the bleeder threads with teflon tape or something similar.
I believe they still sell Speed Bleeders, however I’ve heard they have a failure rate of nearly 50%.
I’ll try putting a bit of grease around the threads of the bleeder if I have issues with air seeping in.
CASE CLOSED!
I picked up the HF brake bleeder and went to town with it! Bled the front brakes, and then decided to just go ahead and bleed the rear brakes too as it was simple enough with this tool.
Well guess what! The pedal feels perfect, it has never felt this good (well that i can remember) and I’ve owned this RX since new!
Thank you everyone for the help!
[quote=”tbonedude89″ post=104930]Did you buy a mityvac bleeder or that cheaper HF model?[/quote]
I went with the HF model. They only had one mityvac left at my store, and it looked like it had been opened. I had a 20% coupon, so I got the HF model for $24 including tax and a 24 pack of AAA batteries for FREE!
The HF ones do work in a pinch (like you’ve experienced), but they usually break down/degrade much faster than other name brands. Glad you were able to fix it!
[quote=”tbonedude89″ post=104933]The HF ones do work in a pinch (like you’ve experienced), but they usually break down/degrade much faster than other name brands. Glad you were able to fix it![/quote]
Yeah, the reviews don’t look great that’s for sure. But for $24, I don’t mind if it never works again! LOL
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