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I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes!


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bowtimeup
User

Feb 17, 2012, 9:07 AM

Post #1 of 22 (4663 views)
I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

I am working on a 1991 Chevy Truck 1500....engine is 5.7 with 139,000 miles. The problem is that there is very minimal brakes. I have replaced the master cylinder and bled all 4 wheels. No air is left in these lines. Pedal is normal when not running, but when I crank the truck........still spongy brakes. I have no abs. I have replaced the (EH? valve) and still no change. I am at my wits end! Any suggestions that I haven't considered. Thanks, Marilyn


Hammer Time
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Feb 17, 2012, 9:58 AM

Post #2 of 22 (4637 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

It likely needs to be electronically bled with a scan tool if it has ABS.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bowtimeup
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Feb 17, 2012, 10:04 AM

Post #3 of 22 (4633 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

It has no abs. I also forgot to mention that it is a 4 wheel drive. Thanks for your reply


Hammer Time
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Feb 17, 2012, 10:18 AM

Post #4 of 22 (4628 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

And you did nothing but replace the master?
You didn't have anything else apart?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bowtimeup
User

Feb 17, 2012, 10:40 AM

Post #5 of 22 (4624 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

I have replaced the master cylinder twice, the little black box beside the master cylinder, the proportioning valve and the EH valve for the RWAL. Still no brakes when running.


Discretesignals
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Feb 17, 2012, 10:46 AM

Post #6 of 22 (4621 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In


Quote
I have replaced the master cylinder twice, the little black box beside the master cylinder, the proportioning valve and the EH valve for the RWAL.



Quote
It has no abs.



?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
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Feb 17, 2012, 10:50 AM

Post #7 of 22 (4614 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In


Quote
and the EH valve for the RWAL


Make up your mind.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bowtimeup
User

Feb 17, 2012, 11:02 AM

Post #8 of 22 (4609 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

So the RWAL is abs? Hey, woman here trying to learn this stuff. Enywho......its all been replaced. Still the same. The back brakes are just standard drums, but no sensors or anything going to them. This is why I figured they had no abs


Hammer Time
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Feb 17, 2012, 11:09 AM

Post #9 of 22 (4605 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

RWAL = Rear Wheel Anti Lock

ABS = Anti-lock Brake System

How did this problem start? Was the master changed to resolve an existing problem or did it cause the problem?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bowtimeup
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Feb 17, 2012, 11:35 AM

Post #10 of 22 (4598 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

I bought it this way. I figured I could fix it..........Just took the drums off to see if there was a problem there, but they seem fine too. I have never ran across a problem I couldnt fix, especially on a chevrolet.


Hammer Time
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Feb 17, 2012, 12:20 PM

Post #11 of 22 (4588 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Just for the hell of it, look at the front calipers and see if the bleeder is above or below the line fitting.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bowtimeup
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Feb 17, 2012, 12:22 PM

Post #12 of 22 (4585 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Its above..on top


Discretesignals
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Feb 17, 2012, 12:27 PM

Post #13 of 22 (4583 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

When you inspected the rear brakes, did you make sure the adjuster was operational and the star wasn't rounded off? Make sure the rear brakes are adjusted up.

Just some FYI. The pedal feel on those year trucks won't feel hard like the brake pedal on something like a Honda. They are known for having spongy pedals which was normal in their design. If it goes to the floor or gets harder when you pump the pedal, then you have a problem.





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bowtimeup
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Feb 17, 2012, 12:34 PM

Post #14 of 22 (4580 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Took the brake adjusters out, took them apart and cleaned them up then re-lubed them before installing them back in. Everything moves with ease and they adjusted as they should. One of them wasn't in the slot so it wouldn't adjust at all. They did make some difference in breaking. I know these trucks usually have some travel before you feel the breaks engage, but its a little too much as it sits. About 3" of travel before you feel any breaks. Thanks for all the advice.


Discretesignals
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Feb 17, 2012, 12:50 PM

Post #15 of 22 (4575 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

How about the front caliper slide pins? Are they free and lubed? There are o rings the sleeve slide through. Make sure they aren't hard or cracked.

On the rear be sure your wheel cylinders aren't seized and not extending the shoes out.

Inspect your brake hoses and make sure they aren't cracked. Sometimes the hoses can act as balloons when you mash the brakes giving you spongy pedal.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Feb 17, 2012, 12:52 PM)


bowtimeup
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Feb 17, 2012, 1:09 PM

Post #16 of 22 (4568 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Rear shoes had build up on them, took the drums off and wire brushed the shoes (no cracks) did one final adjustment and they seem to be better. Hope so. Thanks for all of the help, lets see what happens now


nickwarner
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Feb 17, 2012, 7:31 PM

Post #17 of 22 (4545 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Are you using a proportioning valve depressor tool while you are bleeding these brakes?


Discretesignals
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Feb 17, 2012, 7:44 PM

Post #18 of 22 (4542 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

I thought you only need that tool if you have 4WAL.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Feb 17, 2012, 7:57 PM)


nickwarner
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Feb 17, 2012, 7:57 PM

Post #19 of 22 (4537 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

Could be right on that. Looks like she posted a fix same time I posted a question. One less truck in the world lacking brakes now.


bowtimeup
User

Feb 20, 2012, 7:21 AM

Post #20 of 22 (4512 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

I do have more brakes than I did, but now the brake light stays on. I dont have the tool, so I dont know anything about that. Could you inform me a little on that?


toolman0007
User

Mar 21, 2013, 7:47 PM

Post #21 of 22 (3964 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

did you check or even consider the brake booster. start it up let it run a bit and shut it off. when off pull the vacuum hose with the insert off the booster you should hear a good rush of air if so it's ok .if not it's bad.


Hammer Time
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Mar 21, 2013, 7:55 PM

Post #22 of 22 (3961 views)
Re: I have bled and bled, and still no freekin brakes! Sign In

No, that would be incorrect. You can't blame a booster for a low pedal.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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