Next question: brakes. For some reason I lost all brake lever pressure when I moved everything over. I have swapped to the shorter line, the calipers are identical, I have newish pads and new fluid but I CANNOT get brake pressure no matter how many times I bleed. It feels like the cylinder isn't moving any fluid at all - it's taking 10-20 pumps just to get the fluid to move down visibly. I've removed the lever and I'm compressing the cylinder by hand now, still the same problem.
Is it possible to tear a seal in the cylinder by pressuring the system while there's no disc between the pads?
Don't panic.... I've just done this on my Peugeot 2 days ago.
It's a great (messy) problem to fix..... cos then you'll know for ever (and you can then impress your mates, when they have the same prob
).
The Fundamentals:With a brake hose full of air...... the air stretches..... it's not solid like fluid.
So you can't 'pump - open bleed - close bleed - release pump'
Instead of sucking new fluid into the piston (from the reservoir), the air just sponges back and forth.
Factories get around this by simply forcing fluid from the top, all the way through the system.
Once the system is full of fluid...... a few bubbles don't stop the pump working, so you can force the air bubbles out by bleeding.
Your problem is that you can't get the pump working, cos there's not enough fluid in the system (fluid that is next to the master cylinder).
Solution:Two man job is easiest..... I did it myself using vices.
Remove the caliper.
Remove the brake hose completely, and fill it with fluid.
Tape one side (bottom) of the master cylinder hose banjo with very sticky tape (aluminium tape works).
Stick a small funnel in the top side of the banjo....... and simply pour in fluid (with the hose flat to slight incline).
(Some people have been known to use the dangerous method....... with a tube of toothpaste to hand..... they stick one end in the fluid, and very carefully suck....... when the hose is full, the mate puts fingers over the banjo, while the 'sucker' (
) washes his mouth out ten times with toothpaste and water.)
The top banjo is then attached to the master cylinder....... then with the hose above the master cylinder, fingers are released, and the bottom banjo is attached to the caliper.
Make sure both banjos are fully tight...... they WILL leak air otherwise.
Now to get the air out of the hose.Hold the caliper above the master cylinder.
Push clear silicone tube over the bleed nipple.
It's quicker if you just remove the nipple, and screw the silicone tube into the bleed hole.
Pour fluid into the tube..... I attached a funnel to the tube, and quarter filled it with fluid.
Now, with the caliper above the master cylinder,
and a piece of wood between the caliper pistons....... you just pump away.
No messing around with opening and closing the bleed screw........ the air is gonna rise
Just keep pumping in and out until no more bubbles appear........ then refit or close the nipple.
Okay...... you are now back to normal...... a bit messy, and half an hour gone...... but it was worth it
You are now ready to bleed the calipers.The banjos will not be in the correct position..... so without touching the brake lever, just slacken the bolt, and tap them into the position, to allow you to refit the caliper....... then obviously fully tighten.
Now bleed the brakes as you would normally do.
SummaryAll you've done is re-created a closed hydraulic system
Good eh?
).
) washes his mouth out ten times with toothpaste and water.)