97 Lumina brake problem
frankfulton
04-24-2011, 10:00 PM
I am having problems with my front brakes. It started out with the passenger side caliper not working so I replaced the caliper. Still had the same problem. I then replaced the master cylinder/ABS module. I have bled the brakes and the ABS module. At first the brakes seemed to be ok but the more I drove the car the more the brakes seemed to go back to the original problem. Can anyone help me? I don't know if I'm just not bleeding the ABS module properly or what. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
maxwedge
04-25-2011, 07:19 AM
What was the original problem, plus to bleed the abs you need a scanner to actuate the solenoids in the abs for proper bleeding.
frankfulton
04-25-2011, 10:37 PM
The car stopped poorly and would pull to the left. When I checked the caliper I noticed that it wasn't moving when the pedal was depressed. I bought the car like this so I'm not sure about anything before that.
ibbobud
04-26-2011, 06:56 AM
are any of the other calipers having the same issue?
could have a break hose collapsing but that usually causes a caliper to stick.
I had a mercury villager that did something simular and i found that the left front and the right rear were doing it at the same time and was a master cylendar issue (left front and right rear were on one bank of the cyl... weird but confirmed with dealer).
Does the caliper thats not working geting any fluid at the bleeder bolt? if your geting pressure there then you might have a bad caliper.
could have a break hose collapsing but that usually causes a caliper to stick.
I had a mercury villager that did something simular and i found that the left front and the right rear were doing it at the same time and was a master cylendar issue (left front and right rear were on one bank of the cyl... weird but confirmed with dealer).
Does the caliper thats not working geting any fluid at the bleeder bolt? if your geting pressure there then you might have a bad caliper.
frankfulton
04-27-2011, 10:50 PM
No. Only it is only the passenger side front caliper. I checked the brake hose and it is fine. At first, brake fluid was barely coming out of the caliper when I bled the brakes. After I replaced the master cylinder/ABS module, brake fluid came out good at the bleeder. I am going to attempt to bleed the ABS and brakes again this weekend to see if it helps.
ibbobud
04-28-2011, 08:23 AM
No. Only it is only the passenger side front caliper. I checked the brake hose and it is fine. At first, brake fluid was barely coming out of the caliper when I bled the brakes. After I replaced the master cylinder/ABS module, brake fluid came out good at the bleeder. I am going to attempt to bleed the ABS and brakes again this weekend to see if it helps.
Humm.. If fluid is coming out ok at the caliper i would think the abs selinoid isnt preventing the flow of fluid. Is the caliper new or still the origonal?
Does your pedal feel firm or soft? if you have air in the lines your petal will feel "squishy"
Humm.. If fluid is coming out ok at the caliper i would think the abs selinoid isnt preventing the flow of fluid. Is the caliper new or still the origonal?
Does your pedal feel firm or soft? if you have air in the lines your petal will feel "squishy"
frankfulton
04-28-2011, 10:00 PM
It is a new caliper. The pedal is soft and squishy and goes almost to the floor. I will know more this weekend when I try to bleed the brakes and ABS system. Thanks for you help!
ibbobud
04-29-2011, 08:34 AM
Sounds like air to me.
Start with the wheel farthest from the master cyl. and work your way closer.
Do you have a helper or doing it alone?
What ive allways done is attach a piece of hose to the end of the bleeder and put the other end inside a bottle with some fluid allready in it. Then you can crack the bleeder open and pump the peddle untill you get clean fluid then close the valve. Having the end of the hose in fluid doesnt allow it to suck air back in.
Just make sure you dont let the master cyl run out of fluid!
Start with the wheel farthest from the master cyl. and work your way closer.
Do you have a helper or doing it alone?
What ive allways done is attach a piece of hose to the end of the bleeder and put the other end inside a bottle with some fluid allready in it. Then you can crack the bleeder open and pump the peddle untill you get clean fluid then close the valve. Having the end of the hose in fluid doesnt allow it to suck air back in.
Just make sure you dont let the master cyl run out of fluid!
frankfulton
04-30-2011, 11:13 PM
I bled the brakes again today and there was no change. Maybe there is trapped air in the ABS module. I may need to consult with a brake shop to see if they can find out what the problem is.
maxwedge
05-01-2011, 08:14 AM
See post # 2.
ibbobud
05-01-2011, 10:14 AM
Here is the directions for bleeding your abs system with and without the scantool
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c152802180b2
Sense you probably dont have a pressure bleeder you will go on down to the manual bleeding precedure.
Hope this helps.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c152802180b2
Sense you probably dont have a pressure bleeder you will go on down to the manual bleeding precedure.
Hope this helps.
frankfulton
05-02-2011, 01:31 AM
Ok. Did that and still have the same problem. I beginning to think I may have a defective ABS module or master cylinder but not 100% sure because I still have the same problem as I did before I replaced them. All other brakes are working fine but only having one front brake really makes it difficult to stop.
ibbobud
05-02-2011, 10:11 AM
Im assuming you have inspected the brake line all the way from the abs unit to the wheel for damage / kinks / bends ...
If you replaced the master cyl, the abs unit, and the caliper all that leaves left is the brake flex hose and the hard line itsself.
so when you brake its pulling hard to the drivers side correct? When you release the break does it still seem to want to pull to one side or the other for any amount of time?
If you replaced the master cyl, the abs unit, and the caliper all that leaves left is the brake flex hose and the hard line itsself.
so when you brake its pulling hard to the drivers side correct? When you release the break does it still seem to want to pull to one side or the other for any amount of time?
frankfulton
05-04-2011, 08:49 AM
Yes. I've inspected everything. When I bled the passenger side caliper after I replaced the master cylinde/ABS module I was getting a good stream of fluid out the bleeder screw. When I brake it does pull hard left but immediately releases when I release the brake.
maxwedge
05-04-2011, 07:21 PM
If it pulls lt look at the rt caliper and fluid stream.
frankfulton
05-06-2011, 09:09 PM
I checked the drivers side caliper and fluid stream and it appears to be doing what it is supposed to do.
kevinb70
05-09-2011, 09:51 AM
we're assuming the obvious that you have checked for a warped rotor and replaced your caliper slide pins as they may be bent? did you HIT anything like a curb or have to do very hard braking prior to your problem or anything else you are not telling us that could clue us in?
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