Brake Problems

I changed the front brake pads on my 91 firebird last night then realized i had a hole in my rear driverside break line. I was told i only needed to bleed that brake. i did it and now i only have front brakes my rear brakes grab but not enough to do anything. Any suggestions on what could be the problem.

Well, how did you bleed them? It sounds like there is still air in the line or something. Does the pedal bleed down when you hold down the pedal hard? There is the outside chance that the master cylinder has a problem. You probably know this already but just in case, rear brakes arent going to hold like the fronts as they are proportioned more to the front. So when you say they dont hold enough, I assume you mean they dont hold when you try and spin the rear wheel while holding the brake if the car is in the air right? Anyway, I would get a buddy to help you pressure bleed the rear brakes one more time for good measure because it sounds like there is air still probably.

Yes i jacked up the rear held the pedal to the floor and my buddy was able to turn the wheel but it was restricted partially. But when we put it down on the ground there was not enough brake to do anything. We have used about 32 oz of brake fluid on the rear brakes and still the same problem. And when we bleed them the pedal just stays pumping you can always get it down to the floor, and when it is being bled the pedal does not drop at all.:banghead:

Yes i jacked up the rear held the pedal to the floor and my buddy was able to turn the wheel but it was restricted partially. But when we put it down on the ground there was not enough brake to do anything. We have used about 32 oz of brake fluid on the rear brakes and still the same problem. And when we bleed them the pedal just stays pumping you can always get it down to the floor, and when it is being bled the pedal does not drop at all.:banghead: We took the hub off pressed the brake (which is not supposed to be done) and the brake shoes didnt move at all.

You have air in the brakes somewhere, try bleeding the other side. If that doesn't fix the problem, bleed the front. If you have abs there is a specific sequence you need to follow to make sure its bled properly, not sure about the procedure for your car if it has abs. On my grand am, you bleed the passenger rear, driver rear, passenger front, driver front in that order. Good luck, air can be a pain in the a**.

youre alwas supposed to bleed it that way, if im not mistaken... thats so that you take out air from the furthest from your master cylinder first.. =) so ive been taught, anyways..

yes that is the way you are suppose to bleed the brakes. I bled the brakes for an hr. and still the same thing. my power booster is fine is their a way to find out if your master cylinder is bad without taking it off. I know i have minimal brakes in the back but like i said my shoes dont even come out any when i take the hub off. Also my brake light is on is there a sensor somewhere back there

Usually the sensor is in the master or up front and comes on when fluid level is low. If you have drum brakes, you may need to replace the wheel cylinders. Aside from that, I'm not sure why the light is still on and you have no rear pedal. Let us know what you find out.

My fluid level is fine its filled all the way up and the light is still on i got in the car tonight and i had partial brakes but still not enough to do anything i mean i had more pedal could it be b/c my shoes are kinda bad

ANY time there is any air introduced to the system you need to bleed every corner.

Farthest away from the master to the closest to the master.

Stupid question...but you did replace the brake line with the hole right? How did it get a hole?

HOLY yes i replaced the line with the hole and i have bled all four brakes and still the same thing it is driving me insane

How many times do you bleed each corner?

well i bought 64 oz of fluid and used it all

Drums on the rear??

E-brake isn't on when bleeding is it?

yes drums in the rear e-brake is not and my e brake works fine. shoes are a little worn down would that do it

You may just need the system adjusted.
Non-ABS right?
I remember something about having to have the system adjusted so it was like 75% front and 25% rear.
Your back brakes aren't going to give you the stopping power of the fronts. The fronts are designed to basicly slow the car themselves with some help from the rears.
Also...you will never see much travel from a brake pad.

yes the car is not abs and i know that gm is 60 front 40 back and it had better brakes before the line broke then it does now

could be master cylender, or the porportion valve could be stuck close or something.

The front brakes are new right?
They aren't going to stop great right away.

How does your break pedal feel?

yes my front brakes are brand new. but my brake pedal goes to the floor no matter how many times u happen to pump it

sounds like mastercylender.

is there a way to check the master cylinder?

well guys im going to be replacing the master cylinder today lets hope this works i will let u know how it goes

don't forget to bench bleed it and bleed the whole system one you have it in.

ok guys that master cylinder done the trick thanx for all the help

Glad to hear that is was the Master Cylinder. and glad u got it fixed, i love riding in that car

ha ha Mr.luos, i got it befor you did,lol

yea like i said thanx yall for ur help

ha ha Mr.luos, i got it befor you did,lol
Eh...you were just awake later than I was. :lol: :lol: