97 Lumina brake problem

[frankfulton]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[frankfulton]

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]

Originally Posted by frankfulton

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"

[frankfulton]

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]

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!

[frankfulton]

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]

See post # 2.

[ibbobud]

Here is the directions for bleeding your abs system with and without the scantool

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/rep...00c152802180b2

Sense you probably dont have a pressure bleeder you will go on down to the manual bleeding precedure.

Hope this helps.

[frankfulton]

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]

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?

[frankfulton]

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]

If it pulls lt look at the rt caliper and fluid stream.