cant get brakes to work right 86 escort L

[atv087]

put new caliper on the passenger side it was seized up. put new pads in both sides. but cannot get fluid to come out the drivers side and put a whole bottle of fluid in the master cylinder and its empty right now. how would i get the other side to work?

[Johnny Mullet]

The rubber brake hose may be deteriorating on the inside causing a blockage. Common problem on older Fords.

[atv087]

the weird thing is that the brakes worked fine until i changed them because the pads were starting to scrape

[atv087]

then the drivers side caliper wasnt working after that and i cannot figure out why its not getting fluid unless i just go get it professionally flushed and see what happens maybe it has alot of air.

[mightymoose_22]

Did you bleed the whole system? If not, you should.

[atv087]

fixed the problem rear brakeline was popped and dripping fluid all over the place

[atv087]

fixed the brake line and now the front brake still does not work the passenger side works fine the drivers side doesnt work at all even with a new caliper and bled brakes. any ideas

[mightymoose_22]

How did you bleed the system?
Did you prime the new caliper at all? It isn't necessarily required, but can help.

If it is not working, and if it is not leaking, then you need to continue bleeding it.

Also verify the brakes were installed correctly.

[atv087]

ok i had a friend sit in the car pump the brakes until the pedal got firm and then hold down the pedal then open up the bleeder valve on the brake caliper. when i installed the caliper on the drivers side do i have to push back the piston on the passenger side? also i bled the rear brakes too figuring that that could have air in it and no luck still have to push the petal to the floor to stop and no leaks what so ever

[mightymoose_22]

I would suggest that your master cylinder may be faulty, but if fluid is pumping out when you bleed the brakes, that means the cylinder is doing fine.
Did you bleed in the right order? Does your master cylinder have a bleeder valve? When you bleed it, do you keep the fluid level up? If you let the master cylinder empty out then you are just letting more air in... make sure it always has fluid as you bleed the system.

It still sounds like a bleeding problem... assuming the brakes are assembled correctly and there are no leaks.

[atv087]

i keep the fluid level up
and when i bled i did right rear left rear then right front left front.

[mightymoose_22]

If you get fluid from the wheel where the brake is not working, then your problem is mechanical (still assuming there is not a leak in the system). You didn't mention if you did it or not, but be sure to bleed the master cylinder if it has a valve too.
If this is the brake you repaired, and all others are working... make sure it is assembled correctly. If it is, maybe the cylinder on that wheel is bad.

[KimMG]

Did you replace the flexible brake line on the driver's side? It is a very common problem for them to internally deteriorate an create blockages, preventing fluid from getting to the caliper.

[atv087]

finally fixed
had to cross bleed it passenger side rear and then drivers side front. all fixed.