brake won't bleed

[nc89sho]

the rear right side brake caliper on my 89 won't bleed. if you pump it up and hold it and crack the bleeder, a very small amount will drip and then nothing. pedal won't go down. I'm thinking this is a bad brake hose and a good excuse to go stainless, anyone else agree or disagree? just want another opinion before i order.

 

[Ishodu]

I totally agree. Its most likely your brake flex hose.

 

[SHOZ123]

The proportioning valve may be hindering things too. Take out the bleeder screw and lower the car so the drivers side wheel is touching the ground and the car is at normal height. There should be a steady drip out of the caliper.

But my money is on the hose too.

 

[sdpatt]

Is the car flat on the ground or is the rear end jacked up? You can and should bleed the brakes with the car resting with all four wheels on the ground. With the rear suspension extended the proportioning valve will greatly limit the pressure to the rear brakes.

To access the rear bleed valves, all you have to do is lay on the ground aft of the rear tires and reach up with a 7/16" or 11 mm box end wrench to the valves. The fronts can be more easily accessed by turning the wheels to the side to be bled and reaching around the front of the tires. The front bleed valves on my Gen I were 3/8".

 

[nc89sho]

car was flat on the ground. also, the left wheel blead fine, that's why i'm proned to blame the hose. if both rears didn't bleed i would think there was a problem with the biasing valve.

 

[SHOZ123]

If you have the ABS one of the best brake mods to do anyway is to disable the proportioning valve with the plugs.

 

[nc89sho]

89's don't have ABS

 

[HighSpeed]

If you still have the stock rubber brakes hoses, most likely, this is the problem.

 

[Cobraii976]

quick check on the rubber hose is to pry the mounting tab away from the hose itself and see if you get better flow. I fixed mine on the side of the road that way one time just to get it home to replace the lines.

 

[nc89sho]

quick update, i replaced the rear lines with stainless ones and unfortunately, the problem is still there. with the car running, Both rears bleed great, but with the car off, the right rear doesn't flow hardly at all... with my girlfriend holding the pedal down, i pulled the bleeder screw all the way out and the pedal didn't move... oddly enough though, the brake do stop the wheel on that side..... i'm a bit confused...

 

[JTSHO]

hey terry,i would guess power bleeding is forcing the fluid through the lines. my guess is that your proportioning valve is clogged or stuck.

 

[HighSpeed]

with the car running, Both rears bleed great

You want to bleed the brakes while the sho is running. If it bleeds great, what other problems are you having?