weinerschizel

Ok. This is on an 94 Z28 w/ LT1 so hopefully I'm still in the right place.

I recently installed a new opti. Had the brakes off while I was doing this and painted the calipers. They were just unbolted not removed from the car.

After getting car running again, breaks wouldn't work. It feels like there is next to no brake pressure. When I push on the pedal it just goes to the floor. Of course car does not stop and dash lights up saying brakes.

I checked my fluid and it's perfect. What else is there to look at?

Thanks for the help!

Black_Z28

Did you removed the brake hose from the caliper? If so, you need to bleed the brakes.

weinerschizel

nope i didn't remove the hose.

n2ceptor

Bleed the system.....Sounds like air in the system.... Was the calipers hanging or supported???? Could have damaged a brake line.....

Black_Z28

Yeah, it seems as if air is in the lines. It will cause a very mushy/soft feel in the pedal. I'd bleed your whole system and see if that changes anything.

magnumv8

I just put my car back together, and I have the same problem. I bled mine at the abs unit and all 4 wheels, but have a mushy pedal and no brakes. When we were bleeding we couldnt get much pedal pressure, but we did bleed air out then clean fluid so I thought they were fine. I am not leaking any fluid so I guess I will try beeding again.

weinerschizel

Well they did get dropped. Stupid thing got out of my hand. However, after dropping (each one ug) I very closesly inspected the brake lines. They appeared to be good.

Is it possible just by dropping a line I could have introduced an air pocket? The system remained sealed, and the fluid levels are good.

Mtrhds94Z

I doubt dropping one introduced air, however dropping one COULD kink the line[theres a line inside the rubber sheathing part and you won't see a kink]
Any time I have seen a 'kinked line' however the usual symptom is that the brakes apply OK but won't 'retract/release' properly[pressure remains in that caliper] heats the rotor, etc.. can be a tricky one to find too since you don't readily see it..
I really have no theory for your problem.. just removing and painting the calipers [with lines attached]shouldn't cause no brakes..

weinerschizel

Are there any electronics associated with the brakes that would cause them to not function?

weinerschizel

I bled the brakes. Still no dice.

It was my first time to bleed them though. I just had someone pump the brakes (farthest brake to closest to the master cylinder) and caught as much fluid as possible. All the while keeping the resivour full.

Still no luck.

Black_Z28

Did you bleed the ABS system as well??

If you didn't you need to "home" it first. Turn the key to the on position for 10 seconds, and wait for the ABS light to turn off. Then turn the key to the off position for about 20 seconds. Then turn the key to the on position and wait for the ABS light to turn off again. Then go ahead and bleed the ABS. Bleed the one towards the back of the car first, then the one towards the front. Then bleed the calipers again, and do the ABS one last time.

weinerschizel

Um bleed the ABS? Never had anybody explain that one to me. How does it work? There's fluid in there? I thought it was just sensors.

Mtrhds94Z

I am wondering how air got in, if you didn't open the system?
Shouldn't need bleeding really..

weinerschizel

Well I don't know it got in there. However, it must have gotten in. Found my problem. I bled the brakes again cause I did it wrong the first time. Now they work like a charm.

Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!

slayer6x6

Those air powered bleeders are sweet.