Author Topic: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes  (Read 640 times)

Offline shadango

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clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« on: April 17, 2009 - 02:35:31 PM »
I have narrowed my brake issues down to clogged bleeder orifices in the front brake cylinders.....

If I push a bit on the brake plungers, fluid will seep from the line fitting.....but nothing comes from the bleeder holes.....the bleeder valves themselves are fine....just seems like the holes in the brake cylinders themselves are clogged....

I was going to remove the cylinders but the bolts to do so are behind the knuckle and such,...cant get to them with  wrench or socket.........dont really want to rip the whole front end apart for this....

So where do I go from here???

Thanks all...




Offline ntstlgl1970

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2009 - 03:49:55 PM »
Take the bleeder screws out completely and step on the brake gently. If there is something in there it should come right out. It will be messy though....
70 Cuda, 7.0L Gen-III Hemi, Viper T56 w/9310 gearset, 3.91's, Megasquirt MS3x v3.57, Innovate wideband, Firm Feel upper arms, torsion bars, springs and strut rods, QA1 DA shocks. I did everything on this car except the fancy paint stuff and I drive it...and I can't seem to stop messing with it....

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2009 - 03:50:39 PM »
unthread the bleeder & run a drill into the end to clear out the bleeder valve

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline shadango

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2009 - 04:02:10 PM »
The bleeder valves are clear...took them out altogether (the bleeder screws) and compressed the pistons a bit and nothing came out the bleeder holes.....

Next I guess I will try some air.....

I was able to get the cylinder off the car...my wrenches were just too large...a new set of boxed ends fixed that....LOL

Offline shadango

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2009 - 10:19:06 PM »
I ran some air into the air bleeder valve and after a few seconds the clog seems to have "popped".....will do the other side tomorrow and bolt everything back together and give her a test....

Why would the bleeder orifices clog that way?


Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2009 - 01:04:31 AM »
not sure , you can use hyd pressure to force the blockage through sometimes

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Offline shadango

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Re: clogged bleeder orifices in front drum brakes
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2009 - 01:25:05 PM »
Got her done......used air pressure to feed in thru the bleeder side....removed the hose and cleared it that way....made a bit of a mess, but worked great.

Now I have plenty fo flow up front and out back....

Have found, though, that the one man power bleeder doesnt work well if you are looking for bubbles in the line.....the suction sucks in air around teh bleeder threads, etc and makes its own bubbles.....

Did work great though for priming the lines.