15 replies to this topic

[greasemonkey]

Having trouble bleeding my brake on my vx, shoud be a peice of p*ss as im a vxhl mechanic. Ive bled them 3 times now used 5 bottles of brake fluid, thank god ive not had to pay for it. Getting a bit pi**ed off now just far to spongy, and next to no pedal with sero assist. Had my other half pumping pedal while i open and close nipples as ive not got a compresssor at home to use works vacum breeder. The way the front calipers are designed im thinking is it traping air behind the inner most piston because the cross over pipe goes under the caliper or ive done some damage when the brakes faded at oulton park. The pedal was softer after the trackday but not this bad, had the caliper off to remove a snapped bleed nipple. Any ideas what else could be wrong or methods i can try to bleed would be greatly appreciated. Thanks will

[Zoobeef]

Your correct on the trapped air. Turn the front calipers upside down and bleed then the right way up and bleed again.

[greasemonkey]

why the f**k would they design them like that, crazy. only just got the bl**dy wheels back on.

[old codger]

I had the same problem last week when I changed the brake fluid, but the advice given regarding inverting the caliper is spot on. I did that and eventually the pedal firmed up, and all ok now.

[SteveA]

No offence meant to the OP but this is why I don't go to Vauxhall for my mechanical work.

[greasemonkey]

In my defence i had mentioned it in my post, so it had crossed my mind just never come across it before on a vx. Anyway why the f**k didnt they fit a bleed nipple on both sides of the caliper or the crossover pipe at the top instead. think we should be thinking about bloke who was trusted in designing our brakes didnt consider somthing so simple. what should be a stright forward job becomes a pain in the arse. what sort of an idiot he must he be! must of been last thing job friday, and all he wanted to do was

[theolodian]

No offence meant to the OP but this is why I don't go to Vauxhall for my mechanical work.

I'm not sure that it is fair to say that on this issue. Vocky and I could not bleed my brakes with a pressure bleeder and inverting the calipers. Sometimes these cars can be really difficult.

[SteveA]

My point is that a Vauxhall mechanic should know this or at least be able to get the information from a co-worker. I don't mean to single out the OP but when you take a car to a main dealership and pay their £65 per hour you expect experts to be working on your pride and joy.

[greasemonkey]

Thanks for your replies zoobeef and old codger StevA it must be less than 10% of the small number of all vx owners take there car to dealers anymore due to labour costs, poor service at certain dealers, previously declined vauxhall warranty claim p**sing them off, most owner wanting to fit non vauxhall parts / upgraded parts and main reason vx owner tend to tinker on there own cars. So again in vauxhall mechanics defence we dont get regular experiance on these cars. But must admit there are some muppets working at some dealers / garages but not just vauxhall dealers. Managed to get the car the 16 miles to work today with about half an inch of firm pedal at the end of travel, f**king scary. Managed to bleed the brake at work with more sucess inverting the caliper. Still feels slightly softer than before but it might be my imagination as ive not driven it for a month. I didnt bother checking on tis till now, Vauxhalls procedure is commical. but perhaps i can get an even better pedal still. have to play some more on tuesday. (TIS) Brake System, Bleed 1. Open front bonnet 2. Release cap from brake fluid reservoir 3. Top up brake fluid reservoir to MAX mark • Use only DOT 4 brake fluid 4. Remove filter from brake fluid reservoir 5. Install bleed bottle to 4x brake caliper 6. Install bleeding equipment to brake fluid reservoir • Follow manufacturer's installation instructions supplied with bleeding equipment Warning: Do not place Tech2 machine on steering wheel, airbag unit may deploy 7. Connect Tech2 machine to harness connector 8. Bleed brake system • Turn on Tech2 machine • Press enter • Select F0: DIAGNOSTICS, press enter • Select appropriate model year, press enter • Select vehicle, press enter • Select F1: CHASSIS, press enter • Select ABS 430, press enter • Turn on ignition, press confirm • Check vehicle details, press confirm • Select F4: BRAKE BLEED, press enter • Open all bleed screws, press continue • Operate brake pedal several times until bubble-free fluid flows from bleed screw on right side caliper at rear, then tighten bleed screw • Press continue • Operate brake pedal several times until bubble-free fluid flows from bleed screw on left side caliper at rear, then tighten bleed screw • Press continue • Operate brake pedal several times until bubble-free fluid flows from bleed screw on left side caliper at front, then tighten bleed screw • Press continue • Operate brake pedal several times until bubble-free fluid flows from bleed screw on right side caliper at front, then tighten bleed screw • Press continue • Turn off Tech2 machine • Turn off ignition Note: 2x Technician required 9. Disconnect Tech2 machine from harness connector 10. Remove bleeding equipment from brake fluid reservoir • Follow manufacturer's removal instructions supplied with bleeding equipment 11. Install filter to brake fluid reservoir 12. Replenish brake fluid reservoir to correct level • Top up to MAX mark – Use only DOT 4 brake fluid 13. Secure cap to brake fluid reservoir 14. Remove bleed bottle from 4x brake caliper 15. Inspect brake system for leaks • Install brake pedal tensioner KM-325 between seat frame and brake pedal, then wait 10 minutes before inspecting brake system 16. Close front bonnet

[oblomov]

I'm not sure that it is fair to say that on this issue. Vocky and I could not bleed my brakes with a pressure bleeder and inverting the calipers. Sometimes these cars can be really difficult.

I'm having the same problem now. Soft pedal despite inverting the calipers and pressure bleeding twice including pumping the brake pedal. How did you overcome it in the end?

[greasemonkey]

Mine are 100% compaired to them this morning but there might be room for improvement, still presses down a bit with engine off and no servo assist. Im going to try the TIS method activating the abs unit with tech 2 while bleeding and might also invert the calipers again, wont be happy till the pedal is rock hard.

[SteveA]

I had this problem after bleeding mine even with inverts. The solution is to take the car out and slam on the brakes (in a safe place) to activate the ABS then re-bleed. I did this twice and it was sorted. Alternativly you can link it to a tech 2 and activate the abs while standing still if you have access to one.

[siztenboots]

@gm , has your vacuum hose been recall replaced , the factory fit pipe needs to be upgraded as the original collapses under a vacuum. Worth remaking all the ends at the servo end. If you have easy access to bit, fit a new one-way valve too on the intake manifold supply

Edited by siztenboots, 02 May 2010 - 07:42 AM.

[oblomov]

I had this problem after bleeding mine even with inverts. The solution is to take the car out and slam on the brakes (in a safe place) to activate the ABS then re-bleed. I did this twice and it was sorted. Alternativly you can link it to a tech 2 and activate the abs while standing still if you have access to one.

Thanks for that, it confirms what I was sure I'd read here that in some cases you have to activate the ABS. I've just fitted new CL5+ pads all round and new discs on the front so I will have to do a few braking runs to bed them in before activating the ABS.

[theolodian]

I'm not sure that it is fair to say that on this issue. Vocky and I could not bleed my brakes with a pressure bleeder and inverting the calipers. Sometimes these cars can be really difficult.

I'm having the same problem now. Soft pedal despite inverting the calipers and pressure bleeding twice including pumping the brake pedal. How did you overcome it in the end?

I would have said if we had solved it!

[Zoobeef]

I'm not sure that it is fair to say that on this issue. Vocky and I could not bleed my brakes with a pressure bleeder and inverting the calipers. Sometimes these cars can be really difficult.

I'm having the same problem now. Soft pedal despite inverting the calipers and pressure bleeding twice including pumping the brake pedal. How did you overcome it in the end?

I would have said if we had solved it!

You'll prob have to wait till your fully driveable and activate the abs that way on some really loose gravel