Technical Filling empty brake system

[Thomas Vaughan]

I've gravity filled the system, then with a one man brake bleeder that pushes from the reservoir with pressure from the tyre, I've expelled all air starting with furthest to nearest.
The brake pedal has no resistance.
I removed the very strong aftermarket shoe springs as they can over come the pressure of fluid, moved the shoes outwards and bled again.
Still no resistance.
If bled with pedal down and up.
I've opened all 3 lines on the master cylinder and it flows.

I've emptied the system entirely now, to start from scratch.

What do I need to do? Bench bleed the master cylinder?

 

[jackwhoo]

If the brake shoes are not correctly adjusted pedal will not feel correct.

Good idea to bleed master cylinder separately. when done close off the fluid outlets with correct size bleed nipples the make sure pedal is hard before bleeding rest of system.

 

[Thomas Vaughan]

Took off the master cylinder, the 'plunger' was seized with rust. A soak with wd40 and a hard push loosened it up.
The no resistance I was feeling was just the pedal reaching this solid plunger.
I have never driven the car so it must have been seized since I bought it.

 

[jackwhoo]

You must now dismantle the master cylinder and clean out any and all wd40 before it destroys any of the rubber seals.
ONLY use methelated spirit or clean new brake fluid .

 

[jackwhoo]

Will give you a chance to examine the bore of cylinder for any rust /damage before deciding if you need a new one.