I'm finally able to start finishing my Firebird. Over the late winter-early spring timeframe I did some major changes to my Firebird. New subframe, 4 wheel disc brake conversion, completely updated front suspension (G-max, Global Industries, Eaton, PST), completely new rear axle (posi, 4.10, new axles in a 8.5 Corporate housing), rear leafs, and Flowmaster exhaust kit. I almost had it all completed but I ran into a snag with bleeding the rear brakes and then I started working 80 work weeks and the Firebird was put on hold for 2 months. Now I'm down to 40 hour work weeks and ready to tackle the brakes once again.
The problem I'm having is that the combination valve under the master cylinder continually closes off the rear brakes (what it's designed to do in case of a brake line failure). After hours spent on trying to bleed the rears brakes with 2 other friends I decided to buy this:
It's awesome how it works by pushing the brake fluid from the rear forward. Now I know the rear brake line is full of fluid because it actually fills the master cylinder reservoir. When I pump the brakes the combination valve continues to close off the rear brakes. Has anyone ran into the problem before? Any solutions?
if these rear calipers are parking brake actuated, make sure the caliper (not the cable) is adjusted out and the disc is tightened flat to the hub while bleeding/testing.
The shuttle valve will trip due to a front:rear pressure difference, such as a leak. If one end builds up pressure and the other has none (fluid movement with no resistance) the valve will trip. Once the valve trips, the pedal will get hard if the other brake circuit is good. The bad circuit will have no brake action at all. No fluid movement translates to no pedal movement.
