A well discussed topic I'm sure but seeking advice from knowledgeable members.
After changing my rear flexy pipes and brake pads the brake pedal feels fine till I start the engine , then it sinks to about half its travel. A couple of pumps and it's back to normal and the brakes are as sharp as ever but still the pedal feel spongy. I lost very little fluid when changing the flexys and I've bled the brakes about 4 times, twice with a pressure bleeder. Should I use the icarsoft to do whatever it does to the ABS unit and although I've already tried it should I have the engine running?
Been bleeding brakes for the best part of 60 years and the last time I had one like this it was a Ford Zephyr......in 1968. Any advice would make an old man very happy 😊.
Cheers
Pete

Last edited by Spridget on 15th Dec 2023 6:48pm. Edited 1 time in total

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Last edited by Phoenix on 23rd Dec 2023 9:43pm. Edited 1 time in total

@Phoenix:
THAT sounds like a very er, sound bit of advice!
Makes perfect sense, in fact.
I had a lot of bleeding trouble ( ) last year, when I replaced all four flexibles, using a pressure bleeder and got through loads of brake fluid. Even my local indy who finished the job off for me, had a bit of difficulty, and eventually had to run the ABS pump to get it sorted.
(I’d clamped off the hoses during swapping out all the brakes, but it was stood for days waiting for the wrong rear brackets to be replaced, so maybe air got in then).

Sorry I rambled a bit there, but getting back to the point, a decent flow is what does the job, as you say!  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Phoenix wrote:

<snip> Connect pressure bleeder but do a manual bleed using the brake pedal, pump as fast as you can to displace air bubbles from the 'high points' in the pipework.
Bleeding at the 2 - 2.5bar the pressure bleeder works at doesn't provide enough flow rate to displace the small air bubbles, pressure and pumping the pedal does.

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Last edited by Phoenix on 23rd Dec 2023 9:42pm. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks for the info lads. I'll have another go at it tomorrow, weather permitting and report back. I had thought of pushing the pistons back into the calipers to get rid of an extra hiding place and even taking the calipers off to position the bleed nipple right at the top like you sometimes have to do with motorbikes but as has been stated I think the air is hiding in the roller coaster.
Thanks again

Thanks for the info lads. I'll have another go at it tomorrow, weather permitting and report back. I had thought of pushing the pistons back into the calipers to get rid of an extra hiding place and even taking the calipers off to position the bleed nipple right at the top like you sometimes have to do with motorbikes but as has been stated I think the air is hiding in the roller coaster.
Thanks again

Why do I always post it twice??? Never had this bother in the days of the Zephyr.

Last edited by Spridget on 15th Dec 2023 7:12pm. Edited 1 time in total

'Happiness is a firm pedal'. Well more firm anyway. Bled the brakes using the fast pump and pressure bleeder method. The pedal is much better now, rock solid with very little play with the engine off. Start the engine and it sinks a bit, which is normal but then it still feels a bit spongy, more than my other cars. My good Lady says it's me being a faff and she's fed up pumping brakes so I'll see how it goes.
Next job is to fit a towbar but that might be for the Spring.
Thanks again.

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Last edited by Phoenix on 23rd Dec 2023 9:42pm. Edited 1 time in total

Had quite a few of these play up after new hoses / pipes, try bleeding it with he engine running, it does make a difference

That is the plan. I'm still not 100% happy with them but there's only so many times you can bleed them. On the run the brakes are fine ......just still a bit spongy. Engine running and 28 pumps as per the manual at the next opportunity .

Last edited by Spridget on 19th Dec 2023 9:06am. Edited 1 time in total

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Last edited by Phoenix on 23rd Dec 2023 9:42pm. Edited 1 time in total

Bled the brakes AGAIN with the engine running as per the manual. Still the pedal is rock solid with the engine off but it sinks to about 50% when I start the engine. I'm beginning to wonder if this is how they should be, the brakes are brilliant on the road and the first 50% gives very progressive braking so even in the soft zone it. Maybe I'm just used to older braking systems.
I have the 2 bleed nipples on the MC Phoenix so that could be the next port of call and if that and one final bleed of all 4 corners when my new pressure bleeder arrives ( Old one was home made and after much faithful service has developed a leak ) I'll try to convince myself that there's nothing wrong with it.......although I might ask my local indie what he thinks next time I'm through there.

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