Brake help

[mrmarbles]

So I recently upgraded my brakes to some J30 brakes up front on my ABS equipped S13. Just for the record, I checked my work again, and I'm certain everything is installed correctly. After quite a bit of bleeding, we jacked up a side and spun a rear wheel, and put on the brakes, and it stopped just fine. Did the same for the front, and it just keeps on spinning. It's as if there is no pressure at all in the front brakes.

So we decided to see what would happen with the car on when the booster helps out. It only got stopping power after we pumped the brakes a bit.

Also, the pedal has pressure, but it still hits the end of the pedal travel.

So whats the deal? I'm stumped. Probably just air in the lines still?

[sommmatt]

sounds like you fail at bleeding brakes to me.

[mrmarbles]

...Thats what I figured.... lol

[new041123]

Make sure there is no air in the lines, calipers, and ABS.

[mrmarbles]

Is it possible for there to be air in the calipers that I can't get out through the bleeder screw?

[hybrid_flyer]

Is it possible for there to be air in the calipers that I can't get out through the bleeder screw?

only if the calipers are installed upside down

[mrmarbles]

Haha, thanks. Looks like I need to do a bunch more bleeding.

[mrmarbles]

So I don't know now much bleeding I need to do, or how much total fluid is in the system, but I swear I've bled through about 5 smaller bottles from Oreilly. The pedal still hits the floor and I have to pump it to get any braking power to the front.

What am I doing wrong?

[RBbugBITme]

Have you ever bled brakes before? There are only two reasons I can think of... 1) you have some small leak that is letting air in but I doubt it. Did you look for leaks? 2) you do suck at bleeding brakes.

Did you replace the MC and lines with the calipers?

[mrmarbles]

Oh, come on. I'm not that bad. *insert middle finger icon here*

But seriously, I've bled brakes before, and this has never happened. I read around a little and decided to try replacing the master cylinder. I took off the master, and bench bled it to see if it was being stupid. Sure enough, the front line was pushing very little fluid.

So I just put on the new cylinder, and I need to bleed it all tomorrow with someone. I'll let you all know how it goes.

[mrmarbles]

So I'm gonna look like an idiot... But whatever.

I Swapped the master cylinder, and bled everything AGAIN. Still did the same thing. I had a conversation with my dad about it for a while, and we decided it wasn't ABS, the master cylinder, or anything. It definitely had air in the system. Then I thought, "hey, the bleeder screw is below where the line comes in... thats not right...."

The damn calipers were on the wrong sides. The worst part is, I bled the calipers for probably close to 2 hours... and the letters L or R are an inch away from the bleeder screw.

So I switched the calipers, bled them, and drove that mother for the first time.

Summary: I DO know how to bleed brakes, but I am blind, oblivious, or retarded, or a combination.

Thanks for the help though guys. Appreciate.