RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

To start with, my brakes basically don't work. You have to put the pedal about 3/4 to the floor before they start slowing the car down. Obviously, this isn't very safe, so I decided to try bleeding the brake lines because it feels like there's more air in them than fluid. Well, I got all of the wheels off and found that 4 of the 5 bleeder valves are completely gone, including the one on the master cylinder, with no trace that they were ever there. I went to the parts store and ordered rebuild kits for all 4 wheels (GS, discs in front drums in rear), bought new pads for the front, and I plan to rebuild the whole system.

My question is, what kind of other parts/proceedures should I take care of while I'm at it? I remember seeing some stainless steel lines somewhere, but I don't remember where. I will do anything short of buying new rotors or swapping out an -SE suspension to make the brakes stronger. I have no experience redoing a brake system, so any advice would be very helpful. Thanks

Zyrano

are you sure they arn't there? i'd think you wouldn't be able to stop at all if you don't have anything keeping the fluids in? there actually isn't a bleeding valve on the master cylinder (at least i don't remember see one)... If you want to get some stainless lines, you can find them at rx7.com. you can also get them at racing beat, but for some reason, racing beat lines aren't dot approved, where as rx7.com ones are...

Alvin

RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

Yes, they are gone. There is a little "nub" on the front/driver caliper, and the rear drums have no trace of a valve at all. The one on the front/passenger caliper is there and works, but what's the point of bleeding one brake?

As for the master cylinder, the Haynes manual said there is a valve, but I searched and was not able to find it. Maybe I just missed it.

Kentetsu

Yeah, tell you what happened to me two weeks ago. This might explain the missing bleeder valves.....

First of all, the driver's side rear doesn't have one. The brake line feeds through that cylinder and goes on to the passenger side cylinder, and that's the only location that the rears are bled through. No problem, this is just one less bleeder to break loose (or break off in some instances).

Anyway, tried everything possible to get the fronts loose, but that's some pretty damn cheap metal that those bleeders are made from. Both sides twisted right off. Went to the specialty import auto parts guru to order new calipers and he says;

"Lemme guess, you twisted the nipples off and now you can't bleed them, right?"

So, based on that I'd say its pretty common to twist the nipples too hard (although my wife might argue).....

Kentetsu

Oh, and I just walked the ten feet out to my garage (oh, the effort!!) to confirm this; There is no bleeder valve on the master cylinder. I just replaced mine two weeks ago, so I'm pretty sure it hasn't rusted off already...

Have fun, I HATE working on brakes.....

RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

So that makes it 1 of 4 valves that I have since one of the drum brakes isn't supposed to have one.

Yeah, I hate brakes too. That's why I've been avoiding them for the past 5 months even though they hardly work

And I'm POSITIVE that the manual shows a bleeder for the master cylinder. Whether it's actually part of the master cylinder, I don't know. The picture for it was extremely bad lol

Kentetsu

Had the Haynes sitting right in front of me and, by golly you're right. It does show a nipple on the M/C. All I can say is that it must be an earlier model or something.

And actually, you have 1 out of 3 needed nipples....Hope this helps...

Anex 570

It was a pic of the 79. Just be glad that your not repairing that..

RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

Okay, what I'm getting so far is this:
2 Front Caliper Rebuild Kits
2 Rear Drum Rebuild Kits
4 Front Brake Pads
4 SS Steel Brake Lines

Looks like about $150 so far. Not bad for cutting my stopping distance from about 300 ft to 140 ft

Anything else I should get? I'm gonna take a look at the master cylinder from my '85 and see if it's in better condition than my current one in the '83. I might get shoes for the drum brakes, but I'm not sure yet.