OK, this sux...

I've got an 85 GS. I just replaced the cylinders, pads, and drums for my rear drums. Everything went just dandy--except now we need to bleed the system. The rear bleed is just fine but the bleed on the master cylinder is weird. Haynes says that the bleed screw should be on the side--it's not there... What makes it worse is that upon inspection of the bottom of the brake fluid resivior's holder thing (part extending from the master cylinder) is leaking to a VERY small degree, not enough to drip off into the engine bay (thank goodness)... Now, to make it EVEN worse, there is, what appears to be, a NORMAL screw on the bottom. I'm thinking that screw is the bleed screw--but why does it look like a normal screw?!

The STUPID previous owner might have changed the master cylinder and maybe screwed up the bleed screw and half-assed it with a normal screw... What should I do?!

Thanx...

 

The bleeder should be obvious, and IIRC it is on the side facing the engine. I wouldn't worry about bleeding the master unless when you were changing the cylinders, you left the brake lines off long enough to drain all of the fluid out of the master.

 

Hi.

I bled my brakes a week ago.

Mine is a Japanese 1978 version, and it also failed to have a screw out to the side. The screw turned out to be, like the one that you found, directly under the plastic container. It had a 6 sided head on it that I just loosened with a little wrench.

It may have been that both of our cars' previous owners changed the master cylinder, but I just assumed that Haynes didn't list all the variations available.

I can't explain the fact that yours has a normal screw. That doesn't sound right. And if it's leaking fluid, then there is definitely the chance that it is leaking air into the brake lines, so that needs fixing.

I suspect that the previous owner of any of our cars is ALWAYS an idiot. There will always be something that needs repairing.

Good luck.
ScruffyChimp

 

I made sure I plugged the line up when i took off the cylinders... So maybe if i just bleed the rear drums and the front discs, it should be fine...

But--any ideas on how I could fix that problem? I think i do have air in my system because my brakes are not that strong. Since that screw is in there, I am betting that the threads are all screwed up now...

 

You should not need to bleed at the master cylinder unless you've loosened the lines there. If you've bled the wheel cylinders and calipers, and your brakes are still weak, then you should try bleeding the master cylinder. But since it's leaking, you'll probably need to replace it. I paid like $12 for mine at Autozone, put it on in about 20 minutes. Don't forget to bench bleed the new one

 

Bench bleed? I've never bled a brake system... Is that just where I pump the brake and open the master cylinder's bleed?

 

No man, that means prime the master before you install it

 

the previous owner of my car thought it would be smart to put anti-freeze in the windshield wiper reservior. The windshield kept getting film on it. I don't know if he did it for a joke or thought it would keep it from freezing, or just thought that it was the radiator overflow tank. Not to mention the mud that was in the oil pan. some people just dont take care of their cars.

 

I just wanted to say that i have worked on the two cars that we have (85 GSL, 85 GSL-SE) and Haynes has failed me with every endevour i have had with these cars. They either dont have the right descriptions, or the parts are different, or the wiring is different...this that and the other thing, even in the suppliment section its different...i hate those manuals with a passion. im still looking for a better one, any suggestions?

~T.J.

 

I would pony up for the mazda manual at the dealer pricey but worth it.

 

Trial and error

 

OH--I discovered that normal screw IS the right bleed screw... I went down to autozone and they had the exact same thing on a new master cylinder. I just went to lowes and bought an o-ring from the plumbing section and it is working just fine so far...

I need to adjust my rear right drum cuz when i came home that wheel locks on me when I brake hard otherwise, everything is just dandy--better than what it originally was