So I tore apart the whole suspension and in doing so I painted the brake calipers, put in new pads, and a new master cylinder. I bench bled the M. Cyl like instructed, put it on the car and then went to each corner in the proper order and bled the brakes.

Well when I bleed the rears the pressure feels great. When I move to the fronts to bleed them the pressure goes to crap.

I have bled them 3 times now and they still suck.

Does this sound like a case of poor bench bleeding of the master cylinder? Seems to me the fronts aren't holding pressure.

Do maybe the front calipers need rebuilding?

-GNX7

 

I also switched to braided s/s lines from Tripoint Engineering and Motul brake fluid.

This sucker is going to stop!

GNX7

 

I went ahead and bled the master cylinder (while on the car at each line), the proportioning valve, and then all 4 corners again. Nothing has changed. This is getting really annoying. My 5th time bleeding the brakes now.

I am using a rebuilt Kragen master cylinder so now I'm going to buy a new Mazda unit and see if that makes a difference.

I could kick a 10lb lap dog thru a goal post with minimal effort with how pissed off I am right now.

Any ideas are welcome.

GNX7

 

I think noone is answering you because you have V8 power

But seroiusly, check for leaks around all the metal lines and calipers. It sounds like everything else is covered!!

 

Is the motor running when you are doing the bleed? It should be, that way the booster is doing its thing

 

Do really need to have the car running to bleed the brakes? I didn't do that on my previous RX-7 and they came out fine.

I will try that now I guess. Never heard of that Gene.

It is Turbo6 power.... not 8. FAR SUPERIOR he he he.

GNX7

P.S.- I think I'm going to rebench bleed the mastercylinder today.

 

Quick Question: With or without ABS

My 88 TII with ABS did the exact same thing. No leaks no fluid loss just lousy pedal within 2 days of a bleed. Removed ABS and all has been perfect thereafter.

 

this is without ABS.....

I have heard of the horror stories with leaky ABS units in the 2nd gens.

I plan to just bleed a ton of fluid out of it and see if any more air pockets are trapped in the line.

Damn brakes....

GNX7

 

I have an '86 Sport with the same problem. No ABS either. It is enough to drive me crazy. I have brought it to 3 specialists and they tell me its all ok. Not so, the brakes are terrible and I think dangerous. If you figure it out, please let me know.

BTW my manual says there are two bleeder locations on the front calipers. Top and bottom. Have you bled from both the top and bottom bleeder ports?

 

I finally figured it out. There was air trapped in the proportioning valve. Voila... they work great now!

2nd gen brakes in general have kinda soft pedal pressure anyway vs. other cars.

I would suggest just completely bleeding the system with a friend and start from the master cylinder opening up each line then move to the prop. valve, then to each corner.

GNX7

 

how do u bleed the prop valve?

 

No the car does not have to be running when you bleed the brakes (Non ABS only I think). The bleeding hose you use, make sure it is long enough to submerge the other end into brake fluid. Sometimes the lines suck air in at the point when the pedal is at the floor and you are tring to close the nipple. I have had that. But you should be able to pump the brakes and hopfully work the air bubble back up to the master cyl and bubble out. May be not though. Ya how do you bleed the prop valve?