Bleeding Brakes

[cruiser056]

Hi all,
       I have fitted my braking system to my Van and found that after bleeding the brakes and the engine is started, there is no brake pedal at all.  I know it drops off a little when engine is started, but it is totally gone.  When engine is off I get the brake pedal back again.  Can anyone shed some light on this please.  Do I have to bleed the master cylinder? and booster?

Thanks

Michael

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

There is a thread elsewhere about this, but yes the master needs to be bled first and it's best done at the bench.

[cruiser056]

I have tried searching this topic, but have not been able to find what Iam after.

Michael

[mcl1959]

Perhaps describing your brake system would be an advantage.

IF it has a stock m/c and remote booster, then it is probably just the booster that needs bleeding. It has a bleed valve at the back.

Ken

[cruiser056]

Ken,
      I have a Gemini booster with what I believe is a Ford master cylinder.  I am running a disc brake VN diff and HZ discs up front.  I could be mistaken about the master cylinder, but there are no part no.s to go by.

Thanks

Michael

[mcl1959]

The Ford m/c needs to be bled on the bench as Stinky has said. Did you put the combo together or was it done professionally, as there is a subtle mod which must be done to the Gem booster to make it work right.

Ken

[cruiser056]

Ken,
       The systemwas on my sedan, and working fine.  I took the m/c and booster off as one piece and then fitted to my van, so they were not seperated from one car to the next.

Michael

[mcl1959]

Well if m/c and booster were not separated and were working fine before, and the brakes are fine when the engine is off, then it sounds as if the booster has died.

Ken

[cruiser056]

Ken,
       Not exactly what I want to hear.  When the brake pedal is depressed and released there is a slow movement back of the brake pedal and a "ticking sound" from the booster, as if a staggered release, if that makes any sense?

       Would Hopper Stoppers have a booster and possibly M/c package to replace my current one?  And if so would you be able to quote a ball park price, please?

Thanks

Michael

[mcl1959]

From my memory, the recoed Gemini booster was $200 and a new XB m/c is $220.  As long as the m/c hasn't been off for a long while it should be OK.

Regards  Ken

[cruiser056]

Ken,
      Thanks for the help, it is much appreciated!  Could I send you a photo of my set up so that maybe you could confirm the booster and M/C?  Would you be able to identify the model with a photo?

Thanks again

Michael

[mikey]

Hi Cruiser,
                 Have a look here at a Gemini booster and Ford master cylinder, hope it helps.

http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,11654.0.html

Cheers  M