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Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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TravisH
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Oct 8, 2016, 8:00 PM
Post #1 of 17
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Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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What is the best way or procedure for flushing break system and is the chemical you use or just through use of break fluid probably never been done on this 1976 chevy truck? Also does the break booster suppose make noise when the peddle is applied it makes a swooshing sound. Thankyou; Travis
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 9, 2016, 12:01 AM
Post #2 of 17
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Hi again, Just use brake fluid - DOT 3 and if needed compressed air if for a reason you think some debris needs blowing out. Lines are better new if bad as other parts. Booster can make noise like that normally. Try this before you lose hair over it: Shut down vehicle after a short idle time at least. Don't touch anything for a few minutes or more - hours even. Now without starting it push the brake later you should feel or hear it work. Hold foot on pedal just adequate pressure like a normal stop and start engine. If pedal noticeably drop lower it probably leaked out vacuum stored in the booster. It should hold ONE good power assist after engine is off and might not? That would be reason to check everything associated with vacuum to it, hose, check valve and tests to see if booster itself can hold a vacuum properly to determine what to do or fix about it. Hose and line alone to base of carb in a 1976 would be likely swelled from oils, cleaning over the years or just bad from time. It is specific hose made to resist oil, fuels and hold vacuum without collapsing so if replacing be sure to use correct products, T
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TravisH
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Oct 9, 2016, 6:55 AM
Post #3 of 17
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Yes, I replaced that hose that connect to the break booster to the carburator base that supplies vacuum. Now I didn't now about using hose designed to, t think I just used flexible fuel hose 3/8 the original of course was dry rotted. The peddle works as described when pumped after shutting engine down soft as should be and get harder over time more effort. Thankyou; Travis
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 9, 2016, 7:22 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Sounds good. Do check the hose is rated - usually marked right on it "Fuel/PCV" which is the right kind. You asked up to about flushing brakes? It's good to and greatly neglected to just bleed out old fluid for new as a routine. Even I'm late on my own quite familiar with depending on VERY old vehicles for daily use till the rot out hopelessly from always rust I can't stop. So no real flush other than a normal bleeding out of system would be suggested by me. Are you up for that and have some tools to get at bleeders now or would send this out? Has to be a disc front, drum rear system - fine but bleeders by bust off which is a real trick not to or impossible sometimes. Then the job can involve more work than you may want to do - up to you. Brake lines are common to twist up to the parts you might (only might) bust bleeders and need to make new ones up which isn't hard or expensive but tons easier if you have some tools and have done it before. It's a routine for where I am lots younger than this truck. I'll save explaining brake line work as if you aren't really ready to take that one if and only if involved I'd send that out - same day fix for a tech who deals with that stuff no problem and shouldn't be all that costly. If this truck is good overall it's a good thing to do and if something broke then it's found out and over with just be ready for that snag in what should be straight forward bleeding out if all worked properly now and might. Guess you won't know till either you try or another. One more: There's a chance the master cylinder can fail if old and more-so if still original would be unusual to still be. Reason is in bleeding it travels to floor where it doesn't normally go and can cut up the rubber seals that make it work. It's not costly either and I didn't check, T
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TravisH
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Oct 9, 2016, 9:33 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Thankyou for the advice I plan to do the work myself and if anything does break there's really nothing that can't be fixed or repaired that's mechanical. It just takes more time any advice you give I understand and if not I'll ask. Wouldn't be surprised if that master cylinder isn't original from other instances never touched. Thankyou; Travis
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TravisH
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Oct 9, 2016, 9:58 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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I have one other question is there a way to tell the difference between warped break disk and a sticking caliper? I notice when coming to a stop the truck shutters when coming to a stop after mainly going highway speed slowing down to make a turn. Hope that makes sense this just came to mind and thought I'd ask. Thankyou; Travis
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TravisH
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Oct 9, 2016, 10:12 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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I agree complexly with that I meant if you twist of a rusted break of fuel line when working on it that can be fixed. Life can not be brought back if taken and our bodies can not be completely healed when injured or not like before. Work safely and always use common sense I did not mean to sound or take lightly of working on breaks. Thankyou; Travis
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 9, 2016, 10:16 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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You admit you know the consequences of a mistake in a brake repair and yet you still plan to mess will the hydraulic system yourself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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TravisH
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Oct 9, 2016, 10:34 AM
Post #10 of 17
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Your recommendation is to take the truck to an accreted shop it sounds like to work on breaks. It's been years sense I've touched a break system and it is a big response ability I may yet take it to shop for the breaks haven't torn into it and not going to anytime soon and will take your advice to heart.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 9, 2016, 10:45 AM
Post #11 of 17
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Travis, you are correct in that there isn't anything hydraulic on this you can't do and Hammer Time is just as correct - not for "on the job training" it has to be right if this gets involved and can be. 1. Very serious attention to details. 2. Is better: If it gets tricky have experienced help and all tools needed (not all that bad as things go IMO) for this but verified by someone with VERY real profession grade ability for just this stuff. If you know this is greatly still original parts on a very nice truck seriously consider doing a lot or all hydraulically operated parts including just throw the calipers, flex hoses, wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. Then any lines to any of it that are not in very good looking shape and may be? Knowing the difference is also a skill. Knowing how to get out of problem you may encounter. I doubt you disagree brakes leave no room for mistakes because you plain didn't know how and know it is in fact right? That's not negotiable. Here to help and here to suggest what you really should get help with and at the moment yet to determine that. One time tool purchases usually will outweigh any savings if that's your goal only. If learning and satisfaction with price is no object can work with that. It's old and we are talking brakes so let's not make any mistakes, Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 9, 2016, 10:52 AM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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The way you learn how to do brakes is with supervision by an experienced tech that is checking your work before the vehicle is driven. Trial and error isn't acceptable with brake repairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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TravisH
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Oct 11, 2016, 6:03 PM
Post #13 of 17
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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It been a few days responding back, hey realize and understand what your saying about working on breaks and taking them serious. I've worked on breaks frequently in the the past so I have an understanding of how they work and have the proper tools for disk and drum haven't used them for a while since for awhile didn't have a an old pickup to tinker on. I won't touch ABS break systems take my newer vehicles to a repair shop due to complexity and specialized equipment for diagnostics training so many new vehicles required to even look at much less work on, but then again that's new and at a dealer. I've been told on newer vehicles coming out your breaking the law if a non licensed or certified mechanic works on a car models in coming years. I don't how true this is or how this could be done black box I guess. Travis
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Discretesignals
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Oct 12, 2016, 3:48 PM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Haven't heard about that. Don't possibly see how the government would regulate something like that. Need to go down to the country office and get a permit to change a tail lamp...haha. Doing brake pad, rotors, and hardware on ABS/TCS/TRAC brake systems is pretty much the same as doing it on the oldies. Some vehicles need a scan tool to do automated brake bleeding or electronic caliper control, but majority of vehicles out there don't need a whole bunch of specialized equipment to do a brake pad/shoes servicing....yet. Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 12, 2016, 3:50 PM)
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TravisH
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Oct 12, 2016, 6:08 PM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Yet is the key word but mainly think stricter regulations working on engines even lawn and garden engines crazy. Every time anyone has give help I try to always inform to let you know. With this break bleeding probably need to suspend it since it will be awhile till I can get back to due to other projects. Don't want to keep it running till get the chance to get back to it. Thankyou; Travis
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TravisH
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Oct 16, 2016, 4:26 PM
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Re: Break Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Me Greenleaf: I just wanted to inform you that finally got around to that 1976 Chevy p/u turned into a little more work than expected the master cylinder at the rear started to leak so wound up replacing and did the flush then. Surprised it didn't look to bad for what came out. The master cylinder when drew the old fluid out of it before removal was pretty awful looking though. They've sure made bench bleeding a master cylinder easier and neater than they use to be. Thankyou; Travis
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 16, 2016, 4:51 PM
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Re: Brake Line Flushing and Cleaning
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Sound like you are all set. Just my note that I wouldn't call brake fluid change a "flushing" rather a periodic bleeding of entire system always using new and discarding used. Side note that brake fluid is not an oil and absorbs water by intentional design of the product. The notable property of it is that it is rubber friendly, tolerates high heat and doesn't freeze but absorbs moisture. It loses that ability rather quickly. Guilty myself should be bleeding out my own on a schedule and don't! Shame on me and I know better. One rusts out brake lines so fast fluid is always new dag nabbit! I think most folks just wait for a brake problem or routine major brake job it gets done then just anyway as part of the work. Good luck that it last lots longer and stays safe. Brake surprises just aren't acceptable if preventable, T
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