brake bleeding canundrum

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[Twisty]

88 MJ, 4.0, AW4, yadda yadda...not stock, but the brakes are.

I cant get the passanger side front to bleed.  The drivers side will just fine, but nothing from the passanger side.  I thought there was a clog, so I took a bicycle pump, and pumped air through the line.  I did this at BOTH ends.  I took the rubber line off at the passy side, and pumped air up to the master...which bubbled.  I tried to bleed...nothing.  Then I took the line dirrectly out of the master, and pumped air through there, and it went just fine.  I hooked the line back up to the master, got a few bubbles, then nothing.  I've tried the master cylinder from my parts XJ, didnt work.  I bench bled the thing...still wouldnt work.  My next thought is the splitter that the master leads into...but if I can get air through it, then why cant I get fluid through it?  Clog?  Is there a valve in there that can go bad?

The front flex lines, calipers, pads, and rotors are very new.  The rear brakes are 100% brand new from the backing plates to the drums. 

I dont know what to do.  Any ideas???

[Casey L]

if you unbolt the line to the right front caliper and press the brakes, does fluid come out? It sounds like maybe a stuck bleader if it does. Are those calipers remaned? Get some raybesto's calipers in there if you have a problem with it, or one from a parts jeep.

[Bluerocket]

reman calipers are like 17$ from autozone with a lifetime guarentee.   If you suspect them you might as well get new ones and never have to buy them again.

[Twisty]

I just bought new ones from autozone for $17.  These are the ones that are giving me trouble.  I will try the old ones and see if those work.

I better get this fixed soon.  I want to make it to NH on the 11th.

[jps4jeep]

I just bought new ones from autozone for $17. 

Thats your problem.. the cheap japanese calipers may have a life time warranty, but they are crap. they are made with substandard parts. go to NAPA and get the premium calipers. they will cost a bit more, but when it comes to stopping and steering, I would prefer not to have to question my equipment.

sounds like the wheel cylinder is junk, new calipers for you.


If you only want to spend $17, get a good caliper rebuild kit and rebuild your old ones.

[Casey L]

like I said, raybestos is the way to go.

[Twisty]

The bleeders are not restricting flow.  I used a bike pump to push air through and it blew right out.  The wheel cylinders are new.  I will look into getting some new calipers.  I might also try to vaccume bleed the thing.

[Casey L]

dont buy the vaccume thing, It is better to bleed your brakes the regular way with two people. Go tell your brother to help you out.

[jps4jeep]

I don't think they make/rebuild calipers for all my braking components I use Bendix.

[ayoung]

my autozone brake calipers work awesome, never had an issue with them, and quite easy to change should they ever develop a problem

well worth the 18 bucks in my opinion

[jeepgod]

i love when people say autozone stuff is crap. 


everybody knows that the only good products in the world are american made.  i mean look at the prime examples of american quality, toyota, samsung,  nissan. sony,  . . . . . . . . .

[ayoung]

chrome repeatedly tells me that Ford Superduty balljoints are awesome 


did you fix this yet Tim?

[jps4jeep]

I am so sorry, you are 100% correct... I understand you installed two or three calipers and they worked for you, I worked at a brake shop and I've installed way more than that and about 25% were junk, but obviously your right..


Regardless, Good luck with it Twisty

[ayoung]

I am so sorry, you are 100% correct... I understand you installed two or three calipers and they worked for you, I worked at a brake shop and I've installed way more than that and about 25% were junk, but obviously your right..

umm, i have installed 4 of them (on my personal vehicle) and never had an issue

and i have watched them installed on 4 other vehicles, and yes i have seen one bad one, and yes we brought it back and they give us another for free

i would not argue that they are the best calipers out there, but they are cheap and work fine

[jps4jeep]