How to bleed Tilton balance bar brakes

[rdorman]

Rbay

A couple of things come to mind. First you said that the pedal dropped almost all the way to the floor. Are you talking about with out even pushing in on it? In other words you just bled the brakes and then looked at the pedal and it was way low? If so it sounds as though the fill port in the master cylinder was not exposed when you began the bleeding process or became covered during the process. If the pistons have not fully returned in the master cylinders you can bleed until the cows come home and it will not help. Check on this.

No need to get fancy. Raise one side of the car and bleed both front and rear at the same time. Again make sure the bleeder is at the highest point of the caliper and if possible the entire system when you bleed the brakes. Remove the caliper if you have to do this (don't forget to put something in the caliper to keep the pistons from blowing out if you do this!). It takes a lot of fluid to get a new system free of air. Do not have some one hold the pedal with a bunch of pressure and then crack the bleeders. Light pressure is all that is required and is preferred. Actually, I bleed them all by myself with no problem at all. I use a hose attached to the bleeder and placed in a jar with some clean fluid (you can buy the set up cheap at any autoparts store). I keep the fluid in the jar above the bleeder to help keep the bleeder immersed in fluid otherwise the jar end tend to siphon all the fluid out of the hose (hose not tight enough) an leave the top of the bleeder in air which it will suck back in when releasing the pedal. Do not open the bleeder to far. If you open it to far you can suck air around the threads. You only need to open it just enough that fluid will come out. If fluid is coming out around the thread you have gone to far. Some folks put heavy grease on the bleeder threads just to help with this. Although I don't know how well advised grease in the hydraulic system is! When pumping the pedal, use your hand and go very, very slowly. Particuarlly when releasing the pedal and again, be sure that the master cylinder pistons fully return. I have never found it necessary to do the 'push on the pedal, open the bleeders, close them once the pedal hits the bottom and then release the pedal' method. Although that is ideal. But then you have a three person bleed job! But I will admit, I have done it! With three guys it is a quicker more efficient procedure. I have been bleeding balance bar systems since the early 80's.

If there are any 'peaks and valleys' in you plumbing these are all spots where bubbles will want to hide. Tapping on the lines, calipers and master cylinders to help dislodge the bubbles can be helpful.

Happy bleeding!

Rick