well i replaced my rear wheel cylinders and upgraded to front disc with the granada swap as well as a reman master. i finished up this weekend and bled the brakes but i have a problem. the first time a press the brake pedal there is almost no pressure but it will build up as i start puming them. i was hoping that one of you would be able to help me with this. and dont worry...im not driving it on the street.

 

was it drum/drum before?
is the master a single or dual reservoir?
that first push, do the brakes actually work or pedal straight to the floor?
I know you can get a different pedal feel when you just change to discs on the front, but the brakes still work. i had to get the proportioning valve changed but it still feels spongy compared to before. just have to push the pedal further.
if the brakes arent working at all on that first push, you may need to bleed again

 

ya it was drum/drum before, it is a dual resevior master, on the first push it goes all the way to the floor but after that first push it comes up and stays up, i have yet to really drive it like this because im a little worried to drive with them like this. i bled the brakes with a self bleeder if that makes a difference.

 

1) did you bench bleed the master cylinder first before installing it?

2) Are your front installed caliper's bleeder ports on the top or the bottom of the caliper?

 

1. no i was told that i didnt need to bench bleed it if i was going to bleed the whole system
2. i guess it would be the bottom...they are pointing toward the back of the car.

 

sounds to me like you may need to bleed again.
maybe a silly question, but did you start with the passenger rear first (furthest from the m/cyl)?

 

yeah i did...started at the farthest and worked my way closer.

 

1) Ditch the rebuilt and go buy a new M/C. It's worth the extra bucks (it's only your BRAKES...right?)
2) ALWAYS bench bleed new install M/C. They have air trapped in the piston that you can't get out with regular bleeding.
3) Make sure that your calipers are installed on the correct sides. The bleeders must be the highest point on your caliper so that all the trapped air can escape.

To know if they are on the right sides, your brake lines should be coming out of the front of the calipers like this: (ignor the looped hard line)

 

ok will do...except im not sure about the whole "new is better" approach. my uncle did the brakes on my dads old honda and we picked up a new m/c and it was broken so we exchanged it for a reman which worked fine. but anyways thanks a bunch. i really appreciate your help

 

1974 Maverick Disc/Drum nonpower master cylinders:

NAPA sells rebuilts for $24... new for $39.

For $15 ..... new is ALWAYS better than rebuilt.

I hope you looked at my Granada webpage too...
http://midnightdsigns.com/james/Disc%20Brakes.htm