Bleeding brakes

[markos]

Having finally got round to replacing my clutch everything working great,but can not for the life of me get my brakes working right,have checked lines for blockages non return valve but to no avail,its as if ive no servo,plenty of pressure needed on pedal.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[kjb]

Are you bleeding the brakes with the engine running?are you starting furthest away from brake master cylinder?

[liteace]

Are you trying to bleed the brakes or the brakes are not working after clutch change, if so check the vacuum hose that goes to the servo, open the bonnet, look under the rubber intercooler hose that is on the left hand side of the van (your right hand side as your looking at it) next to battery, under that hose is the vac pump, coming out the top of the vac pump is a plastic pipe that is covered in heatproof fiberglass, follow that hose all the way round and make sure its got no breaks in it and it is connected to the servo, don't know what year tour van is, if you have vac operated EGR there is a T piece \ non return valve in the line make sure the small hose is also connect to that

[markos]

No bled with engine not running ,brake pedal is solid. Does it make a difference with engine running.checked pipes all ok.

[liteace]

No bled with engine not running ,brake pedal is solid. Does it make a difference with engine running.checked pipes all ok.

I never bleed brakes with engine running, you dont have to, the servo is only there to assist braking, less pressure needed to press pedal.
So what your saying is when you undo the bleed nipped\s on any of the wheels the pedal is still solid ?
Is this van fitted with ABS ?

[markos]

Have bled the brakes as normal bleed nipples closed ,the brake pedal is then stiff but its as if the servo isnt working ,have to put lots of pressure on pedal for brakes to barely work .Yes it is fitted with abs.its a 2006 L200.Could it be abs valves.

[gt_addict]

I h w to ask this just to clarify it in my own head. After you've bled the brakes with the engine off, have you started the van and got the servo working? If not then the pedal would go stiff.

[Marty.H]

To check make sure servo is working.

With engine of pump brake pedal till hard hold foot down on pedal when hard and start engine if pedal then goes down servo is working

[markos]

Tried foot hard down and started engine pedal went down with a bit of force so i guess servo is working will try bleeding them again tomorrow .Thanks for the help lads.

[Marty.H]

Start at furthest away from master cylinder and work round leaving the corner that's closest till last.

Easiest way get a little coke bottle make a hole in lid big enough to take a piece of rubber pipe that will fit over bleed nipple. Now pour some brake fluid into bottle so when rubber hose is pushed into bottle the end is submerged into fluid. Connect other end to bleed nipple and open nipple and pump brake pedal. Having the pipe submerged in fluid will act as a one way valve makes bleeding very easy and also collects old fluid at same time once you have pumped a few times lock nipple off and move onto next and top fluid up before bleeding next one.

Hope that helps

[liteace]

You say its 06, does it have Ford badge on bonnet or on the grill ?? Some vehicle with ABS can only be bled using diagnostic tool

[markos]

Has badge on the bonnet .This could be the problem then.

[liteace]

Never done a Transit but as I say some vehicle with ABS need diag tool plugged in to operate the valves in the ABS unit, maybe that's where the problem is

[markos]

Took van for drive today acceleration doesnt seem as good as before i changed clutch do you think this is related to the brake problem.

[markie2]

i would check the pipe from the servo to the pump it may be split or squashed