Thanks all. I don't have boosters. It's rear drums. Every component is new from Banks. I'll have another go at the weekend. Btw I was doing it with the hand brake cable connected why is that a problem please
I wasn't aware the handbrake cable was a problem with drum brakes, it's some time now since I had drums but even so I don't recall removing the cable to bleed the brakes. With a disc set-up it depends on the orientation of the caliper, and on one such as mine I found it better to rotate the caliper during bleeding which means the cable has to come off.
If it's any consolation you're not alone in finding a new system difficult to bleed fully, I (and I'm sure others) have met similar problems in the past. My current technique is to have a long (18" ?) clear plastic tube off the bleed nipple which rises for a few inches before going down into the catch tin. The thinking was that bubbles rise so to return to the nipple they's have to go against gravity so if you hold the pedal down for a few seconds they have chance to move clear of any fluid that's potentially sucked back. And you have a clear indicator of any air you've flushed out, which is reassuring.
The other thing I now do is pressurise the master cylinder, only a couple of PSI but enough to push fluid out of it when a nipple is released. I made my own set-up but commercial ones are available. I found this much better for one man operation, you can flush almost the entire reservoir out in one "push", much more fluid than you can release via the master cylinder chamber alone. I have found this good for shifting recalcitrant bubbles !
Finally, something which will probably have you wondering if I'm sane (you won't be alone
). If the problem is that you have excessive travel but can pump the pedal to obtain a better result try pumping the pedal until it's as firm as possible and won't improve. Then hold it down with a piece of wood/whatever wedged between the pedal & steering wheel spoke and leave overnight. When you come back next morning, bleed & see if the travel on the first press is any better.
There are several theories as to why this can make a difference, ranging from bubbles dissolving under higher pressure (? not sure about that) to simply letting any air collect closer to the piston chamber. My favourite is that new seals may be stiffer & not bedded in thus causing more retraction as the pressure is released. Leaving the system under pressure overnight modifies their rest/neutral position. (however I still bled the brakes the next morning, just in case
)
Brian
