Golf MK1 resto, no brake fluid getting through!

[TROOPER88]

Hi Guys
I have very nearly completed a full restoration of a mk1 Golf GTi.

The braking system is connected and I just attempted to fill and bleed. The callipers are new, all the components in the rear drums are new, the brake lines are also new.

The servo and master cylinder are not new and were taken form the donor car.

Ok, so I first attempted the process with the spare tyre method to force the air/fluid through the system. I checked the system was air tight and with just air in the system I cracked open each bleed nipple and air flowed out freely.

I then topped the bottle up with fluid and connected the pipe to the spare tyre.
There was absolutely no fluid at any corner......

I then decided to try the one-man brake bleeding system where I simply pump the pedal. Again no fluid......

When using the spare tyre system the good point is that it removes a few components from the equation. We know that the pedal or pedal assembly is not the issue, the same with the servo as these are not used with the spare tyre system.

This leaves just the master cylinder as the likely culprit.

Does this sound logical?

The car is on axel stands if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

[stevieturbo]

If you're getting air coming out the nipples with the spare tyre jobbie, then fluid should pass.
Maybe increase the air pressure.

But pumping the pedal with a dry master cylinder rarely gets you anywhere. Using pressure or vacuum is a far better method.

[TROOPER88]

stevieturbo said:

If you're getting air coming out the nipples with the spare tyre jobbie, then fluid should pass.
Maybe increase the air pressure.

But pumping the pedal with a dry master cylinder rarely gets you anywhere. Using pressure or vacuum is a far better method.

Hi
Thanks for the reply.

I tried pumping the pedal with a full master cylinder not a dry master cylinder and yet no fluid came through?

I will attempt again in the morn with more pressure using the tyre system.

[smokeyo1]

Clamp of three flexi pipes and bleed one at a time, the truth will out

[KevinK2]

Based on experience with old British Cars, I'd get a seal kit for the MC if possible. Some rebuilt MC's look like a good buy, but I wasted hours, and likly my life as I had that VW Dasher pitched in deangerous angles on the stands, trying to get flow. Frustrated, I pulled it apart and it was full of some type of greenish algea. Rebuilt the original with a seal kit, and pre bleed the MC with big fine thread screws in the in and out ports, and all was well again.

Edited by KevinK2 on Sunday 14th September 16:07