Marathon brake overhaul completed
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:56 pm
I have finally finished replacing front and rear discs, pads, all 3 brake lines and both rear calipers. what a performance, the biggest headache was the bleeding, after 1 litre of break fluid I still need to bleed the brakes some more.
However, I am at a loss to understand why Alfa recommend bleeding the Front right and rear right together and then the front left and rear left together when the front and rear are separate circuits.
The only way I was able to get the fluid bled at the rear was by doing the 2 rear calipers together ie all 4 bleed nipples at once, especially as the rears are fed by 1 pipe to a T piece going to both rear calipers.. If you only do the rear left and front right together you will continue to get air bubbles at the back because of the single rear pipe feeding both rear calipers via a T piece.
I also tried the bleeding the rears with the rear of the car up and also sitting flat on the ground, I found flat on the ground the best.
I found bleeding the rear brakes together and the front brakes together the best method regardless of the factory recommendation of right front and back then left front and back.
I used Stainless steel brake hoses and Porterfield Street pads and they are really good, even from cold. The discs are front ventilated drilled and slotted , and the rear slotted and drilled. The rear calipers are reconditioned units.
The brakes are much better, but I still have some air to get out .
However, I am at a loss to understand why Alfa recommend bleeding the Front right and rear right together and then the front left and rear left together when the front and rear are separate circuits.
The only way I was able to get the fluid bled at the rear was by doing the 2 rear calipers together ie all 4 bleed nipples at once, especially as the rears are fed by 1 pipe to a T piece going to both rear calipers.. If you only do the rear left and front right together you will continue to get air bubbles at the back because of the single rear pipe feeding both rear calipers via a T piece.
I also tried the bleeding the rears with the rear of the car up and also sitting flat on the ground, I found flat on the ground the best.
I found bleeding the rear brakes together and the front brakes together the best method regardless of the factory recommendation of right front and back then left front and back.
I used Stainless steel brake hoses and Porterfield Street pads and they are really good, even from cold. The discs are front ventilated drilled and slotted , and the rear slotted and drilled. The rear calipers are reconditioned units.
The brakes are much better, but I still have some air to get out .