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Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:02 pm

I just bought a 74 super and it neede brakes so I went to work on it. I am pretty experienced with car repair, I thought. I installed a new master cylinder(after bench bleeding it), I installed new brake lines, new brake shoes, and new wheel cyliders. Now comes my problem, I went to bleed the brakes and there is no brake fluid getting to the back. Can anyone out there help. All my brake lines are good.

Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:40 pm

is there a brake prportioner (spelling) valve on that year?

Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:42 pm

not sure if there is I havent found it. Could you tell me where it might be?

Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:50 pm

I wish I could, but I don't know either. That just sounded like the possible answer. I'm checking a parts catalog so bear with me.

Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:58 pm

Sorry no luck finding that valve in the parts catalog, so it may not exist. Bad guess on my part :oops:

Sounds crazy, but was that master cylinder new, and wrapped in clear plastic? I placed a part on my motorcycle that was wrapped in plastic and when I wripped it open I stretched a piece of the plastic right over the outlet and I never saw it. Basically went through the same prob, no flow.

May be a long shot but worth a quick check before pulling all your hair out.

Thu Nov 20, 2003 7:27 pm

All new lines? How about the 'T' in the back that tees the long line into the rear lines. Was that clear? Any kinks in the long line?
If not, you might wanna pull the long line out of the master cylinder and make sure fluid flows from the MC outlet nicely.

Thu Nov 20, 2003 8:14 pm

Look at your brake fluid reservoir. Has the level dropped a lot? Then you have a leak in the rear circuit.

Check the back of the MC where the rubber boot protrudes into the passenger compartment by the pedals. If it feels or looks wet there is fluid leaking out the back of the MC.

You said you replaced the brake lines. Did that include the metal ones or just the rubber ones? If you didn't replace the metal ones then you should check the metal ones for leaks.

Pull up the carpet along the driver's side of the center tunnel. The brake line runs along the floor here. See if there is any fluid leaking along there. Finally pull up the back seat and see if the line is leaking there before it exits out the back of the passenger compartment.

Fri Nov 21, 2003 6:36 am

I got the master cylinder new and in the plastic. It was working great before I put it on because I bench bled it and had everything working. I will try checking the T to see if that is the problem. I have checked the hard lines and there are no leaks at all. My master cylinder is constantly full without my adding fluid. I am still bewildered.

Fri Nov 21, 2003 11:26 am

I found what may be the reason. My hard lines to the back are running through an electric fuel pump. One of the connections was loose with a slow leak. I am fixing that to see if it works. I wonder since the brake lines run through an electronic fuel pump does that mean that the bug needs to be running for my brakes to work? :shock:

Fri Nov 21, 2003 11:38 am

What?

I thought you said you replaced all the lines?

An electric fuel pump in your brake lines? How's it even possible to plumb and electric fuel pump in your brake line? And better yet, why?

Are you SURE you're looking at the right line? The hard fuel line comes out of the frame horn. Is it GAS leaking out?

Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:01 pm

Well I removed the electronic fuel pump and replaced with a coupling then I was able to bleed the brakes and now everything is great. If anyone can tell me how to post a picture I will post a pic of the electronic fuel pump that I took off.

Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:30 pm

go post it in the " gallery" and then after it loads up... copy the link out of your browser window and post it back here, that way people can click on it IF they want instead of some IMG picture that comes up in the thread every time....

Tue Nov 25, 2003 1:28 pm

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/126499.jpg ok here is the pump that my hard lines were running through