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zgomo Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2021 Posts: 102 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 12:43 am Post subject: Brake line clogs? |
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Quick question. I recently rebuilt all four brakes, replaced the hoses, adjusted everything and have topped off the brake reservoir (which was dry when I bought the car) to check for leaks at the master cylinder. The fluid in the reservoir barely drained down into the system, I mean some did, but there is still a lot in the reservoir. How likely is it that I may have a clogged steel brake line? I've heard elsewhere that it is fairly uncommon, but want to verify. Thanks! |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2667 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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More likely you have air in there preventing the lines filling up. _________________ 1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3 |
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doug bugg Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2003 Posts: 349 Location: Minneapolis
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:29 am Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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You bled the brakes, right? What color was the fluid? |
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zgomo Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2021 Posts: 102 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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doug bugg wrote: |
You bled the brakes, right? What color was the fluid? |
Haven't bled yet actually. Wanted to wait and make sure there wasn't a clog first. |
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polypetalous Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2021 Posts: 110 Location: Kansas, USA
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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zgomo wrote: |
doug bugg wrote: |
You bled the brakes, right? What color was the fluid? |
Haven't bled yet actually. Wanted to wait and make sure there wasn't a clog first. |
Do you have the bleeders open on the wheel cylinders?
If not I don't imagine much fluid will move, with them open you can at least kinda "gravity bleed."
But still you're gonna have to just bleed the whole system to really know what you have.
I honestly have never seen a clog in a brake line... wheel cylinders and master cylinders yes, but not lines that I can remember.
Good luck.
Ben |
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zgomo Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2021 Posts: 102 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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polypetalous wrote: |
zgomo wrote: |
doug bugg wrote: |
You bled the brakes, right? What color was the fluid? |
Haven't bled yet actually. Wanted to wait and make sure there wasn't a clog first. |
Do you have the bleeders open on the wheel cylinders?
If not I don't imagine much fluid will move, with them open you can at least kinda "gravity bleed."
But still you're gonna have to just bleed the whole system to really know what you have.
I honestly have never seen a clog in a brake line... wheel cylinders and master cylinders yes, but not lines that I can remember.
Good luck.
Ben |
Oh, is it standard practice to open them after putting fluid in to allow the fluid to channel around the lines? Had not thought of that, but it does make sense. |
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bomberbob Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2015 Posts: 688 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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Yes. Open the bleeders so brake fluid can flow down to the wheel cylinders. Watch the reservoir, don't let it run empty.
In my experience the hard lines will not clog, but I have seen hard lines pinched shut. The rubber flex lines are known to collapse on the inside and prevent flow. _________________ 1968 Beetle (storage)
1990 Jetta GLI megasquirted, burning E85 (currently in heavy maintenance)
2004 Jetta turbo GLI
Marion, Iowa |
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zgomo Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2021 Posts: 102 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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bomberbob wrote: |
Yes. Open the bleeders so brake fluid can flow down to the wheel cylinders. Watch the reservoir, don't let it run empty.
In my experience the hard lines will not clog, but I have seen hard lines pinched shut. The rubber flex lines are known to collapse on the inside and prevent flow. |
Can't believe I didn't know this. Thanks, I will open them up when I get home from this work trip. |
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RWK Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2009 Posts: 1348 Location: S.W. MI
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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Yes, just leave the bleeders open enough so they drip, I would run a reservoir full through the lines, then bleed properly, get a qt. of fluid at least. _________________ 73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530 |
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zgomo Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2021 Posts: 102 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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RWK wrote: |
Yes, just leave the bleeders open enough so they drip, I would run a reservoir full through the lines, then bleed properly, get a qt. of fluid at least. |
Sounds good. I already have a reservoir full waiting to go as soon as I get home. Do you let them drip one at a time or all together? |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31362 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2022 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Brake line clogs? |
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zgomo wrote: |
Sounds good. I already have a reservoir full waiting to go as soon as I get home. Do you let them drip one at a time or all together? |
I did this on one of mine, did one at a time. _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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