Bleeding brakes

[20vcqdriver]

OK so does anyone have a method of bleeding the brake system on a 1986 Cq that works? Since installing the new calipers I have attempted to bleed them but brake pedal is still VERY spongy and twice as much travel as there should be, though now I've done a few miles they at least stop you but the travel is unacceptable. All ideas welcome

[Colin Aitchison]

Sorry for the questions, but my own experience with brake on a coupe is on Ur quattro's, did you fit new front or rear calipers? dose the car have ABS? are you using a self bleed system or second person in the car pumping the pedal? what other brake parts have you changed or modified, servo, master cylinder, brake lines?

[Jake Blight]

Had the same problem with my 87 cq prior to getting it back on the road, ended up getting my local garage to sort it. Still not sure what witchcraft they used but it certainly made a difference.

Good luck with it all.

[Isimmo]

Strange, I've done it several times over the years using an eezibleed kit without issue...

[John.]

Have an accomplice to pump up the pedal and then hold the pressure on whilst you open the nipple and then close (x10 maybe), has always been my preferred way to force air from the system.

[Duffy3074]

You doing it with the rear suspension supported in it’s normal position?

The rear valve cuts flow to the rear brakes if the suspension is drooping.

I used to have an eazibleed but they leak, I bought a Sealey VS820 which is a much better piece of kit

[Colin Aitchison]

Hi 20vcpdriver,
You have had replies from some very wise people, in my own first reply I asked you some questions, Dose the car have ABS, the reason for this is in a Ur quattro with ABS you need to bleed minimum 500ml of brake fluid through each of the 4 brake calipers, the reason for this I an not certain but normally only cars with ABS, the fault you get if you don't bleed 500ml through each caliper is a long brake pedal, normally an air pressure bleeding system is better than second person pumping the brake pedal.

[msh]

Originally Posted by Duffy3074

You doing it with the rear suspension supported in it’s normal position?

The rear valve cuts flow to the rear brakes if the suspension is drooping.

I used to have an eazibleed but they leak, I bought a Sealey VS820 which is a much better piece of kit

There's no such a thing in any Coupe Quattro, because it has independent rear suspension, removing any easy and safe attachment point for bias valve. quattros have brake force regulator, which limits rear brake force according to pressure, not rear height, and it's small cylindrical item attached to brake master cylinder, at least in LHD cars

[Duffy3074]

Fair enough

[20vcqdriver]

Originally Posted by Colin Aitchison

Hi 20vcpdriver,
You have had replies from some very wise people, in my own first reply I asked you some questions, Dose the car have ABS, the reason for this is in a Ur quattro with ABS you need to bleed minimum 500ml of brake fluid through each of the 4 brake calipers, the reason for this I an not certain but normally only cars with ABS, the fault you get if you don't bleed 500ml through each caliper is a long brake pedal, normally an air pressure bleeding system is better than second person pumping the brake pedal.

Thanks for replies everyone Mine does not have ABS, was an option until 1987. I have long pedal and spongy once 'slack' taken up. Only replaced front calipers as part of upgrade (same size piston as Cq).
As already mentioned, I ended up taking it to my local expert last time and witchcraft the only way to describe it as the difference was massive.... Followed the correct sequence as per Haynes manual and used second person on the brake pedal too...Its a weird and annoying issue