Brake lines no pressure

[wingman]

I am TRYING to do a front disc brake conversion on my Honda Pilot..using 400ex calipers..all bolted up and ready to go..but my brake lines are a little too short now,so i cannot align the "nub" on brake line fitting in - between the two "nubs" on caliper and tighten..i have it basically 90 degrees rotated and tightened down...have both of the washers on the banjo bolt..i add fluid to resevoir,and it doesnt go down....pump,pump,pump...still level doesnt change...how the heck do i get fluid flowin down to calipers? Is the "nubs" alignment/non alignment the problem? Drivin me nuts..THANX for ANY help/hints!!!

[K-fab]

Welcome to the site!

If you need to rotate the banjo bolt then cut either one or both of the nubs off the caliper. Make sure you plug the hole with something before you start cutting, though. The last thing you want is to end up with metal shavings inside the caliper.

You need to have the bleeder screw on the caliper as the highest point of the system (as mounted on the spindle).

Crack the bleeder screw open about 3/4's of a turn, take off the reservoir cap from the master cylinder and fluid should start leaking out of the bleeder.

If that doesn't work, close the bleeder (not tightly, just so it's seated), squeeze the brake lever, hold it, then open the bleeder. Don't let go of the lever yet - close the bleed screw, then release the lever. Do this until you start seeing fluid come out of the bleeder.

If that's still not working, try a small vacuum pump - stick it on the bleeder, crack it open about 1/4 - 1/2 turn, take the res cover off the master cylinder and then pump on the vacuum handle. That should pull fluid through.

You may want to consider taking the caliper free so you can hold it so the air goes up to the caliper and then on out of the bleeder.

If you do get some fluid out of the bleeder and are still working on getting air out of the system, try to get the brakes pumped up as much as possible, then take a flat blade screw driver and push the pads back as far as they will go. This will displace the fluid in the caliper, hopefully pushing the air in the lines back up towards the master cylinder. Once you get the air in the line, the fluid will (eventually) go past the air bubbles. Try this a couple times and you should get an air free system.

Let me know if that helps, if not, we'll try something different.

On thing that worries me is that you say the lines are a little short - how short? Can you drop the suspension to full droop and still turn the wheels from lock to lock w/o pulling on the line?

If not, you really need to step up and put longer lines on the machine. If you have an issue with the line being even a touch short, it can tear the line where it goes into the banjo bolt, which would be a bad thing.

[wingman]

K-Fab thanx for the help...i am looking into getting some aftermarket lines..the stock lines ARE long enough,but only if i can get em to flow rotated 90..i did already grind off one of the nubs so i got em bolted down and at full drop i can still go full right/left..But i will definitely be looking to upgrade to better lines..i believe these are the original brake lines ! anyways,awesome site here...you guys got some great info! thanx for the suggestions...will be trying when i get home...

[wingman]

mission accomplished..got em goin...thanx alot for the help!