My brakes still don't work!

[racydave]

Getting the air out of the lines is a tough job. After I mounted my new M/C, I left the lines loose, pushed the pedal down, and then tightened them. Next , gravity bleed from the closest first. I would think that if you had a pedal before workin on it, then the M/C is probably good, and if you replace it youll still need to get the air out! It took me a few hours to bleed with new parts.

[apexwc]

I had a similar problem with a 63 Corvair. After rebuilding the wheel cylinders I could never get pressure to build back up when bleeding. It turns out I had a bad MC, even though it was working fine before I did the work. Apparently when bleeding the brakes I let the pedal travel all the way to the floor when it was not used to doing so. This caused the piston in the MC to travel farther down the bore than it was used to where it encountered some corrosion/gunk in turn causing the seal in the piston to fail. A new MC fixed the problem. I don't know if Fiats are the same but I assume most all MCs are basically the same.

[4babycar]

I NOW HAVE BRAKES! Thanks everyone for all of the help. It was the master cylinder and bleeding the m/c and calipers was a cinch. While we had it up on stands we took the opportunity to drain the coolant and replace all of the hoses. Hopefully I can find someone to put a clutch in this weekend we can see how she drives!

[rlux4]

Congratulations! It was a hassle, but at least you no doubt gained confidence in your Fiat ability. I did my tranny and clutch replacement last winter. Sure you don't want to tackle that also?
Ron

[4babycar]

Right now I don't have the confidence or experience for me to feel comfortable with it, if you want to come out here I will give you room and board while you guide me though it! If I had the time and a garage to work out of I probably would but right now, I really just want to get her on the road. It has been too many years since I have been behind the wheel of a spider. I have a contact that will pick her up and change the clutch and return it in 2 days for a couple of hundred bucks so I think I will go that route this time. I also have our Honda minivan torn apart in the driveway waiting on parts so I can replace the broken power door drive. For some strange reason my wife is putting a higher priority on the van than Betty.

[So Cal Mark]

a couple of hundred for a clutch replacement is a bargain, does he have Fiat experience?

[4babycar]

He has done work on one before but not a clutch. I am providing all parts. There aren't too many guys around that do have fiat experience. The one guy that I depended on before has now gone out of business. I also have the factory manual so I will provide that to him as well, unless you have another source that I should include as well.

[rlux4]

I was all ready to pounce on your offer until you got to the no garage part. I have to work in a garage, better to hear the radio playing 50's oldies.
Ron

[4babycar]

I can still get the music, I can even play it on a vintage 50's jukebox. You left-coasters must be soft, always having to work indoors.

[kristoj]

Congrats on getting the brakes to work. That is clearly the top priority for road worthiness. After all, you definitely need to be able to stop -- even more so than you need a clutch. Back in college, my friend had a Porsche 944 in which he roached the clutch. We drove eit all the way home (40+ miles) with no clutch! At stop lights, we woudl just start it up in gear. Of course, I wouldn't have done that if it were MY car, but his parents pretty much had unlimited resources for repairs, and we needed to get home.

I am going to attempt to change my clutch and tranny seals this winter. I helped a friend do the clutch in his Miata this summer, so I got practice on someone else's car first, plus now he owes me some help.

[racydave]

I did my trannie work to Pink Floyd ( twice ). Maybe it should have been wollybully!

[RoadRacer]

All new master cylinders have to be bench bled before installing...... OR like Mark said, AIR POCKET and you will never have a good pedal......

[RoadRacer]