Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
- focusmaniaczx3
- SLE Member

- Posts: 79
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 7:36 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 & 93 ssei's, 00 turbo focus, 11 kia soul
- Location: hickory, nc
Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
The other morning I got in the car and the brake pedal has no pressure at all. No warning at all. Fine the day before. Temp was around 35f. No brake fluid leaks anywhere and brake fluid reservoir is full. Thought bad master cylinder so I replaced it. Bench bled. Bled all 4 corners in the traditional method. Fixed. Next day same thing. No brakes. Just bled them again and had air in the lines. No fluid leaks anywhere. It is fixed again but I have a feeling they will be gone again in the morning. Any ideas? 95 bonne SSEi by the way.
the focus was my first car so obviously it has become my money pit and 580whp play toy.
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
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96 SSEi
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Re: Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
hi, this is strange indeed!! I would get her off the ground and look and feel for a leak. You will see the fluid soak metal and any painted parts will bubble.
are you using the specified fluid for her? IIRC its dot 3.
are you using the specified fluid for her? IIRC its dot 3.
poverty forces one to do unorthodox things
2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am
2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am
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MKMike
- Posts like an L67

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2002 SSEI
Re: Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
Did you install a brand new master cylinder , a rebuilt mc or a junkyard mc?
If anything other than 100% brand new, I would suspect the replacement master cylinder is bad.
Rebuilt mc s aren't worth the money saved, as they're often bad.
How often?
When I worked as a tech, we did not install rebuilt masters--ever.
If you want to be sure there are no leaks, try this.
After you have the brakes bled, rinse off all connections with water.
This will remove any brake fluid residue.
If there is a leak at any fitting, it will be apparent after driving, since it will be wet with brake fluid.
If anything other than 100% brand new, I would suspect the replacement master cylinder is bad.
Rebuilt mc s aren't worth the money saved, as they're often bad.
How often?
When I worked as a tech, we did not install rebuilt masters--ever.
If you want to be sure there are no leaks, try this.
After you have the brakes bled, rinse off all connections with water.
This will remove any brake fluid residue.
If there is a leak at any fitting, it will be apparent after driving, since it will be wet with brake fluid.
- focusmaniaczx3
- SLE Member

- Posts: 79
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 7:36 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 & 93 ssei's, 00 turbo focus, 11 kia soul
- Location: hickory, nc
Re: Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
So far so good it seems. I guess I had some air in there somewhere and it just didn't show up until a day later. I'll give it a few more days and see what happens. Rebuilt MC and DOT 3 fluid by the way.
the focus was my first car so obviously it has become my money pit and 580whp play toy.
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
- focusmaniaczx3
- SLE Member

- Posts: 79
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 7:36 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 & 93 ssei's, 00 turbo focus, 11 kia soul
- Location: hickory, nc
Re: Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
No go. It happened again... Gotta be air getting in from somewhere. Maybe some bubbles were stuck in the abs whatchacallit. I'm bleeding them again and if it happens again I'll replace the MC with a new new unit. Then I'm just going to have to start blindly replacing things I guess if it happens again...
the focus was my first car so obviously it has become my money pit and 580whp play toy.
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
i bought a kia soul to "grow up" and have something that is practical with a back seat and gets good mileage.
my wife brought the ssei bonneville into the mix to piss me off because it does everything the kia does better.
i then bought another ssei bonneville
- MattStrike
- Certified Bonneville Nut

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'92 Trofeo - Location: SE Michigan
Re: Brake lines keep getting air in them somehow it seems
The only way air can get in the system is a leak. Which lines have air in them - all or specific ones? Just have to find the leak.
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The Fleet:
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'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
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Current project:
Something cool, trust me.
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RIP:
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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax
Current project:
Something cool, trust me.
Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre
Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap
RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

