My 1978 Fairmont Futura $4k budget build

[Str8sixfan]

I feel your pain. And working with the master cylinder is VERY stressful.

You may just need to crank down those fittings that are leaking. I run into that frequently. I never know if I'm tightening them enough until I run fluid though the system.

Thanks Brad. I know I checked for tightening on the two of them, and I think after removing my custom bent line that the I custom flared it could probably be better.

[Str8sixfan]

Here's this week's episode. Complete brake system, but no brakes. I'll get there - https://youtu.be/tJmx5goQxr0

[ZephyrEFI]

Oh man, I so get it. I've been fighting with my brakes for years. Something like 3 or 4 if I remember right. Funny parallel though, mine just moved under its own power for the first time on Saturday too.

I would look at the master first. I haven't had great luck with bench bleeding them. Plus when you install, you end up losing a bunch of fluid anyway. Last time, I used the method outlined here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWfjExPzauU

Starts at about 3:53. Pretty easy, and it works!

[mcb82gt]

Here's this week's episode. Complete brake system, but no brakes. I'll get there - https://youtu.be/tJmx5goQxr0

did you just gravity bleed everything? You need the 2 person method. Id come up, but I have to work all weekend and on call for work.

[Str8sixfan]

Looking at one of the fittings on my stock prop valve (from the M/C to it), it might be leaking a little. There's a number of things I can potentially look at now. Thanks both of you for the replies

[gmatt]

I recently replaced the rear brake line from the firewall all the way back to the rear wheel cylinders on my Fairmont. I was installing the center line connection. I bled the rear brakes with a hand vacuum pump. Brakes seem to work fine. Grant, you installed a proportioning valve, right? Have you tried adjusting it?

[Str8sixfan]

Yea I had the adjustable prop valve in that video about at the 50% mark.

Here's this week's update - https://youtu.be/HFQAaSdb5tI

[ZephyrEFI]

Yep, this is what cars do, they kick you when you're down. Rockauto's return procedure really isn't bad. I'd do that. You got a defective part! This isn't your fault. When you read magazine articles about home built cars, they always talk about how the owner had to "stick with it". They don't really give you the full story of what exactly that means, and how bad it gets, is the thing. I'm slowly coming to the realization this kind of thing is far more common than I thought. You have to believe that all your hard work will come to a positive result. Envision that nice day cruise. I salute you for going through this AND posting about it on youtube. That would be a ton of pressure.

[mcb82gt]

Totally normal. Don't worry about video content for awhile.

Once you get over the brake stuff, you will feel better. It all takes time, don't be hard on yourself. Been there.

[Str8sixfan]

Yea, I'm currently just trying to find balance. I can handle having to go back to the drawing board on the car (in fact the return policy replacement rotor should get here on Friday), I just can't handle for my own sake continuing to make a video that's like "well maybe 2 weeks from now I'll be driving" I think I'm on the 6th iteration of that. It feels like a broken record as far as my content goes. I don't mind admitting to failure either, but...

the let down of not being able to drive my car another week...
on top of stringing my viewers along...
and make a video that I think is worth people's time to watch

I can't handle all of those at the same time. In a vacuum none of them are that bad. They just feel like unnecessary pressure, so I'm taking one off my plate for the sake of the others

[gmatt]

Grant, I commented on your latest youtube video. Possibly there's an issue with the way your brake hose fitting is bolted to the leaking caliper. I'm thinking the raised lip on the hose fitting should be facing the caliper? On the front disc fittings, the other side of the fitting, where the washer sits, has a machined recess and it would never seal if you put that side against the caliper. And I think that lip helps locate the fitting correctly on the mounting boss of the caliper. Not sure if the fittings on the rear brake hoses are made the same way. Maybe take a look at the other side that's not leaking to compare.

[ZephyrEFI]

Hey, I thought of something else. Did you adjust your rear caliper pistons out so that they are touching the pads? And also line up the tab on the pads with the slot in the piston?

[Str8sixfan]

Grant, I commented on your latest youtube video. Possibly there's an issue with the way your brake hose fitting is bolted to the leaking caliper. I'm thinking the raised lip on the hose fitting should be facing the caliper? On the front disc fittings, the other side of the fitting, where the washer sits, has a machined recess and it would never seal if you put that side against the caliper. And I think that lip helps locate the fitting correctly on the mounting boss of the caliper. Not sure if the fittings on the rear brake hoses are made the same way. Maybe take a look at the other side that's not leaking to compare.

Thanks Gary, finally piecing two and two together on screen names now! Haha. Yes this is going to be what I try next. Honestly the passenger side is on the same way. I just think because its crush washer is crushed better it's somehow not leaking. Hoping this is the trick! Thanks again!

As far as your recommendation Brad, I do have the two pins lined up with the pad and the piston, but I haven't really worked the parking brake to engage the rear piston. I know Sunday after re-bleeding everything there was definite evidence that the pistons had moved in more than what they were when I installed them. But when I take the wheels back off to flip the fittings, I will take a look at both of them and investigate to see if they need further adjusting.