Volvo brake bleeding

[esmeby]

I have done the volvo conversion, but I have not heard a definitive answer on the order of bleeding the calipers. I have only driven it a few times since completing the work and the brake feels softer than I remember. Not pedal sink to the floor soft, but soft.

I woud guess that the bleed order would be inner, outer, top, which is what I tried (numerous times) and I still am not happy with the feel. Has anyone found that a different method worked?

I have a 68 with the dual master if that would make a difference in the feel.

Any tips?

[S Allen]

Eric,

When you bleed the brakes you should do all four wheels. As a matter of priniciple I start with the wheel furthest from the Master. Do the right rear, then the left rear. Next the right front and last the left front. You will have spongy brakes if you have air still in the lines. Are you saying the volvo calipers have more than one bleeder screw? It has been awhile since I looked at one. If so, it should not matter as long as you do the wheels in the above sequence. Good luck.

Steve

[esmeby]

The volvo calipers have 3 bleeders each, and two inlets. I did start with the rears and work towards the front, front drivers last.

I am not sure what the path is that the fluid follows on the brakes. I would think that the top bleeder screw would be the midway point, but I haven't been able to find the answer.

[Dennis Louthan]

Volvo Girling brake conversion bleeding procedure.

Bleeding brakes: Quite easy if you follow the right order.
According to the Haynes manual, the correct order is:


1. Left front single
2. Right front single
3. Right double outer
4. Right double inner
5. Left double outer
6. Left double inner

To clarify somewhat: The front calipers have three nipples:
two opposite each other seperated by the brake disk
(these we will call the "double"), and one on the other end of
the caliper (which we will call "single").

Opposite calipers will in fact mount just fine on the wrong side,
but when you try to bleed them you'll find out one of the bleed
nipples is at the bottom rather than on top, and there'll be some
air left that you can't bleed out. A point to check when getting
rebuilt calipers.

Note: The single bleeder nipple has to be at the highest point.

[S Allen]

Dennis,

Thanks for clearing that up. You know come to think of it-Lou Smaldino was having a heck of a time bleeding his Volvo conversion as well. He had the calipers bass-ackwards right-left and left-right. Once he put them on the proper side he bled them with no problems.
Eric, I did not realize they had more than one bleeder screw. I have yet to do mine so I am learning from you guys as well.

Steve

[S Allen]

Eric,

If you are still there! The extra bleeder valve goes to the top on each caliper as Dennis stated above. If you have it at the bottom you will never get the brakes bled. Good luck!

Steve

[esmeby]

I bled them in the order of upper, outer, inner, which seemed to do the trick. Just about opposite of what my first try was (inner, upper, outer) I didn't see any visible bubbles, but the pedal feel firmed up a bit. I also bled the rears and the MC just to be on the safe side.

It has been over a year since I have driven it, but it does feel like it takes a higher pedal effort than it used to when light braking (just slowing down a bit)
Panic stops are better than I remember though.
Thanks for the help.