whalebird

Miata is a great track car. One of the few "honest" sports cars available today. Looking at all of the posts in this thread - it reads like a who's who of Rennlist. Really a nice community that goes beyond the Porsche marque. My cable was out(ice storm) so I plugged my laptop into the phone line and waited(@24000bps) for my email to load. At that frustrating rate, I logged onto Rennlist knowing it was the only thing I was interested in on the web on Christmas day. I am glad you enjoy this community as much as I do.

Ed Hughes

If you were bleeding using full strokes of the pedal to the floor, it is almost a sure bet that the M/C seals are toast. The seal just can't take that kind of travel.

On a side note, one can bleed brakes with pedal strokes, they just need to be short ones. I don't go past halfway. I prefer bleeding my brakes this way, along with Speed Bleeders on the calipers.

I don't even know where my Motive Pressure Bleeder is any more, I think the things are a pain to use and keep clean.

911tracker85

+1 for speed bleeders! I put them in after my fiasco with my motive power bleeder that blew a hose in my boot. short pedal strokes, work great.

if you find that @#)$(*@# motive power bleeder like the one I had , THROW IT AWAY....

old man neri

I have used short quick strokes when doing the brakes and full travel with the clutch. Never had any issues.

Oldtee

It's something simple. But you probably should wait until this last storm clears out. Then flat tow it to somebody who has a lift. Pick up a couple of cans of ATV blue or gold. While on the lift remove the left rear wheel, pull the carpet from under the mc and remove the floor board. Fill the reservoir then push the clutch in. Go look for leaks. None found, try the brakes. Something will pop up, like a loose bleed valve. Look for leaks around the brake switches. You don't need some silly old man for this, just a friend with a lift. Have fun.

911vet

The Doctor is the only thing that got me through the last few weeks! But somehow I don't think these last two episodes are gonna cheer me up much.

Nonetheless.... allons-y!

Actually, I'm quite excited about having a dedicated track car. There are bunch of drivers in my club that have switched to Miata. Now, I just need that turbo charger...

And, you are quite correct, the 911 Forum is the best Thanks for reminding me that my friends here are indeed the Who's Who of Rennlist. Quite an honor. I've tried to hang out on the track forum... never felt welcome there. My friends are here.

Yes, I received very bad advice (not from a Rennlister but from a supposed Porsche mechanic) on the proper technique.

I always regarded you anti-Motive, Speedbleeder dudes as weenies! But then my Motive hose leaked all over my Rennline strut brace... and then there was the time I didn't have the cap on straight and fluid went everywhere... Ok, maybe you're not really weenies but genuises.

911vet

I had all sorts of problems when bleeding the clutch slave cylinder. The pedal would stay on the floor and I had to pull it back up. I think I managed to put air into the line rather than take it out. And I always wondered what the heck was happening when the pedal stayed down.

Sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, I don't have a garage (which is how the 911 ended up in a barn with a moat around it). So it may end up at my mechanic. I do a lot of work myself, but I'm limited by not having a place to do it anymore.

Yeah, I don't need a guy for the work... but a second income and a garage would be nice

Ed Hughes

I don't know if genius is warranted, but when you flush brakes 4 or 5 times a year, you figure out that the Motive bleeded is not all it is cracked up to be. With Speed Bleeders, it's simple and sweet, and pretty darn efficient.

salukijac

Are these the speed bleeders you're referring to? I noticed there are other manufacturers.

http://www.speedbleeder.com

Ed Hughes

Those are them; I'm not familiar with any others.

whalebird

I have 4 different motive bleeders and honestly I use them. There is really no magic in bleeding, but there is technique and bench bleeding helps the MC. I refrain from stating a cause/result here and defer to Peter's first post. Get the car to a shop, and, I think oldtee is onto something.

rusnak

I'm late to the party.

My $.02 is to check inside the car under the floorboard b/c if there is a leaking hose, you don't want to let brake fluid sit in the car. Usually you can smell the stuff if it all leaked out. I'd be sort of anxious to find out where it's leaking to clean up the old brake fluid pronto.

Motive bleeders definitely have their place. They are the way to go if you want to change your brake fluid or have not opened the lines. Once you've broken the lines, they have about a 50-50 success rate in getting all of the air out on my brake system. I usually end up pedal bleeding them, so I'm surprised that so many other guys admit to doing the same.

I believe the o-rings on the m/c get damaged from too much travel inside a dirty m/c. I don't know though because after a pad change you sometimes get the pedal going way past halfway on the first stroke... so maybe the m/c seals are not that delicate?

Shannon, let the b/f go. Look at it this way. He's making room for someone better.

markaria1

Its too bad you are in southern ohio... i just had my garage built (built with lift in mind) and am gettin ready to install my lift and you would be welcome to use it. Unfortunately I'm in the Toledo area. Good luck with your moat/Porsche and dont worry about the bf problems (if it aint meant to be it aint meant to be)