Team Stampie flips a Suburban

In reply to Stampie :

Glad the ABS bleeder kinda worked on yours.  Didn't make a darn bit of difference on my son's S10.  Had a heck of a time bleeding the brakes after replacing the front calipers.  Ended up getting a pressure bleeder (should have bought one years ago!) and they were better than ever.  Might be worth investing in for the future.

-Rob

In reply to rob_lewis :

I'll have to look at them. I'm also interested in a pure vacuum bleed. By pure vacuum I mean empty the whole system of fluid and air with a vacuum pump. Then introduce the new brake fluid using a manifold similar to how you fill an AC system. 

Stampie said:

Anyone can start a build thread before they pick up the vehicle but how many can start at the junkyard getting parts for a vehicle they don't own yet?  

Waiting for them to open. 

This post will be lacking in pictures but I was amazed at how my look changed in the last 15 months. 

So a while back the Ex text me on her way home from work staying the brakes on the Suburban felt funny. I asked where she was and no reply for a few minutes when she said she made it home. 

I went over to look and the reservoir for the front was empty. Quick glance underneath showed brake fluid on the passenger front tire.  After taking the tire of I saw it was leaking where the line bolts onto the caliper.  Took it off to find a foreign object had damaged the copper washer.

Can't really blame anyone but myself as I'm the one that put it on there when we replaced her calipers and drums a few months back. The block on the end of the flex line had a little ding in it so berk it I replaced the line with new washers. 

Then we went to bleed the brakes. Last time was a PITA because of the ABS system in these. I finally got it decent after I found the bleeder on the ABS module. This time didn't go so well. I couldn't get the air out. They sucked. I said some choice words at the ABS module and then proceed to rip it out.

If you've worked on the brakes lines there you'll know that GM used about 3 different sizes of brake connectors on the lines. I assume they did that so people couldn't mix them up on the ABS module. 

Looking at the lines the front passenger was 1/4  inch connector. The rear was 5/8ths and the front driver was 7/16th?.  Coming off the MC we also had different sizes with nothing matching up.

First I ordered a 1/4 inch T for the front. These things are apparently rare as hell. By using that size I would only have to make a line from the MC to the T and then a new line for the front drivers. The rear just needed a new line from the MC to a 5/8ths coupler.

First our postal system delayed getting the T to me. Then I had a vacation where I was out of town. Then I couldn't find new connectors on the sizes I wanted so I dedicated one work morning to sawzalling brake connectors off in the junkyard. The ex was cool as I let her drive the Miata during all this. 

Finally two weeks ago I made up the lines and hooked everything together.

It was so hot I drank 32oz of water while working and I was still lightheaded. Decided to bleed them later. Last Saturday the ex wasn't feeling well and I don't like her cooties anymore so today was the we bleed them. 

I know I didn't do a proportioning valve on it but in testing the rear locks up right before the fronts. Not sure I'd get it much better anyway. Now a truck with less weight in the rear might be different. 

So now I have my Miata back and the Suburban is back on the road. 

Kudos to you for being a good father and taking care of your ex at the same time.

In reply to Stampie (FS) :

berkeley !

The ABS block is in a terrible spot on these things.  I once replaced EVERY  hard line on one of those Suburbans, because Indiana and RUST.

Never again.

How do you like the feel? Im pretty sure the abs on the stepside is in the way out.....

Yeah once that ABS module came out it was amazing how much space opened up.  They feel the best that I've felt them.  They're not Miata awesome but not bad for a big ass Suburban.