I have no Brakes!!!! Help!!

I purchased my Nova with a disc brake conversion already installed. I recently went to Kragen to purchase new Calipers and was not sure what to ask for. I had them bring a few out and got the ones that looked identical, which where off a 1970 Chevelle Malibu. I installed them on my car and I am getting no pedal at all. I have a new master cylinder as well and I have no air in the system, but still no pedal. I was thinking maybe the calipers I bought are meant for a boosted brake system and mine is the original style manual brakes.... please help!!! I don't know what it can be..:confused:

I have had some progress. I noticed the pedal had a lot of play so I adjusted the rod going into the master cylinder and removed the play and now it starts to work when i pump it, but it still drops down after a while. Maybe all I need is to bleed them now, so as soon as I get some help I will try...:o

yep...you need to bleed them!!bm

So I went and tried bleeding my brakes. Started from the furthest point and worked myself up. tried the brakes and still no luck. but after adjusting the rod.. I can now pump it and build up pressure, but need to pump to get brakes... any more suggestions

from your discription it sounds like you still have air in the system. without knowing caliper application, make sure the bleeder screws are pointing upwards. there's quite a few GM calipers that might fit ok but bleeder screws might vary in location... if they're not located in the highest area an air bubble might be present.



tryin' ta help ;)

I just went outside and looked at my calipers, the bleeder screws are actually pointing down... Perhaps the Calipers were installed backwards originally.. I will try swapping them out tommorrow.. if thats possible.

thanks for the help Flyer..

it's something that happens occasionaly, don't sweat it but i think ya have the right on the left and left on right... swap 'em around and see if that helps.

sounds like yer bleeding fluid but the air is still trapped ;)



glad to have helped, let us know how it works out ;)

I went on Kragens website and looked up the picture for each side Caliper, sure enought they are on backwards. When I get home tommorrow from work I will swap them out and give it a shot. Thanks alot for your help.. I will update as soon as I am done

If it's any consolation, you are only about the one-billionth person to do that. The only reason I haven't done that myself is because I've seen it happen to enough other people and I actually learned from someone else's grief!!!!!!!!

If it's any consolation, you are only about the one-billionth person to do that. The only reason I haven't done that myself is because I've seen it happen to enough other people and I actually learned from someone else's grief!!!!!!!!

i've read here from a few people who've made the mistake... in a rush of happiness or whatever ta get their HotRods finally on the road they inadvertantly made the mistake... no biggie ;)

that's the Great thing about this Site... NPHNP :D


be nice ta get some Narly Burn-Out pics when yer completed ;)

Haha.,,, I will post some pictures as soon as I can. It's been a big project this last month. I just installed the TCI 4link with shockwaves and the Air Ride Cool ride kit in the front myself. New master cylinder and Calipers. and now I am in the middle of installing a new radiator support, an aluminum radiator with an electric fan and a new grill. hopefully i can have it ready by this coming up weekend. here are some pics:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/trboh22/IMAGE_00039.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/trboh22/IMG_0669.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/trboh22/IMG_0692.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/trboh22/IMG_0690.jpg

Very Nice lookin' !!! :eek: :eek: :eek:


looks like yer doin' a Great Job ;)

keep us posted (TONS of pics too ;) )

Thanks.... I will for sure...

Will you have it ready for this wednesday in El Cajon? If so I'll see ya there.

Will you have it ready for this wednesday in El Cajon? If so I'll see ya there.

I am going to try my best. It's just a matter of the parts showing up on time....:eek:

gotta dig the old school crager's . looks awesome

gotta dig the old school crager's . looks awesome


I was thinking the same thing!

The new style wheels just dont do it for me. Slot mags or cragars its gonna be.

it's something that happens occasionaly, don't sweat it but i think ya have the right on the left and left on right... swap 'em around and see if that helps.

sounds like yer bleeding fluid but the air is still trapped ;)



glad to have helped, let us know how it works out ;)Just bleed mine and the went from spongy to hard!! but mine are from C.I. and putting them on backwards is not an optain.. Those vac pump bleedrs arent that graet, should have done it while you were over.. Nothing beats the pump 3 times and hold

Nice ride. That's a common mistake. When I was a mechanic, I've had guys come in complaining they couldnt bleed their brakes after they put on new calipers and found the calipers switched. I'll bet you'll never make that mistake again, lesson learned.

I guess I'm the one billionth and one to do this!
I caught myself after one wheel this weekend , I had done the exact same thing!

Great looking car 66novass!
Good call on the caliper issue Johnny!
NPHNP Mike

Thanks guys... as soon as I get off work today I am going to swap out the calipers and try to bleed it.. hope all goes well.. I will keep everyone updated..

I'd make sure all is well and bleed it at the master cylinder FIRST. Back (way back) in the auto shop days we had a clear line system to show what happens when trying to bleed air out of a hydraulic system. Without exception the best way to replace air with fluid is the 'open bleeder, depress pedal slowly, hold pedal down, tighten bleeder' method. This works far better than the pump up and hold method that just spreads the air bubbles when there is a lot of air in the system. Another trick is to open the bleeder and tap the caliper before bleeding just like you do when bleeding the master cylinder. This brings most of the bubbles up toward the bleeder valve. When most of the air is out then the pump up and hold method works ok.

Well I got home and did the swap and bled the brakes. They are working great now. Thanks for everyones help.. Now I just have to get this old radiator support off so I can prep for the new stuff,,,

thanks again..

Did you bench bleed the Master Cylinder????

Did you bench bleed the Master Cylinder????

Yes... and its great.. thanks