Brake fluid disappearing

MDBrown · Nov 12, 2021

2009 Titan 4wd. I changed the front rotors and brake pads, now I can’t seem to put enough brake fluid in the reservoir. No brakes at all. No fluid leak that I can see, yet. Pump the pedal it continuously goes all the way down. Any thoughts?

thanks

P.S. - I just remembered that when I pumped the brakes the first time it felt as though something “popped” while pushing the pedal.

busemans · Nov 13, 2021

You need to have two people to bleed if you are on your own, or a bleeder kit. Other wise the air will take a long long time to come out on its own.

Doing it by yourself without a kit can be done doing a gravity bleed. You open the bleeder valves and just keep filling the reservoir. Once fluid is coming out with no air bubbles you close the farthest to the nearest valve and test the pedal

Matt Bulger · Nov 13, 2021

I use a piece of aquarium tubing hooked on the bleeder nipple running into a Gatorade bottle through a hole in the lid with a second vent hole. Fill the bottle part way with old fluid and be sure the hose is submerged. You will be able to watch the air bubbles come out as you pump and add fluid. Just pay attention that the reservoir doesnt go empty and suck air or you'll have to start all over again. I usually start on the wheel farthest away from the reservoir.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

MDBrown · Nov 13, 2021

Bleed all the wheels?

dubyam · Nov 13, 2021

You very likely have an airlock in your ABS module. You have to either cycle it using the Consult III at a Nissan dealer or pressure bleed your brakes with the battery disconnected. If you'd rather DIY, spend the $60-ish to buy the Motive Products pressure bleeder with the cap for Nissan Master cylinders and go to town. It will be leaps and bounds cheaper than the dealership. But remember to disconnect your battery so the ABS module doesn't get airlocked.

Matt Bulger · Nov 13, 2021

MDBrown said:
Bleed all the wheels?

Yeah bleed all the wheels working your way from farthest to closest to the MC. I never did it on my Titan but this works great on other vehicles and costs $3 at most to rig up. I can bleed them myself this way. Just position the bottle and hose so you can watch for air bubbles in your mirrors when you do the back wheels. Good point below about the ABS though. Sometimes that can complicate things. You may also have a junk master cylinder. Especially if it was ever replaced. A lot of the MCs come bad right out of the box or just dont last. It's a real gamble with those parts. Dont cheap out what that because theyll leak over time. I have a junk new aftermarket one on my hatchback and it only loses pressure when it gets cold out. In winter I have to bleed the brakes every few weeks which is getting pretty old.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

MDBrown · Nov 14, 2021

Well you guys were absolutely correct. Air a plenty in the line. I was torquing the lugs nut back on when I saw fluid running out the back. The brake line that runs over the rear differential side to side has corroded all the way through and the line burst. Examining the other lines they're NOT in good shape. I'm pretty ticked off. I've NEVER had a vehicle that the brake lines corroded on before. I mean WTF? What are they made of?

Calming down a little. What have you guys done? Replace all the lines with braided? If I could afford it I'd replace the truck right now.

dubyam · Nov 14, 2021

My guess is your truck was used in an area where salting the roads is common practice. You should be able to order new hardlines and replumb. If you have a junkyard nearby you might see if they have a compatible set of lines in decent shape on a totaled truck.

MDBrown · Nov 15, 2021

Ok so I was cussing at my titan. To be fair, it broke down in my driveway/garage. I guess I can’t ask for more than that. The brake line part was $58 with tax. At least it wasn’t on a ship off of California. Thanks for all of the help.

Protholl · Jan 1, 2022

dubyam said:
You very likely have an airlock in your ABS module. You have to either cycle it using the Consult III at a Nissan dealer or pressure bleed your brakes with the battery disconnected. If you'd rather DIY, spend the $60-ish to buy the Motive Products pressure bleeder with the cap for Nissan Master cylinders and go to town. It will be leaps and bounds cheaper than the dealership. But remember to disconnect your battery so the ABS module doesn't get airlocked.

Would you mind sharing the Motive products part number? The closest one I have found was for ford and "many late model Nissans"

Motive Products - 0107 Power Pressure Brake Bleeder for Ford and Asian Cars and Trucks

Thanks. I've been trying to use one of those universal suction based ones and they don't work. Even with the battery disconnected I can only draw so much fluid before it is all air and I really don't feel comfortable doing a brake bleed while under the truck trying to draw fluid... even with the front tires chocked and the parking brake on. I tried it once but it felt like a bad idea so I stopped.

Thank you,
Jeffrey

Brake fluid disappearing

MDBrown

busemans

Matt Bulger

MDBrown

dubyam

Matt Bulger

MDBrown

dubyam

MDBrown

Protholl

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities