Brake oil

I should think so, I have used it in a 1968 real mini cooper s,

Steve.

DOT4 is the least I would use. Infact I can't remember the last time I saw DOT3 on sale!? I went to my local VW dealer and bought a 1.5litre tin for about £6 - if it's good enough for them etc etc! If you can get hold of one, a Gunsons eezibleed will also help you soooooo much! The rear bleed nipples are exactly 1/4" by the way, if you have a problem opening them then what I did was to use the 'driver bit extender' on a cordless drill and set it to undo - that cracked them open.

Good luck!

Chris

Thanks Steve & Chris! So that rules out the brake oil. I have a problem with spongy brakes. I have changed every thing on the brake system yet they are spongy. Maybe i am not bleeding them right. Could it be the rear bleeders which I could not open?

You may have a brake line "bulging" under pressure?

Spongy brakes can be a few things. Try not to fit new disc pads and rear drum shoes at the same time, while bedding in they wont work 100% and may make the pedal 'feel' spongy. I normally fit new fronts, let them bed in for 100 miles or so then fit new rear shoes. Spongy brakes normally does however mean air somewhere in the brake circuit. As you say you couldn't open the rears then I'd definately suspect them! Did you try the method I mentioned to open them - cordless screwdriver? Dewalt to the rescue!!!

Is your mini an older mk3 or older mini with the brake bias valve on the rear subrame? Just wondering if this could need stripping and cleaning? Later cars are split diagonally, so will probably need bleeding like this. Haynes is your friend here. Like I said, I cannot recommend a gunsons eezibleed enough! Was the brake fluid you used new? Even new fluid left open overnite can be seriously comprimised, If in doubt buy new.

Also, has your car discs front/drums rear? Or drums all round? If you're in south essex I am at my garage at the weekend doing a golf gti engine swap, you're welcome to bring some fluid and use my eezibleed - or they're £20ish from halfrauds etc.

Chris

I personally wouldn't use an EZ bleed on a dual circuit brake system with a pressure valve. I had a horrible time with mine and had to partially dissasemble the system to relieve excess pressure. Then got a whale of a air lock in the master that required I prime it into an old can before I could hook it up to the system again, just to add salt to the wound.

I found a very nice little gizmo at my local motor factors. Naming it (or the factors either for that matter) won't do you any good 'cause I'm in the States, but it's bascially a one way valve that fits onto the bleed nipple. Push the pedal down and pressure from the stuff being expelled forces a spring loaded ball bearing down into the valve letting fluid and air into the valve and out of a hole in the end. Let off the brake pedal and the spring forces the ball bearing against the opening letting fluid and air into the valve. I personally would recommend you looking for something along those lines if your working on a dual circuit system.

Saying that, I have an older Mini with a single circuit system and a bean can master and the EZ bleed works beautifully on that car.

Hi guys!

Managed to fix the brake problems. It was the bleeders on the rear brake pumps. Bought a cordless screwdriver but that malfunctioned as soon as I tried to open the bleeder with the head. Returned it and bought a similar kit with the same head and managed to open it. That sorted out my problem. Had to further adjust the brakes and now they are o.k.

Now the starter motor won't crank. Bought new bushes and hope to replace that. Hopefully that solves the problem. Am glad I was able to get the parts from our mini dealer here in Malaysia.

Thanks again folks. I am really learning a lot from this site. keep up the good work.