brake question

No, but it is possible air got in the combination valve or in the master cylinder.

Some combination valves have a moving pin in the end of them that must be held from moving in order to bleed them out.

If air got in the MC, then it might need to be removed to bench bleed it.

Mike

If pliers were used to bend the tubing, so that it is crimped, this is a sign of unprofessional work, and the tubing is likely weakened in the vicinity of the crimps. There are tools that should have been used to produce smooth, professional-looking bends. This does not mean that the method of bending led to your current problems, however.

It is not possible for fluid to get into the brake lines, even if no fluid is leaking. There could be a leak, that you are not seeing. Were the brakes "always" very soft, since you had the tubing replaced? Or did this happen afterwards?

The method of bleeding is very important. A pressure bleeder is best. Follow that with a rubber tube, that goes from the bleeder fitting, to a container of brake fluid. These are sold with a one-way valve, that prevents air from getting back in. Next, an assistant holds the pedal down, while you wait for all the air to come out, then tighten the fitting. It is pretty hard to get satisfactory results, without mechanical or human assistance.

Earle

The brakes used to be fine before the tubing was replaced. Also, the bleeding method I'm using is with a rubber tube and a container of fluid. An assistant was helping with the pedal. The way is was behaving is that fluid with no air comes out and then suddenly it "spits" a two inch section of air in the clear rubber tube, then a few small bubbles. With the next pedal press, the same thing happens again and so on. I'm pretty sure the problem is between the rubber hose/metal tube junction and the right rear wheel because no air comes out of the left rear.

Thanks, nrs

Are you closing the bleed nipple between pedal pumps?

Sometimes the air can get sucked back in past the bleeder threads if it is left open between pumps.

Sometimes letting it gravity bleed works too.

Mike

That sounds like the problem. I'll do it again more carefully.

Thanks to everyone who replied, nrs