Brake troubleshooting

[Lotsa_Faith]

Alright let me give you the rundown before I tell you what its doing:

-Frt axle replaced with dana44, calipers are from the old 10 bolt that was on the truck (but sat for 3 or 4 years)

-new stainless braded brakelines installed, replaced the hard line from the proportioning valve to the front driver's side flexible line

-bled both front brakes until I was getting absolutely no bubbles from either in the bleed tube.

-rear 14 bolt has one brake that seems to leak, can see a tad bit coming from inside the drum. (not gonna fix since I'm putting in a cucv rear tmw or tuesday)

Okay, so now after I've done this, I have a soft brake pedal until I'm about 2/3 of the way to the floor, then it hardens up and wont go to the floor. However, my truck is not stopping worth a crap, and the front disks havent had all the rust rubbed off of them yet after going around the block a few times. I'm thinkin my calipers are bad, but want to hear some other opinions before I go drop more cash on them. Ideas?

 

[Fordum]

If you are getting fluid to the front bleeders, then its unlikely that you have a blockage. The proportioning valve might be doing something flaky. Not letting pressure get to the front.

I would jack up one wheel, take off the tire, and prise the pad back to compress the caliper.
Then hit the brakes to see if if moves back.

If it does, then prise it back and let the pedal push it back a few times and then take it around the block again.

If that one starts working, then its probably the calipers.

But, to be honest, it still sounds like you have air in the front system.

I am beyond my knowledge here, but I know that some calipers can be put on the opposite sides. Not sure which calipers or axles it is.

They will fit, and work, but the bleeders are on the bottom instead of the top.
If that happens, you will never get the air out.

 

[4X4HIGH]

If you have a leak ANYWHERE you can't expect the brakes to work as they should. You need to fix any leaks BEFORE trying to diagnose any other problem.