Question On Master Cylinder and Air in the System

[Baker1953]

Hi all. I have a 2003 Shorelander with a A60 coupler. I have replaced both wheel cylinders on drum brakes and a cross over brakes line. I have flushed out the system with a quart of brake fluid and bled the brakes using a screw driver in the hole under the coupler. Still have air in the line some where. My question is --- when system is closed and the actuator is pumped with the screw driver, there is fluid that squirts out of the master cylinder, is this normal because the system is closed? I was thinking that was an indication of air still in the system, and maybe a bad master. I have spent a lot of time trying to bleed the system, still has air somewhere.
What are your thoughts
Thanks

 

[mike_i]

There should not be any brake fluid squirting out of anything. Where you have fluid leaking out you have air being sucked in.

 

[harringtondav]

Could be the master. Manually bleeding trailer brakes is a two person job.

A first try is gravity bleed. Put the trailer on a steep down hill grade with the axle(s) down. Open the wheel cyl bleeders and keep pouring fluid into the reservoir until no bubbles come from the bleeders. But do not let the reservoir run dry or you will have to start over. I guess this is a two person job since someone has to watch the bleeders, another to keep the reservoir full. ..or pour in a quart and call it good.

Manual bleeding a trailer actuator usually takes more than a screwdriver to pump. Pump until you feel resistance and hold down. Have your helper bleed a wheel cyl and don't let up until the helper has closed the bleeder. Repeat until bubble free fluid bleeds. Repeat on the other side.

Either method will tell you when you are air free. You will get resistance with little pump. If you still have to pump up, you still have air.

Been a while since I've bled brakes, but a little gusher in the reservoir isn't uncommon. That's what the reservoir cap is for.

 

[mike_i]

Just to clarify my comment "There should not be any brake fluid squirting out of anything". harringtondav brought up a good point when he said "but a little gusher in the reservoir isn't uncommon". When you said " there is fluid that squirts out of the master cylinder" I took it to mean that fluid is leaking from a connection. If your referring to a geyser in the master cylinder when you apply pressure that is normal.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I had to call shorelander on the recommended method of bleeding back in 2010 when I changed my lines and wheel cylinders

they stated to manually bleed, trailer axles on ramps, master cylinder near the ground and a large 2x4 to move the master cylinder and a helper to crack the bleeders. it will take a while depending on how the plumbing to the axles is run as the air bubbles first have to go up the trailer, then down to the axles....

or a power bleeder

 

[dingbat]

Been bleeding brakes by myself forever. Works great

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1wwq1Vlk4Wg

 

[Stinnett21]

I have the A60 also. Yes using the screwdriver brake fluid does "geyser" up with each pump. It's normal. Just go slow so not to splash it up and out. Next time I'm seriously considering the Motive power bleeder. I think the screwdriver method wears out the MC lol.

 

[harringtondav]

Air compressor driven vacuum bleeders are available. Also Mityvac hand brake bleeders, but the little collection cup has never quite finished the job for me. Also master cyl pressure bleeders are available. I hillbilly cobbled one to bleed my last old vehicle before I sold it. This worked the best in 40 odd years of bleeding brakes.

I'm a tight a*s, but I'm also getting too old to want to bleed vehicle brakes again. If I have to bleed them again I'll do it with my wallet.