[volvostud]

Saturday I am going to go pick up my new 79 242. The only problem is it has a bit of a brake problem.

The story/info:

A couple months ago the owner went to install new calipers on the front. He bought cheap ones off ebay and he stripped the threads on the bleed valve of the left, front brake. He also notices that they leaked a little. SO, he JB welded the leak and he filled in the valve hole with JB. No more leaks, but now you cannot bleed the left front brake. A couple days later he was driving and noticed the front wheel passing him. He had not bolted it on well enough. The Rotor now has a flat spot and needs to be replaced. He had it spun, but it is still screwed up.

He told me last night that the brakes work, but are soft. When you start the car the pedal goes to the floor (Vacuum Problem?). But once the car is running the brakes work, they just are soft at the top. Pumping them brings them up.

SO...

I am going to show up with a new rotor from Autozone. I'll swap that in before I take off. But what can I do to bring the brakes up to speed, without the caliper swap? I am driving the car about 90 miles from his place to mine. Then Sunday I will swap the caliper and get it inspected MOnday.

Are there any tricks to getting a bubble out without actually bleeding? I'll have my buddy with me, so we have 4 hands and 4 feet to get this going.

Also, I have not confirmed this, but my guess is it has solid front rotors. Since I want to get those crappy eBay calipers off there is it just a swap to get the vented calipers on there? How long of a job are we talking about total (install 2 calipers and bleed the system?) I might just go ahead and do the swap before I drive the car home. He told me if I wanted to bleed or swap rotors I was welcome to use his driveway before I left.

 

[gdill2]

Re: 79 242 brake problems (volvostud)

Matt;

Where is the '85 DL?

Is the '79 tagged and inspected with all plates front and rear?

Regardless, my experiences driving Volvos without good brakes have caused me to avoid such activity.

Any chance of a tow dolly?

I can't see you safely rolling around Houston with the brake pedal on the floor.

George Dill

 

[volvostud]

Re: 79 242 brake problems (gdill2)

I sold the 85DL last month. It was in bad shape and was just a hassle.

I've been in the 91 for a year now and never looked back.

So the car I am picking up on Saturday is kinda special.

A 1979 242 Truck conversion

My goal is to turn it into a 243 wagon.

It's in Beaumont, 90 miles from here. So I'll go out there on Saturday to take a look. I'll probably stop at the JY on the way and pick up front Calipers to make the swap. Autozone is getting me the new rotors now.

Registration is current, inspection is not. So I'll get it back to Houston and have it inspected on Monday.

Over all the car is in great shape and only needs the brakes fixed. it also needs a new engine bushing, but that is an easy fix.

**Edit** I just called Autozone and ordered calipers too. I'm just going to swap the calipers and bleed it at his house before I head back to Houston.

Modified by volvostud at 7:27 AM 2-16-2006

 

[11110000]

Re: 79 242 brake problems (volvostud)

Quote, originally posted by volvostud »

Are there any tricks to getting a bubble out without actually bleeding? I'll have my buddy with me, so we have 4 hands and 4 feet to get this going.

Good, this is easier with a buddy:

Pick up the car and shake it - be sure to turn it upside down, on end, etc... until you work the bubble out. Watch out for low power lines while doing this...

Seriously, there is really no way to get the bubble out w/out a bleed. The PO's mental state is worrisome - JB welding a bleed hole shut???? I'd take a good used caliper with you and swap it out right there when you do the rotor, with a proper bleed. Don't take chances with the braking system.

 

[volvostud]

Re: 79 242 brake problems (11110000)

That is the plan. new rotor and new caliper.

Any idea what would happen if I put a vented rotor and caliper on one side and not the other?

I'd like to go vented for this car, like my 91, but I don't want to do it all in his driveway, I just want to get the bad brake working. I just don't wanna buy parts to swap them out later.

 

[Camyman]

oh my god did you buy that on ebay? i think i saw that and it scared the bejebus out of me. please PLEASE fix the bed thing. what kind of person...... its like a swedish el camino! its so sad and even a little sickening. anyway if it has bad brakes you probibally shouldnt drive it. if youve got friends with you have two of them swap out the rotor and caliper on one side while you and another bud do the other. way to kill two birds with 4 rocks eh?

anyway i wish you luck in making it into a wagon. it could be like a more modern p1800es

make sure to keep us updated with pictures and all while youre doing it. im quite excited

 

[papaddler]

yeah! i saw that on e-bay too! and said pretty much the same thing....told my dad it looked like some sort of swedish el camino, and that it was a shame..... but couldn't find it again to show him. will be curious what the turn out will be.

good luck with it man!

 

[volvostud]

Re: (papaddler)

They guy bought it on Ebay and decided that it was just too much of a project. But I am more hardheaded.

 

[Camyman]

Re: (volvostud)

good. im sure you will make this thing awesome.

sudden idea! for the back brake lights you could get some from one of the newer wagons (v70) and put those on for an awesome lookin back end. ooooooooooooooooooooooooh! i dont know why but this excites me!

 

[DVolvoguy777]

Well, This car has one set of valuable wheels on it. Those wheels belong on a 242GT or Turbo. They are rare and good looking. I had them on my GT and got inquiries all the time on them. That car would make a great parts car too. Get an 82-84 2 door turbo and fix that up.

Regarding your solid/vented rotors, if that car was a GL it should have come with the vented rotors. The GT, GL, and GLE's are vented. Brembo rotors can be had for 60 bucks ea, and the calipers are around 80. Your local auto supply will sell them cheaper than you can get them through ebay and possibly on line.

 

[volvostud]

Re: (DVolvoguy777)

The big problem is it only has 3 Virgos. I'll pick a 4th up at the JY, as I see them all the time (not actually that rare).

It had solid rotors and crap repacement calipers, so I put MUCH nicer vented rotors and Calipers on. I also added a new master cylinder. It was a b*tch to bleed and is still a tad soft, though it stops quicky at 70mph. The brake light is on VERY faintly and I need to get it to turn off or I can't get it inspected. Any thoughts?

 

[DVolvoguy777]

Re: (volvostud)

What you want to do is remove the master cyl and bench bleed it. Its really easy ifn you put it in a vice, run flex hoses from the front and back ports into the resivour, pump till all the bubbles go away. When I did mine I used an old phillips screwdriver that I filed the end off. Worked good too.

You can also buy IPD's pressure bleeder and that will get the brakes bled sure enough. You can do it your self at all 4 corners while ditching the old fluid and moistre build up

Either that you can take out the dash and remove the light temporary though. Thats easy enough. If your in TX, I know that getting an idiot light through inspection is tough. I am from Corpus/Kingsville.

 

[volvostud]

Re: (DVolvoguy777)

I bled the MC on the car, as I was in a driveway without a vise. I also did a complete system flush and drain. I must have just missed a couple bubbles.

The brakes are good enough to pass inspection, so I'm not too worried. I'll be disconnecting the bulb to get it to pass.

 

[DVolvoguy777]

Use the Haynes manual to take the insterment cluster out. Its a PIA to take out the light when the thing is installed. That light is a push and twist socket type.

There is also a ticker that is attached to the speedo that turns on the service engine light you can remove ifn you want. It has a little cable that goes to a box and a wire that plugs into the cluster. You can remove that and not worry about that service light again. Basic!