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rowekmr's avatar
rowekmr
Explorer
Jun 02, 2019

2007 Navigator No Brake Fluid at Caliper

Hello just got a 07 Navigator with 117k miles that pulled to the right when driving then to the left when brakes applied. I found out that the passenger side caliper pin were frozen and pistons kept brake pads applied.
I had both calipers and pads replaced. Afterwards when driving noticed that the brakes took a second to release when I released the brake pedal was released. With the front on jack and spinning the tires discovered that the drivers caliper was dragging now.
I replaced the drivers caliper again and brake hose and cured the dragging and the slow to release issues.
I had the passenger hose replaced and when it came time to bleed got no brake fluid out of passenger caliper bleed screw so checked the hose fitting and still no fluid then unbolted hose and got no brake fluid out of brake line itself.
Where do I start to look for the blockage?
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16 Replies

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  • whjco's avatar
    whjco
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2019
    SidecarFlip wrote:
    Replace the brake hoses they have degraded internally and are blocked. Preferrably replace them with stainless brake lines instead of the rubber. Stainless won't degrade internally over time and provide better braking power,
    .

    A real common problem on older vehicles.


    x2. Another problem with old flexible hoses is that the interior degrades and restricts brake fluid flow just enough to allow fluid past the restriction when applied but doesn't allow the calipers to retract thereby causing the brakes to drag and overheating the pads and rotor.

    However, stainless braid brake lines aren't infallible. I had a total brake failure in my 2000 Ford Excursion when the flex section of brake line between the master cylinder and the anti-lock unit blew out. The truck was 10 years old at the time this happened.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator II
    Jun 02, 2019
    Look at the specific bleeding procedures for your vehicle. Many newer vehicles are required to have a specific procedure for AbS brakes.
  • bguy's avatar
    bguy
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2019
    Go back to the other end of the steel line. Keep going til you find the problem.
    Another thought, is the ABS working? You may have to activate the system to get a proper bleed.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Jun 02, 2019
    Lynnmor wrote:
    Yep, replace the brake hoses. In addition to normal degradation, hoses can be collapsed by rust where they go thru brackets, especially in salt states. Just think, they spread salt for safety, and destroy your brakes in the process.


    Not just the brakes, but the electrical connections as well. Why, every time I'm working on a vehicle I own and have access to electrical connectors, I take them apart (Molex connectors or not) and fill them with di-electric grease
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Jun 02, 2019
    Yep, replace the brake hoses. In addition to normal degradation, hoses can be collapsed by rust where they go thru brackets, especially in salt states. Just think, they spread salt for safety, and destroy your brakes in the process.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Jun 02, 2019
    Replace the brake hoses they have degraded internally and are blocked. Preferrably replace them with stainless brake lines instead of the rubber. Stainless won't degrade internally over time and provide better braking power,
    .

    A real common problem on older vehicles.

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