I needed to change my front brake pads. I changed my left front just fine and moved to my front right caliper. I took off the caliper, took out the old pads and had trouble compressing one of the pistons in the caliper. I pushed on one and the other basically came all the way out. I put it back and assembled everything as normal without any issues.

Since the piston came out I need to bleed my system now and this is where I'm having trouble. I'm using the vacuum pump method by the way. I started on my back right and I hook everything up correctly.
Key in off position
I open the master cylinder reservoir fill to the max line with brake fluid
attach the vacuum pump to the outer bleed valve
Open bleed valve about a 1/4 turn
Start vacuuming and I'll go through 3 containers while still getting air bubbles and when I say air bubbles I mean good size air bubbles. It feels like its never ending and I've probably went though 12 oz trying to get rid of the air bubbles.

So my question is what in the world am I doing wrong?

 

I've never done it the vacuum way so I would recommend using the buddy system, doing it the old fashioned way, and seeing if you have better luck.

Also, I'm sure this goes without saying, but dear lord tell me you kept the reservoir topped off with fluid during this process.

 

okay so I trashed the vacuum method since nothing has changed with that. I went to the one man bleeder where you put the nozzle into the bleeder valve to hose into a half full bottle of brake fluid. I did back right outside valve and pumped about half a master cylinder worth of fluid though it until only liquid in the hose. Closed it. filled master back up to full after every valve as I worked my way around from back right to back left then to front right and then front left. I did every valve making sure not to get close to emptying the master cylinder. I turn on my car and check pedal feel and its still soft. If I pump it it gets harder but then goes away too.

What should I do now? repeat the process? Do I need to pump my brakes for a while to build pressure?

 

Update: I did everything again and got some good pressure on the pedal.

 

Good. I was going to say that I thought you had to start with the left rear (even though it's counter-intuitive). Don't have the FSM in front of me, though.

 

Yah I hear ya on the left rear order/fsm. I pumped about 16 oz of fluid through each bleeder to make sure there was zero air in the lines or trapped in the caliper from the piston coming out.

 

Vacuum bleeding, or pumping the pedal, simply sucks. Get yourself a Motive Products pressure bleeder and it will be one of the best tools you own. Just the savings in wasted high-quality fluid will pay for the bleeder after a few bleeds. Fluid should be changed annually and/or with every pad change, and after any track day.

http://motiveproducts.3dcartstores.com/

 

My experience agrees with you! haha Honestly, pumping the pedal wasn't that bad the biggest downside i see is the lose of high quality fluid to do the process (as someone above mentioned). I will probably buy the motive product next time I'm going to put in new fluid. Thanks for the replies everyone

BG

 

**** bleeding the brakes lol, a completely easier way is to grab a friend. One of you hold the brakes all the way in, the other opens the brake fluid cap. Release the brakes and close the cap, then open the cap, press brake in, close cap, release breaks and no more air in your lines

Did it to my car when my brother ****ed up somehow changing the rotors. He somehow managed to get air in the brake lines, luckily I knew this method lol