I have mediocre/novice mechanic skills, having started tinkering on Volvos about 5 years ago. I have replaced rotors, brakepads, rebuilt calipers, full interior rehab, heater core/blower motors, etc., but I feel ignorant about other things.

I purchased "The Falcon" an 89 245 last summer, which my youngest son claimed for his own. We did some minor work on it and it has been virtually trouble free. His brakes have been softer than the 700s we own, so we bled the brake lines earlier this spring with moderate success. We had to do something on it this weekend so we decided to re-address the squishy brakes and try to remove more air while the car was up on four jacks. In the process of bleeding the brakes I failed to check the reservoir and we pulled air into the lines and probably some debris that had collected in the bottom of the container.

We did not intend to flush a full quart of dot 4 brake fluid through the system but we have. After pulling air (and dirt) into the system my son was unable to obtain more than a trickle of liquid from the left rear fittings, and I suspect we have air behind a clogged nipple. Other fittings are clear.

What do I do to allow the brake fluid to once again be bled through as previously done? Can I open the fitting and stick piano wire or something else into the hole to loosen things up? We have taken it down from the stands twice to test it, both times it stops well on the first attempt, but by the time we have returned home we are not sure we can stop where we want to.

We have been going with the following pattern, which varies from what my Bentley manual suggest for bleed order:
Rt rear, Lt Rear, Rt front lower then upper, Lt front lower then upper.
Should we be following the Bently guidelines?

Any suggestions? Troubleshooting tips?


Glynn