Any tricks (or tips) for bleeding brakes on 94 Chevy K1500?

[Whoaru99]

Rear brake line rotted out so I replaced it, but I'm having trouble getting it bled out.

My helper and I were doing the old press and hold bleed method from going from RR to LR to FR then FL corner. Fluid seems to be running clear with no bubbles from what I can see. I've put almost two quarts of fluid through it and the pedal is still low and soft. Also, my helper failed to inform me that the brake warning light would sometimes come on after I opened a bleeder and the pedal went down. Don't know if that's clue or not.

The brake warning light went out after I had everything tightened up and pressed the pedal once, but the pedal still seems to move alot and seems soft/spongy. Took it for a short drive around the block and the brakes work but doesn't seem like they're working as good as they should. That said, I don't drive the truck that often so I'm not really sure what the pedal feel was before. Just doesn't seem right though.

Tips? Tricks? Dynamite?

[Jeremy airjer W]

You should always bleed the brakes with the key off. The light is coming on because the proportioning valve is seeing the uneven pressure when the bleeder is opened (there is no fluid level sensor in the reservoir)

More than likely when the line blew the pedal traveled to the floor. When this happened the seals in the master where pushed into 17 years of debris and corrosion than accumulated in the end of the master cylinder bore which ruined the seals.

If your positive there is no more are (2 quarts should have been more than enough) than the master cylinder is probably the problem. Don't get a re manufactured unless there is no other option and then plan on replacing that one a couple of times until you get a good one.

[Whoaru99]

Don't know what I was thinking by having the key on...apparently I wasn't.

I noticed a leak on the rad so maybe I'll work on that and then hit the brakes once again. Fortunately a master cylinder isn't too expensive if I have to go there. Should have just bought the gallon of brake fluid, I did want to flush front and rear, but I didn't think it would come to this.