Hi everyone, just new here, pulling my hair out ( or whats left of it) I had a terrible brake pedal, front calipers are ok as is new rear wheel cylinders, reckoned it was master cylinder, replaced it, bled brakes everything seemed ok, went for a drive and the pedal sank to the floor, re-bled brakes again and its just the same, I would be grateful for any help on this situation thanx.  Sorry Mk1 1.9 octavia

Hi, welcome to Briskoda.

 

Have you bled the master cylinder at the bleed nipples below the reservoir yet - I am presuming it is a facelift mk1 rather than a pre 2001 vehicle?.

Hi there , yes I bled them first, then went round the whole car, didn't use pressure bleeder though just the usual method

Edited 9 April, 20179 yr by Hugoagogo
added more info

You really need to use a pressure bleeder to avoid getting airlocks in the abs pump. what order did you use to bleed?, how old is your car?, and do you know if you have a MK20 or MK60 abs pump?.

Car is 2003 1.9 diesel non turbo, bled master cylinder first then front offside ,front nearside, rear offside ,rear nearside, not to sure about abs pump number, do you know if it needs to be plugged into a computer at the same time as bleeding as I have read a few articles saying this, many thanks

Not that it will matter massively, but assuming you have a MK20 system, your bleeding sequence is back to front - see here http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk1/chassis/brakes_hydraulics_regulator_servo/bleed_brake_system_vehicles_with_or_without_abs_or_abs/edl_mark_20_and_mark_60/bleeding_brake_system_with_brake_filling_and_bleeding_device_for_vehicles_with_mark_20/

 

If it is an MK60 system, then you have the correct front to rear order, but you have reversed the o/s and n/s order - see here http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk1/chassis/brakes_hydraulics_regulator_servo/bleed_brake_system_vehicles_with_or_without_abs_or_abs/edl_mark_20_and_mark_60/bleeding_brake_system_with_brake_filling_and_bleeding_device_for_vehicles_with_abs_mark_60/

You only really need to run the pump if you have either run the system dry, or you have inadvertently bled a bubble into the pump. VCDS can run the pump if you need to do it.

That's great,  didn't run system dry, just changed the master cylinder so it's possible I might have a bubble in the abs unit, I'll find out exactly what master cylinder I have and follow the instructions, thank you once again for your help 

The difference is not in the master cylinder, it is in the ABS pump control module.

 

A VCDS scan should identify the module via its internal chip, but it is quite likely to be a MK60 unit at your car age, but you would need the check to be sure.

 

Do you have VCDS yourself or have anyone local to you who could help you out of your little jam with a quick autoscan for you?.

Hello there i had the same trouble with a mk 2 octavia i currently have the mk1 post 2001 best way to bleed the system is with a pressure bleeder i bought a sealey vs820 and to be honest its the best money ive spent no hassle also if you can get the abs pump activated via diagnostic software all the better you could try activate the abs pumpby driving on some loose screenings/stones this could release some traped air in the abs pump then rebleed but get yourself the pressure bleeder you wont be disappointed hope that helps

Hello again, rebled brakes again with the sequence that relates to a MK60 ABS pump, whether it was good luck or something else brakes are now excellent , many thanks for your help  

Glad you sorted it