I have a 2004, 4 wheel drive, 5.4L Ford Lariat F-150. My right front caliper was locking up on me, so I decided to change both front calipers. While I was at it, I also changed the rotors and pads. The change went well, but after I bled the calipers, the brakes were very spongy. I bled them again and still the same issue. I think that I may have bled them wrong the first time. I hooked up a bleed hose and bottle to the bleed screw at the caliper. I then opened the bleed screw and pumped the brakes 3-4 times. Then I closed the screw and emptied the bottle. If I saw air or dirty fluid, I would repeat the process. I never let the brake fluid get below the minimum level on the brake fluid reservoir. I think that I should have had someone pump the brakes first, then hold the brake to the floor, and then open the bleed screw. Once the fluid slowed, I would close the screw, and redue the process as needed. Any idea why my brakes still goes all the way to the floor?

 

No one told me this and I didn't see it in the book. You CAN put the calipers on the wrong side. It's not idiot proof, but I sure was the idiot. For anyone else that has this problem, the bleeder valve has to go above the brake fluid inlet. If not, you will never get the air out of the caliper when it's time to bleed them, and your brakes will be VERY spongy.

 

thats good information, something easy to over look for any first timers.

 

Just for clarification, the second method you described is how to bleed brakes.