Solo Brake Bleeding Options

[kconway]

Rob...FYI,
The fluid in that system is "newish"....never seen the road. All the components are new/reconditioned that I bought from either Pelican or from Eric at PMB.

Kev

How much brake fluid should I buy then? and what type of brake fluid is ideal? does it matter?

[EdwardBlume]

Rob...FYI,
The fluid in that system is "newish"....never seen the road. All the components are new/reconditioned that I bought from either Pelican or from Eric at PMB.

Kev

How much brake fluid should I buy then? and what type of brake fluid is ideal? does it matter?

Cool. I was hoping you'd comment. I'm hoping I can get the system burping. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)

[DBCooper]

There's a CSOB old farmer's way of pressurizing your brake system. Cut an innertube around the valve stem so it's the same size as the gasket in your brake master's reservoir. Drill a hole in the reservoir cap so the valve stem sticks out and put it back on the reservoir. Remove the schrader from the stem, put on a bicycle hand pump and give it a little pressure. Bleed from the furthest back to the M/C, giving it a few pumps and checking the fluid level between each wheel. Cheap, easy, using stuff you probably already have in your garage. And when you put the cap back on the valve stem it's all sealed, so you can leave it in place for the next time you need it.

[kconway]

Rob...FYI,
The fluid in that system is "newish"....never seen the road. All the components are new/reconditioned that I bought from either Pelican or from Eric at PMB.

Kev

How much brake fluid should I buy then? and what type of brake fluid is ideal? does it matter?

Cool. I was hoping you'd comment. I'm hoping I can get the system burping. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)

I think I left the equalizer in the circuit. May want to look there as a possible place where you've got trapped air. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) , (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) , (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) on it.



I used the blue stuff. Maybe change to the red?

Kev

[EdwardBlume]

So I'm ready to roll with the bleed.

Another question:

First push on the brakes, he pedal goes to the floor. Pump it a couple times and it firms up and holds. Let it off, pause a second, and it goes back to the floor. Do I have air trapped in the Master Cylinder? or is it at the brake bias or further in the lines.

Seems to me if I have air further up, I'm going to be bleeding the brakes for awhile.

[914Mike]

So I'm ready to roll with the bleed.

Another question:

First push on the brakes, he pedal goes to the floor. Pump it a couple times and it firms up and holds. Let it off, pause a second, and it goes back to the floor. Do I have air trapped in the Master Cylinder? or is it at the brake bias or further in the lines.

Seems to me if I have air further up, I'm going to be bleeding the brakes for awhile.

Well, that's the way it is sometimes. Go until you either run out of bubbles. or run out of fluid...

I just ran 2 qts. through my truck to make sure the 16 year old fluid was all out. Never heard of using food coloring. Is it safe? I think I'd want to flush un-dyed fluid through after, just to make sure it was all out, personally.

[C-Ya MK]

A couple of months ago I replaced my mc and I bled the brakes 4 separate times. Lots of patience and diligence. Perfect now
Mike

[relentless]

I'm just in the process of bleeding my brakes after replacing the calipers, lines, rotors, etc. with PMB Performance parts. I purchased two quarts of their brake fluid, and a vacuum bleeder from Eastwood. I also purchased some clear vinyl line from Home Depot that fit tightly over the bleed valve. I was able to use the clear tubing in place of the adapters on the Eastwood vacuum bleeder as I didn't like the fit. I was able to crack the bleed valve a quarter turn and then pull fluid until I had the new fluid coming out. Once I was satisfied with that I used the technique on the PMB site to use clear line taped up to the window above the master cylinder and gravity bleed the calipers.

I'll try to post some pictures later.

[EdwardBlume]

I'm just in the process of bleeding my brakes after replacing the calipers, lines, rotors, etc. with PMB Performance parts. I purchased two quarts of their brake fluid, and a vacuum bleeder from Eastwood. I also purchased some clear vinyl line from Home Depot that fit tightly over the bleed valve. I was able to use the clear tubing in place of the adapters on the Eastwood vacuum bleeder as I didn't like the fit. I was able to crack the bleed valve a quarter turn and then pull fluid until I had the new fluid coming out. Once I was satisfied with that I used the technique on the PMB site to use clear line taped up to the window above the master cylinder and gravity bleed the calipers.

I'll try to post some pictures later.

Cool. Love to see it.

[Markl]

There's a CSOB old farmer's way of pressurizing your brake system. Cut an innertube around the valve stem so it's the same size as the gasket in your brake master's reservoir. Drill a hole in the reservoir cap so the valve stem sticks out and put it back on the reservoir. Remove the schrader from the stem, put on a bicycle hand pump and give it a little pressure. Bleed from the furthest back to the M/C, giving it a few pumps and checking the fluid level between each wheel. Cheap, easy, using stuff you probably already have in your garage. And when you put the cap back on the valve stem it's all sealed, so you can leave it in place for the next time you need it.

I used an original windshield washer tube, connected to the spare. and an old VW reservoir cap with an empty Schraeder valve installed. Valve cap on the valve when you're done. Simple, cheap, toss it in your trunk.

[relentless]

The pictures I promised are in my new brake thread:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=262589

[colingreene]

i would not use food dye.
It often is water based.

[steuspeed]

Nothing special. I run clear tubing from the caliper directly to the master cylinder and just keep pumping.

I use a version of this but have four long lines. One from each caliper back to the fluid reservoir and pump until I have moved all new fluid to the calipers. Just eliminating bubbles helps but one should move at least 8 ounces through each caliper, or so I was told by a wise man.

Wouldn't you just be pumping the old fluid back into the reservoir? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[jimkelly]

I gave speed bleeders a try and like them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act...=0#entry2250544

[EdwardBlume]

I gave speed bleeders a try and like them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act...=0#entry2250544

I saw that! Nice work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) Going to have to make the conversion!