gravity bleed
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 488
Likes: 108
I use that method exclusively, though I've heard good things about Motive Products power bleeders. Sometimes with gravity bleeding I've run into times where no fluid will come out of the lines-even stepping on the brakes with open bleeders. I've no idea why that happens, but eventually fluid will come out. I haven't gotten 'rock hard' brakes from gravity bleeding either, so we'll see what others have to say.
Last edited by AOS_L79; May 5, 2010 at 03:41 PM. Reason: don't believe links to non supporting vendors are allowed
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 2
From: Nixa Missouri
Hey Jude,
Pardon the pun.
I gravity bleed my brakes on my 70 vert last fall. I didnt know the history of the fluid as to how long it had been in the system plus wanted to try the gravity bleed method. It was a overall success. I read here to jack the rear end of the car 16 inches to the wheel bearing hub from the floor to help remove any air in the system. I then bleed all the calipers. I had a plastic bottle with a lid and drilled a hole in the lid then found a hose that would fit tight over the bleeder nipple & ran inside the bottle. This bottle is somewhat clear so I could see the flow (driping) and air bubbles flowing into the bottle. I over killed the amount of fluid I flushed thru but I now know whats in the system. My brake peddel was and remains hard to this day.
The way I did it also resulted in very little mess with the fluid.
I'm really pleased. I have a brand new motive bleeder still in the box in my cabinet. I just wanted to try the gravity bleed method first.
Hope this helps.
Pardon the pun.
I gravity bleed my brakes on my 70 vert last fall. I didnt know the history of the fluid as to how long it had been in the system plus wanted to try the gravity bleed method. It was a overall success. I read here to jack the rear end of the car 16 inches to the wheel bearing hub from the floor to help remove any air in the system. I then bleed all the calipers. I had a plastic bottle with a lid and drilled a hole in the lid then found a hose that would fit tight over the bleeder nipple & ran inside the bottle. This bottle is somewhat clear so I could see the flow (driping) and air bubbles flowing into the bottle. I over killed the amount of fluid I flushed thru but I now know whats in the system. My brake peddel was and remains hard to this day.
The way I did it also resulted in very little mess with the fluid.
I'm really pleased. I have a brand new motive bleeder still in the box in my cabinet. I just wanted to try the gravity bleed method first.
Hope this helps.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
I've tried every which way. I'm pretty jealous of those who have had success other ways, but the only thing that worked for me was the Motive Bleeder. And I use low pressure like 10-12 psi. Give it a shot and best of luck to you!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I replace the bleeder valves with speedy bleeders. One person operation. Takes about 20 minutes to bleed all 4 wheels. Extremely easy. Who has the time to screw with bleeding brakes for days at a time. I would rather be driving. To each his own. Al
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
From: Ridgecrest CA
Can someone explain this gravity bleeding? I blew a line on my 78 this weekend, so I am going to replace them all with stainless, but I hate bleeding brakes.
If there is an easier way, I would love to hear it.
If there is an easier way, I would love to hear it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 57
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 2
From: Nixa Missouri
Like I said, From reading the info on this forum I raised the back end up and placed jacks under the car for safety with the front tires on the ground and bleed the brakes. I'm still pleased with the results of gravity bleeding the system and the way the pedel feels. Make sure you keep the M/C full.
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/ Check out these speed bleeders. Cheap around $7 ea Make brake bleeding much easier, one person job. No need for jacking up car, to precarious angles. Al
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: cleveland Ohio
i blead my new calipers yesterday,started at inner pass. then outer, then driv. inner,then outer,fluid came out prettly easily,but did have to push in on bleeder nut to get suction,it only took a few minutes at each bleeder,the front ones were taking forever for fluid to flow,so i put on the vaccuum bleeder from harbor freight,pumped it to 15 lbs. and it drew the fluid right out,i then gravity blead them,like the rears. never touched the brake pedal once.ive got good pedal,and everything seems good, only went around the block twice,so i will be doing the 50 mph hit the brake trick soon,and probably do it 4 or 5 times. it is a manual brake system,but i feel it should have more grabbing power at the front,and it does have new rubber hoses all around.i remember when i was 16 years old,a friend had a 65 impala with drums up front,and it stopped seemingly better than my 68 with discs. oh well, talk to you latter and always the best to you. tom
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Curious - why do you bleed the inner before the outer? I thought you bled the outer most bleeder first? I followed the sequence rear pass, dr pass, pass front, driver front. Maybe that's my problem. I just can't get a firm pedal and it goes down too far despite changing out the master and all 4 wheel cylinders.
