"Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited--
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
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From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
"Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited--
Read about gravity bleeding in a couple of recent threads. I just want to see if I've got this straight. You open all six bleeders at the same time? If so, I assume you need six lengths of hose and six bottles to catch it. How long do you do it? And do you do it with the car level? Inquiring minds want to know! :D
JB
JB
Pro
Joined: May 2002
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From: Petaluma CA
Re: "Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited-- (JB)
I see no need to do all six at once, unless you are in a big hurry. In which case, gravity is not the way to go. The furthest from the master (passenger rear) bleeds first, then work toward master.
Time might depend on why you are bleeding. If you just want the old fluid out and new fluid in, the whole line needs to drain. If you just changed calipers. the caliper will have to fill first. The driver front is short, so will be fastest, etc.
Drain until you see no air bubbles and/or clean fluid.
May be best to take a nice afternoon, get some suckers...oops friends over and have some fun.
Time might depend on why you are bleeding. If you just want the old fluid out and new fluid in, the whole line needs to drain. If you just changed calipers. the caliper will have to fill first. The driver front is short, so will be fastest, etc.
Drain until you see no air bubbles and/or clean fluid.
May be best to take a nice afternoon, get some suckers...oops friends over and have some fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: "Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited-- (Stevo)
Every time I've bled Corvette brakes, for whatever reason, the pedal always seems to be firmer when I gravity bleed them. In some cases I had trouble even getting a pedal at all until I gravity bled them. I don't know why but that's been my experience. :confused:
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 204
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From: Tempe Az
Re: "Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited-- (silvervetteman)
Every time I've bled Corvette brakes, for whatever reason, the pedal always seems to be firmer when I gravity bleed them. In some cases I had trouble even getting a pedal at all until I gravity bled them. I don't know why but that's been my experience. :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
Re: "Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited-- (BDAZVET)
I just made a pressure bleeder out of a 6"x4" piece of 1/4" steel plate (purchased 12" at hardware store and cut in half with hack saw). Then drilled and tapped for an air line fitting (1/4" npt I think) and inserted the fitting with teflon tape. Glued on some 1/4" rubber (also purchased at hardware store) to the bottom with a hole in it to clear the air fitting. Clamp it to the master cylinder with a large C clamp and hook up an air line to it. 10 psi is all that is necessary, any more and there would be fluid all over the place.
This has worked better than any brake bleeding I have EVER done, on the vette or any other car, EVER! My brakes are rock solid at last! And, no more dragging the girlfriend down to pump the brakes!!!
This has worked better than any brake bleeding I have EVER done, on the vette or any other car, EVER! My brakes are rock solid at last! And, no more dragging the girlfriend down to pump the brakes!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
Re: "Gravity Bleeding" Brakes Revisited-- (71roadster)
I just made a pressure bleeder out of a 6"x4" piece of 1/4" steel plate (purchased 12" at hardware store and cut in half with hack saw). Then drilled and tapped for an air line fitting (1/4" npt I think) and inserted the fitting with teflon tape. Glued on some 1/4" rubber (also purchased at hardware store) to the bottom with a hole in it to clear the air fitting. Clamp it to the master cylinder with a large C clamp and hook up an air line to it. 10 psi is all that is necessary, any more and there would be fluid all over the place.
This has worked better than any brake bleeding I have EVER done, on the vette or any other car, EVER! My brakes are rock solid at last! And, no more dragging the girlfriend down to pump the brakes!!!
This has worked better than any brake bleeding I have EVER done, on the vette or any other car, EVER! My brakes are rock solid at last! And, no more dragging the girlfriend down to pump the brakes!!!
