I've changed master cylinders, power boosters, calipers, lines, etc. during the time that I've owned my '81.
I have never been satisfied with the brake pedal feel.
I've been through gallons of fluid bleeding these brakes.
I have used various techniques and devices to do the job.
I gave up on using the Motive Bleeder as I could never get all of the air out of the system.
I decided to try the gravity bleeding method. I have never used this method before and have read good things about it.
It took about an hour to even get fluid to the rr inner bleeder screw. I was surprised to see that the system had that much air in it.
I went around the calipers and bled in the proper sequence twice.
All in all it took about three hours to get this task done.
The pedal is rock hard now.
If I would have used this method before I would have saved myself some grief.
Don't scoff at this method until you try it.
Craig

 

Gravity bleeding on the C-3 kicks ***..

 

That's awesome......it is proven and works EVERY time.......
I just put a Wilwood fornt disc system with modern Diplomat master on a 71' Demon of my buddies. I just bolted everything on, ran new brake lines everywhere up front, filled it full of fluid and cracked each bleeder.....one at a time......I have a Roku in the garage so I cracked it, cracked some beers, and let er' drip! 1 hour each corner, front and back.....without bench bleeding the master, and I have rock hard pedal.....
All those years of Mighty vacs and BS......puff, puff, pass bleeding and 15 years ago my Dad told me, just crack em' and go watch TV!
Now if you are in a hurry....no way. LOL.

Jebby

 

I too am a fan of the gravity bleeding method. Ran new SS front brake lines while replacing the worn out front suspension since I saw some rust on the old lines. Gravity bleeding was easy-peasy. I did have to pump the pedal a bit to get the passenger side to start to drip, but after that no issues and a great brake pedal!

 

With gravity bleeding do you have open one bleeder at a time, starting at the right rear like you do with other bleeding methods, or can all the bleeders be opened at once and just keep the master cylinder full?

 

One at a time....

Jebby

 

Thanks

 

I'll add my vote. My buddy and I bled the right rear calliper the normal way for about fifteen minutes, and still didn't have a good enough pedal.
I read about gravity bleeding on this site, (in 50 years around cars, had never heard of it), and thought there was nothing to lose. We tried it the next day, and it worked.
Like a lot of things, sometimes the simplest is still the best.

 

If you have six pieces of clear tubing, six plastic bottles to catch fluid, pull up a barstool next to the MC. Big bottle of brake fluid in one hand, beer bottle in the other.
Don't let either bottle run dry.

 

 

Would this work on an 02 1500 same issue

Only other thing ive found that works are speedbleeders.

 

IDK. You should have the vehicle on four jackstands, tires removed.

With gravity bleeding, you have to have a lot of patience. To speed things up a bit, opening all six bleeders into six hoses, into six plastic bottles.

Its not like there will be a gush of fluid coming out. You have time to top off the MC, time to do a walk-around inspection of the hoses and time to grab another beer.

When you think the bubbles are done or you run out of beer, start closing bleeder screws.

 

Someone else said you can only open one bleeder at a time. Which works best?

 

When I restored the 77 I put in all new lines and master cylinder. Did NOT bench bleed master cylinder. Gravity bled for a few days, then sucked it with Mity Vac, followed by old fashioned pump pedal / open bleeder technique. Solid pedal ever since. I have always been amazed all the difficulty people have getting brakes bled, including buying pressure bleeders. Its a pretty simple process. And I think bench bleeding master cylinders is unnecessary.......I didn't have to.

 

Question: Do you still have to unbolt the Wilwood D8-4 calipers to get them vertical when gravity bleeding? Thanks.

 

Yes it will work.......but on the GM 1500 you may have to have someone "buzz" the ABS module with a flash scanner if the ABS light stays lit.

Jebby

 

I didn't say you had to.....it just makes it a hell of a lot easier doing one corner at a time keeping up on fluid and having four bleeders open is too much going on for me. I have more time than patience these days and just like to do one corner at a time and know I am through with it to move on.

Jebby

 

Hmm may be an issue. ABS pump went out years ago dont really need it.

 

No issue then.......if the ABS pump works then sometimes it trips the code when bleeding but not always.

Jebby

 

Sure seems like a lot of folks are determined to waste a lot of time and effort to avoid learning how to use a Motive bleeder.