brake bleeding help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
brake bleeding help
hello, can anyone help me with an effective way for one person to bleed the brakes.
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Robin7TFour
hello, can anyone help me with an effective way for one person to bleed the brakes.
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
i have used mine on lots of other cars with success...but not on the vette.....it seems to pull air in through the pistons instead of pulling fluid out...i guess you could gravity bleed them....i use two people and do it the old fashion way....or you could make/buy a pressure bleeder...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
I used the vaccum pump first,then gravity. Takes a little longer but worked fine. Are you pumping up the vaccum then cracking the bleeder,you can't crack bleeder and then pump.Be sure to do both halfs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
I mighty vac is only good for headlight troubleshooting IMHO.
Forget about using it for your brakes. I also had bad luck that that thing. I then tried gravity and it procedurally worked well, but I didnt get the solid pedal feel until I went with the pump and hold method (wifey pumped).
I had to go around car 2X (furthest to closest to MC & rear inner then outer) with the pump and hold and finally got a solid pedal. This was after I went around the car 2x with the gravity method.
Gravity bleed worked great to get all the old fluid out of the lines though.
Brent...
Forget about using it for your brakes. I also had bad luck that that thing. I then tried gravity and it procedurally worked well, but I didnt get the solid pedal feel until I went with the pump and hold method (wifey pumped).
I had to go around car 2X (furthest to closest to MC & rear inner then outer) with the pump and hold and finally got a solid pedal. This was after I went around the car 2x with the gravity method.
Gravity bleed worked great to get all the old fluid out of the lines though.
Brent...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
I have installed "speed bleeders' on the rear calipers of my Corvette and they seem to work. Bleed the rear calipers friday evening by myself, will do the fronts monday evening if I get the calipers rebuilt monday.
Roger
Roger
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
well today i had Sandie(the Mrs,) help with the pedal pumping. so far the RF and RR are bleeding properly. LR has a small amount of air that keeps coming out. and the LF won't even gravity flow. not sure if the new master cylinder or the caliper is the problem.
Robin
Robin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by DMONSVETTE
Motive pressure bleeder worked pretty good for me and I have never bled brakes before.
-Mark.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Robin7TFour
well today i had Sandie(the Mrs,) help with the pedal pumping. so far the RF and RR are bleeding properly. LR has a small amount of air that keeps coming out. and the LF won't even gravity flow. not sure if the new master cylinder or the caliper is the problem.
Robin
Robin
Florida turtle advocate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,280
Likes: 6
From: Gulfcoast Salvage Englewood, Fla
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
The Brakes on my C3 have made me not like my car...Sucks not knowing if you're gonna be able to stop..I've tried everything but the gravity thing..Almost think it would be better off with drum brakes
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 858
Likes: 6
From: Hobe Sound FL
Mighty Vac
I have tried Mighty Vac. Took it back. Not worth it, for me. This time I put the redhead, (wife), in the drivers seat. Hooked up the line, immersed in brake fluid, made sure master cylinder was full each time for all 4 corners, had her pump 10 times minimum. Excellent flow. Make sure you do the correct rotation. I have great brakes. Chevrolet has the correct NOS bleeders for the Delco calipers.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,928
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Daffy427
The Brakes on my C3 have made me not like my car...Sucks not knowing if you're gonna be able to stop..I've tried everything but the gravity thing..Almost think it would be better off with drum brakes
Even with another person doing the pump & hold? Don't drive if you can't stop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by Robin7TFour
hello, can anyone help me with an effective way for one person to bleed the brakes.
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
i bought a Mighty Vac but either i am not using it properly. or it's not that good. like to hear from other M/Vac owners also.
thanks
Robin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Get a peice of 3/4 pvc pipe, pump the pedal, holding it down, wedge the plastic pipe between the pedal and the other end on the door striker. Make sure the plastic pipe is long enough to flex, so when you loosen the bleeder, the pedal goes to the floor and the pipe still holds it down. Its practical and works for me.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Daffy427
The Brakes on my C3 have made me not like my car...Sucks not knowing if you're gonna be able to stop..I've tried everything but the gravity thing..Almost think it would be better off with drum brakes
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
I made my own pressure bleeder.....works great....I used a flat piece of iron, drilled a hole for an air fittiting, ran a 1/4" bead of teflon around the perimeter of metal cover, clamped it to the MC ran 3-5lbs air pressure. The sealing around the mc is not the greatest, but since I'm using silicon fluid it's a non issue.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by GDaina
I made my own pressure bleeder.....works great....I used a flat piece of iron, drilled a hole for an air fittiting, ran a 1/4" bead of teflon around the perimeter of metal cover, clamped it to the MC ran 3-5lbs air pressure. The sealing around the mc is not the greatest, but since I'm using silicon fluid it's a non issue.....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
I also used a 'selfmade' pressure bleeder - works great..... there are some photos in my gallery that show the MC and the plate, this one does not leak
i've been tossing your design around in my head thinking of how i would make one and i'm wondering what exhaust style U bolts would do with your design instead of the clamps??? the curved portion would go under the MC and the flat bar(flipped around) would hold pressure on the top....you could use wing nuts to tighten it? what do you think?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
i've been tossing your design around in my head thinking of how i would make one and i'm wondering what exhaust style U bolts would do with your design instead of the clamps??? the curved portion would go under the MC and the flat bar(flipped around) would hold pressure on the top....you could use wing nuts to tighten it? what do you think?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
Karsten,, i like your pressure bleeder. i am making one tomorrow at work. i seem to have a big air pocket in the front section. it appears to move(lol) as i bleed the opposite caliper.
for my pressure bleeder i an going to make a couple of wood wedges and use the m/c bales to hold the cover down. also i have a small hand held motorcycle airpump should work fine.
i am trying to get this and a few more things done for the NCRS meet. hope we can meet for breakfast that weekebd!
robin
for my pressure bleeder i an going to make a couple of wood wedges and use the m/c bales to hold the cover down. also i have a small hand held motorcycle airpump should work fine.
i am trying to get this and a few more things done for the NCRS meet. hope we can meet for breakfast that weekebd!
robin