Brake Fluid
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Brake Fluid
I have a 93 that I will be flushing and changing the brake fluid on. Does anyone have hints or a procedure to make the job go smoother. This is my first vette and I haven't done this before on one. Any help would be appreciated.
Jim
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,956
Likes: 706
From: WI
It's pretty easy. I use a six point 10MM to break the bleeder loose, then put an open end on it for the bleeding process. I do this so often my wife doesn't want to help anymore so I'll be getting a Motive bleeder. I keep an old anti-freeze jug with a clear rubber line in the shop, just hook up the line and bleed away. One person must depress the pedal and the other person runs the bleeder.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Order a set of Speed Bleeders. They make the job an easy, one-man process!
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Order a set of Speed Bleeders. They make the job an easy, one-man process!
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
You've got to buy a set (4) of these.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I picked up a set of speed bleeders at AutoZone. I also use the Valvoline Synthetic Brake fluid in both my truck and wifes car and absolutely love it. Haven't had a chance to do the vette yet, but I need to. Works like a champ and is compatible with DOT 3&4 just in case you don't get it all out.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Thanks, I will pick up a set on the way home. Do you get the fluid out of the reservoir or just let it bleed out at the wheels? How long of a job is this, about an hour? Is there a specific sequence that anyone out there follows? Thanks for all the great input, especially the speed bleeders.
Jim
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,956
Likes: 706
From: WI
The reservoir must be kept full. Just to bleed the brakes and change the bleeders, an hour is tops. Depending on how you want to do it, you may want to pop the rear wheels off, that will add some time. It's very fast. If I remember right the sequence is RR LR RF LF. As you are not going to get the ABS bled, you may want to activate the ABS some and bleed again soon. There would be real hurry though unless the fluid is super bad.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Jim:
That depends on how your doing in:
1. buy brake one-man kit and 4 speed bleeders: about 30-60min, depending
2. Doing by hand x2 person: sometimes a little longer.
3. Get a pressure bleeder: 30 min.
That does not include tire removal time.
Sequence: RF/RR, LR/LF (i think, don't have my notes with me..)
That depends on how your doing in:
1. buy brake one-man kit and 4 speed bleeders: about 30-60min, depending
2. Doing by hand x2 person: sometimes a little longer.
3. Get a pressure bleeder: 30 min.
That does not include tire removal time.
Sequence: RF/RR, LR/LF (i think, don't have my notes with me..)
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
So if I am trying to flush the system of old fluid, do I just keep bleeding the brakes until I feel that I have all new fluid in there or is it better to drain the system and then try and fill. I thought that if I drained the reservoir and refilled with new fluid and then bled all four wheels around 2 or three times, then I would have basically flushed my system. Any thoughts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I just did my wifes car. To make life easy, remove all four wheels. Starting from the right rear, left rear, front right, front left. Just think of it as you are starting from the furthest wheel down to the wheel that is the closest. If you use the synthethc fulid you can tell once each line is bled by the color of the fluid. Synthethc fluid is clear, the old fluid is dark. It only took me an hour to do her car and that included removal and reinstalling of the wheels. Good Luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
So if I am trying to flush the system of old fluid, do I just keep bleeding the brakes until I feel that I have all new fluid in there or is it better to drain the system and then try and fill. I thought that if I drained the reservoir and refilled with new fluid and then bled all four wheels around 2 or three times, then I would have basically flushed my system. Any thoughts?
Better off to just buy two jugs of brake fluid, and bleed each caliper one at a time until the fluid runs clear. Do not let the reservoir suck in air, keep topping it off as you go along.
And the order should be furthest away from the master cylinder to closest... on my 94 it's RR, LR, RF, LF.
My $0.02
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,956
Likes: 706
From: WI
You can get some ATE blue, you'll know when there is fresh fluid when you see the blue. What I do when I do a complete flush is pump about half the reservoir through each caliper. (mine is dual reservoir) I just estimated the line as probably not holding more then that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 2
I have a doubt.
There are some bleeding / flushing methods out there like:
1. Power bleeding
2. Using Vaccum
3. A frind pumping the brake pedal
4. Gravity
This last one intrigues me. If I loosen the bleeders would fluid leak or would air be suck into the lines?
I think that using Vaccum is a good method when there is no help around.
Hope some opinions are shared.
There are some bleeding / flushing methods out there like:
1. Power bleeding
2. Using Vaccum
3. A frind pumping the brake pedal
4. Gravity
This last one intrigues me. If I loosen the bleeders would fluid leak or would air be suck into the lines?
I think that using Vaccum is a good method when there is no help around.
Hope some opinions are shared.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,956
Likes: 706
From: WI
I have a doubt.
There are some bleeding / flushing methods out there like:
1. Power bleeding
2. Using Vaccum
3. A frind pumping the brake pedal
4. Gravity
This last one intrigues me. If I loosen the bleeders would fluid leak or would air be suck into the lines?
I think that using Vaccum is a good method when there is no help around.
Hope some opinions are shared.
There are some bleeding / flushing methods out there like:
1. Power bleeding
2. Using Vaccum
3. A frind pumping the brake pedal
4. Gravity
This last one intrigues me. If I loosen the bleeders would fluid leak or would air be suck into the lines?
I think that using Vaccum is a good method when there is no help around.
Hope some opinions are shared.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 2
From: Weston FL
The speed bleeders work great. I just replaced the brake lines yesterday with stainless ones and I flushed the system in the process. The speed bleeders didn't allow any ai to suction back into the system so you can do the job alone.
Good luck
Good luck
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Order a set of Speed Bleeders. They make the job an easy, one-man process!
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
You are on the right track. Bleeding sequence makes absolutely no difference....just bleed each one until fresh clean fluid starts coming out.
(start with new fluid in the reservoir...)
Larry
code5coupe
__________
Not easily impressed....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
So if I am trying to flush the system of old fluid, do I just keep bleeding the brakes until I feel that I have all new fluid in there or is it better to drain the system and then try and fill. I thought that if I drained the reservoir and refilled with new fluid and then bled all four wheels around 2 or three times, then I would have basically flushed my system. Any thoughts?