C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Bleeding Brake tips?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 12, 2009 | 11:18 PM
  #1  
megtom2's Avatar
megtom2
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 496
Likes: 4
From: Cordova TN
Default Bleeding Brake tips?

Yes, I am here again doing my weekend project of changing out all of the pads and rotors. The rears were frozen on and those calipers bracket bolts were a bi......but the search function worked great to help.
The question I have is on the bleeding I have never done this before but since the fluid was black I wanted to bleed all of them down with new fluid. I have been using a hand pump that seems to suck it out fairly well and I have tightened the bleeder screw while plenty of suction was still at the screw. Is this an ok way to properly bleed the system? Also the pass side screw was a royal pain to loosen and now it seems to leak a little bit. Is that normal or should I replace the screw or put something on the threads to seal it?
Thanks again guys. I'm tired and still have driver's front left for tomorrow.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2009 | 11:31 PM
  #2  
94z07fx3's Avatar
94z07fx3
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Default

Originally Posted by megtom2
I have been using a hand pump that seems to suck it out fairly well and I have tightened the bleeder screw while plenty of suction was still at the screw. Is this an ok way to properly bleed the system?
That method works well.

Originally Posted by megtom2
Also the pass side screw was a royal pain to loosen and now it seems to leak a little bit. Is that normal or should I replace the screw or put something on the threads to seal it?
If the screw leaks only while you're using the vacuum pump then don't worry about it. If it leaks when you screw it all the way in then it's an easy to find and cheap part at any parts store.

You can improve the operation of the vacuum pump, and in particular the one screw that leaks, by wrapping the threads with teflon tape.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 06:04 AM
  #3  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
mazdaverx7
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 1,148
From: Vermilion OH
Default

i always bleed in a specific order. i bleed at the following points until i have a firm pedal at each point: RR, LR, RF, LF. starting at the farthest point away from the master cylinder has always worked well for me and has ensured that no air was left in any of the lines.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 10:11 AM
  #4  
tblt44's Avatar
tblt44
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
Default

I just bleen mine yesturday,just to get new fluid in the lines.I tried to do a gravity bleed, that was a joke.I was the only one home,I did the drivers side by using a broom handle to depress the pedel when I loosened the bleeder.I had to wait for my daugter to get home to do the other 3.
I do it the cheap way loose screw while someone depresses the pedal,tighten bleeder before pedal is released,repeat till clean fluid comes thru.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 11:48 AM
  #5  
megtom2's Avatar
megtom2
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 496
Likes: 4
From: Cordova TN
Default

Originally Posted by tblt44
I just bleen mine yesturday,just to get new fluid in the lines.I tried to do a gravity bleed, that was a joke.I was the only one home,I did the drivers side by using a broom handle to depress the pedel when I loosened the bleeder.I had to wait for my daugter to get home to do the other 3.
I do it the cheap way loose screw while someone depresses the pedal,tighten bleeder before pedal is released,repeat till clean fluid comes thru.
Stupid question but I'll check in a minute but the rear bleeders are hidden with the tires on aren't they?? Or at least nearly impossible to get to?
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 01:40 PM
  #6  
seijack's Avatar
seijack
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 378
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7
i always bleed in a specific order. i bleed at the following points until i have a firm pedal at each point: RR, LR, RF, LF. starting at the farthest point away from the master cylinder has always worked well for me and has ensured that no air was left in any of the lines.
This is what I do.....I have the Wife help me....After 17 years she is getting pretty good at it.....she loves pushing the brake pedal down LOL!!!!!
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 04:41 PM
  #7  
mcnulty95's Avatar
mcnulty95
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Toledo Ohio
Default

Get some speed bleeders. Makes bleeding the brakes a one man job.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 05:06 PM
  #8  
Frizlefrak's Avatar
Frizlefrak
Race Director
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Default

Originally Posted by mcnulty95
Get some speed bleeders. Makes bleeding the brakes a one man job.

Just make sure you keep the master cylinder full. And as posted above, do in the order of furthest to closest.

A vacuum pump works well too, just a bit messier. Start by siphoning everything out of the master cylinder and refilling with clean fluid. Then flush all the lines.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 05:49 PM
  #9  
Z5287's Avatar
Z5287
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Default

87 FSM Bleed R/F R/R L/R L/F
I am doing mine again now,Still pulls to the right
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 06:37 PM
  #10  
Aurora40's Avatar
Aurora40
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
Default

I've notice using vacuum that some air will come around the threads of the bleeder valve. So I usually do the bulk of the bleeding that way, then let it gravity bleed a little bit to push out any air around the threads.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 06:56 PM
  #11  
Race Prepared's Avatar
Race Prepared
Burning Brakes
Photogenic
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 80
From: Burleson Texas
Default

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7
i always bleed in a specific order. i bleed at the following points until i have a firm pedal at each point: RR, LR, RF, LF. starting at the farthest point away from the master cylinder has always worked well for me and has ensured that no air was left in any of the lines.
Agreed, but I take a turkey baster and remove the existing fluid from the resevoir, clean out the bottom, and fill with fresh fluid.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 08:03 PM
  #12  
pacat's Avatar
pacat
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Erie PA
Default Advanced Auto free rental

I used a vacum bleeder that I got from Advanced Auto. Works great for when you don't have a helper. Most auto parts stores have a free tool loaner program. You just have to leave a deposit ($100), when you return the tool you will get your deposit back, well worth it.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 08:14 PM
  #13  
PLRX's Avatar
PLRX
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Default

Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 08:17 PM
  #14  
PLRX's Avatar
PLRX
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Default

Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 10:40 PM
  #15  
samsonb's Avatar
samsonb
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Default

Originally Posted by tblt44
I just bleen mine yesturday,just to get new fluid in the lines.I tried to do a gravity bleed, that was a joke.I was the only one home,I did the drivers side by using a broom handle to depress the pedel when I loosened the bleeder.I had to wait for my daugter to get home to do the other 3.
I do it the cheap way loose screw while someone depresses the pedal,tighten bleeder before pedal is released,repeat till clean fluid comes thru.
So, what was wrong with the gravity bleed? I did that a few weeks ago with no problems.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 10:48 PM
  #16  
CStewTAMU's Avatar
CStewTAMU
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Waco TX
Default

What I would do is get a 3-4 foot long piece of tubing like what comes with bleeder kits. You can get this at Home Depot I think.

Get you a glass jar and put some fresh fluid in it. Hook one one end of the tube to the bleeder screw and the other end in the jar keeping it submerged in the fresh fluid. Then, losen the bleeder screw and pump the brake and keep the MS resevoir full.

Doing this way, you won't get any air sucked back into the system.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2009 | 12:00 AM
  #17  
samsonb's Avatar
samsonb
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Default

Originally Posted by CStewTAMU
What I would do is get a 3-4 foot long piece of tubing like what comes with bleeder kits. You can get this at Home Depot I think.

Get you a glass jar and put some fresh fluid in it. Hook one one end of the tube to the bleeder screw and the other end in the jar keeping it submerged in the fresh fluid. Then, losen the bleeder screw and pump the brake and keep the MS resevoir full.

Doing this way, you won't get any air sucked back into the system.
Air can get past the threads. That is why the speed bleeders have sealant on the threads. Though, I'd go with the Earl solo bleeders instead.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Bleeding Brake tips?

Old Sep 14, 2009 | 05:54 AM
  #18  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
mazdaverx7
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 1,148
From: Vermilion OH
Default

Originally Posted by Race Prepared
Agreed, but I take a turkey baster and remove the existing fluid from the resevoir, clean out the bottom, and fill with fresh fluid.
this is an excellent point made that was overlooked. no reason to push old scummy fluid through the lines. removing the fluid from the master cylinder's resivours and cleaning them with a dry cloth is a very good idea. a lot of the fluid in there is already contaminated and will contaminate the new fluid if it isn't properly flushed,
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2009 | 03:40 PM
  #19  
samsonb's Avatar
samsonb
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Default

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7
this is an excellent point made that was overlooked. no reason to push old scummy fluid through the lines. removing the fluid from the master cylinder's resivours and cleaning them with a dry cloth is a very good idea. a lot of the fluid in there is already contaminated and will contaminate the new fluid if it isn't properly flushed,
How does the dirt and crud get inside the reservoir? I never figured that out since it is sealed. Mine had alot of lint type stuff in the bottom of mine I had to vacuum out. I guess the previous shops didn't clean it out since it had a ton of lint all in the bottom.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2009 | 04:16 PM
  #20  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
mazdaverx7
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 1,148
From: Vermilion OH
Default

a lot of it is rubber particles from the boots on the caliper's that prevent leakage around the piston. often times if a seal is bad,moisure can enter the caliper and rust can form. this is where you will see a lot of contamination. some i can assume is from the rubber lines themselves breaking down internally.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:38 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE