Bleeding the brakes
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,928
Likes: 1
From: More cowbell...
St. Jude Donor '04
Bleeding the brakes
So it looks from a previous post, that my brakes could use some bleeding. I just want to make sure I have the process right, as I have never done this before.
From what I can gather, I take the wheel off the brake to be blead, and loosen the valve on the caliper. I then have someone pump the brake pedal, and continue to do so until I have a nice steady stream of brake fluid coming out (no sputtering etc..). I then close the valve back up, put the wheel back on, and go to the next wheel.
If the master cylinder is getting low, I top it off with some brake fluid (I got some Castrol GT LMA fluid).
Does this sound about right?
-Mark
From what I can gather, I take the wheel off the brake to be blead, and loosen the valve on the caliper. I then have someone pump the brake pedal, and continue to do so until I have a nice steady stream of brake fluid coming out (no sputtering etc..). I then close the valve back up, put the wheel back on, and go to the next wheel.
If the master cylinder is getting low, I top it off with some brake fluid (I got some Castrol GT LMA fluid).
Does this sound about right?
-Mark
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Loganville Ga
First, don't pump the pedal, just hold it. Then open the valve. Close the valve and then release the pedal. Wait about 10 sec and repeat. Just don't let up on the brake until the valve is closed. Do it in the order of RR, LR, RF, LF.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
OK - so far so good. Get a rubber hose that will fit on the end of the bleeder valve, and a coffee can or something similar to collect the fluid. DO NOT REUSE! Remove the top or cap from the master cylinder reservoir. Make sure it is full.
1. Start with the cylinder farthest from the master cylinder (passenger side rear)
2. Have someone ready in the driver seat.
3. Open the bleed valve, and tell the person to push to the floor (not panic brake speed, but not really slow either).
4. When the pedal is to the floor, have the person tell you "OK" or something to indicate that it is down.
5. IMPORTANT: The person is NOT to release the pedal until you've closed the valve. One you've closed the bleeder valve, tell the person to release the pedal.
6. Continue this action until there is no air but a steady stream of fluid when the person pushes the pedal.
Check the master cylinder frequently to make sure it is not low on fluid - remember that you are using up the fluid.
Do driver side cylinder next, then passenger front, then driver front. It's a long tedious process, but simple to do.
1. Start with the cylinder farthest from the master cylinder (passenger side rear)
2. Have someone ready in the driver seat.
3. Open the bleed valve, and tell the person to push to the floor (not panic brake speed, but not really slow either).
4. When the pedal is to the floor, have the person tell you "OK" or something to indicate that it is down.
5. IMPORTANT: The person is NOT to release the pedal until you've closed the valve. One you've closed the bleeder valve, tell the person to release the pedal.
6. Continue this action until there is no air but a steady stream of fluid when the person pushes the pedal.
Check the master cylinder frequently to make sure it is not low on fluid - remember that you are using up the fluid.
Do driver side cylinder next, then passenger front, then driver front. It's a long tedious process, but simple to do.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
i prefer the gravity bleed method. attach a clear hose to each bleed screw, open em up and let it flow. once there are no more bubbles you are done. just keep the MC full. i've heard that NASCAR uses this method and it all but guarantees that all the air is out. just check and be sure that this is possible with an ABS system. 
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville, GA
it is indeed possible with an ABS system....I did it this weekend...the only problem is that with a gravity bleed you dont get all the fluid out of the ABS controller itself...so as soon as you drive it and the ABS goes thru it cycles etc the fluid will look dirty again...so if you want to end up with really clean fluid do the gravity bleed...drive it a few days and do the bleed agian...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
also really important! when you finish everything and think you're done pump the brakes several times before you put the car in gear and make sure you have a good solid feeling brake pedal. This is really important to do before you drive the car anywhere or come flying down your driveway in reverse and find out there is air in the lines etc 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Originally Posted by C4SMAJ
it is indeed possible with an ABS system....I did it this weekend...the only problem is that with a gravity bleed you dont get all the fluid out of the ABS controller itself...so as soon as you drive it and the ABS goes thru it cycles etc the fluid will look dirty again...so if you want to end up with really clean fluid do the gravity bleed...drive it a few days and do the bleed agian...
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,928
Likes: 1
From: More cowbell...
St. Jude Donor '04
Thanks everyone.
Did the brake bleed. Didnt seem to have very much air at all in there (a few small bubbles came out of the rear wheels). But the brakes seem to be working much better.
One strange thing is, I am getting some sort of rubbing out of the rear, passenger side brake/hub. It sounds like the pads are slightly touching the rotor, and as soon as I apply the brakes it goes away. Any ideas on this one?
-Mark
Did the brake bleed. Didnt seem to have very much air at all in there (a few small bubbles came out of the rear wheels). But the brakes seem to be working much better.
One strange thing is, I am getting some sort of rubbing out of the rear, passenger side brake/hub. It sounds like the pads are slightly touching the rotor, and as soon as I apply the brakes it goes away. Any ideas on this one?
-Mark