A really basic question... brake bleeding
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 32
From: Mission Viejo California
A really basic question... brake bleeding
does the car need to be on? I bled my brakes and got some fluid out, but not as much as I would have imagined. Does the car need to be running? I did all 4 corners and got about 12-16 oz of fluid out of the system. I was trying to go more toward flush since it hasn't been done in a while.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
I usually buy a clear flexable plastic tube and place this tightly over the bleeder and insert the tube into a clear glass jar with a small amount of fluid in the jar. This way when you pump the brake you can see any air bleed out and also the color of the fluid. Just keep adding fluid to the reservoir as you pump the breaks until you get clear fluid through the tube. Using the tube also stops air from being sucked back into the lines.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 32
From: Mission Viejo California
great.... I took apart the master to install the drm spring. After putting it back together I bled the brakes and now the darn pedal goes to the floor with th car off. I obviously did something wrong. Time to take it apart and try again.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Try this, there should be two lines running out of the MC. Screw in brass fittings (that have a long section to slip tube onto) into the MC where your normal brake lines would go. I believe there are two different sizes, not 100% sure on your car. They make a MC bleeding kit that has plastic fittings that may be less expensive. Then take tubing and run from these fittings and loop back into the MC. Add brake fluid. Have some one pump the brakes several times as you hold the tubes in place. This forces the brake fluid from the MC into the tubing and will bleed out any air in the MC itself. When you no longer get any air thru the tubing disconnect the fittings and connect the brake lines. Now bleed the brake lines.
Suggest you use the clear tube and jar with fluid as I mentioned in earlier post.
Good Luck.
Suggest you use the clear tube and jar with fluid as I mentioned in earlier post.
Good Luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I usually buy a clear flexable plastic tube and place this tightly over the bleeder and insert the tube into a clear glass jar with a small amount of fluid in the jar. This way when you pump the brake you can see any air bleed out and also the color of the fluid. Just keep adding fluid to the reservoir as you pump the breaks until you get clear fluid through the tube. Using the tube also stops air from being sucked back into the lines.
Your method has worked for me for years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 50
From: Jacksonville, FL
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '25
Master cyl fittings size
On the master the front fitting size is the same as a stock caliper bleed screw ( I have J55's & the bleed screws fit the front master port), and the rear fitting is the same size as the bleeder from a zf6spd slave cylinder.
Don't know if that helps.
Tom
Don't know if that helps.
Tom
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 7
From: Houston Texas
Will MC bleed be enough?
I don't have access to a floor jack right now and I was wondering if I just bleed the MC on the bench and then install it, would the brakes be good enough so I could make it a couple of miles down the road to my friends shop who has a lift so then I could bleed all 4 wheels?
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
From: Metairie Louisiana
I don't have access to a floor jack right now and I was wondering if I just bleed the MC on the bench and then install it, would the brakes be good enough so I could make it a couple of miles down the road to my friends shop who has a lift so then I could bleed all 4 wheels?
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Good luck.
the Creoleman
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 2
From: Canandaigua New York
I don't have access to a floor jack right now and I was wondering if I just bleed the MC on the bench and then install it, would the brakes be good enough so I could make it a couple of miles down the road to my friends shop who has a lift so then I could bleed all 4 wheels?
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
PROVIDED you didn't disconnect the brake lines from any place other than the MC. When you disconnect the lines from the MC very little fluid is lost from the lines.
Once the MC is bled, reinstall it and tighten the lines down finger tight.
Have someone push the pedal down until you see fluid coming out of the loose lines.Both lines should show fluid flowing.If they don't then loosen them up a little until they do. This will refill the lines and allow any air to escape. While your friend is holding the pedal down, tighten both lines.
I've done it this way many times without having to bleed the whole system.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,924
Likes: 700
From: WI
I don't have access to a floor jack right now and I was wondering if I just bleed the MC on the bench and then install it, would the brakes be good enough so I could make it a couple of miles down the road to my friends shop who has a lift so then I could bleed all 4 wheels?
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Anyone ever just bleed the MC and that's all that's needed?
Wishful thinking I know!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 30
Try this, there should be two lines running out of the MC. Screw in brass fittings (that have a long section to slip tube onto) into the MC where your normal brake lines would go. I believe there are two different sizes, not 100% sure on your car. They make a MC bleeding kit that has plastic fittings that may be less expensive. Then take tubing and run from these fittings and loop back into the MC. Add brake fluid. Have some one pump the brakes several times as you hold the tubes in place. This forces the brake fluid from the MC into the tubing and will bleed out any air in the MC itself. When you no longer get any air thru the tubing disconnect the fittings and connect the brake lines. Now bleed the brake lines.
Suggest you use the clear tube and jar with fluid as I mentioned in earlier post.
Good Luck.
Suggest you use the clear tube and jar with fluid as I mentioned in earlier post.
Good Luck.
that's how i do it!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 30
Yes you can bleed the MC on the bench and then install it.
PROVIDED you didn't disconnect the brake lines from any place other than the MC. When you disconnect the lines from the MC very little fluid is lost from the lines.
Once the MC is bled, reinstall it and tighten the lines down finger tight.
Have someone push the pedal down until you see fluid coming out of the loose lines.Both lines should show fluid flowing.If they don't then loosen them up a little until they do. This will refill the lines and allow any air to escape. While your friend is holding the pedal down, tighten both lines.
I've done it this way many times without having to bleed the whole system.
PROVIDED you didn't disconnect the brake lines from any place other than the MC. When you disconnect the lines from the MC very little fluid is lost from the lines.
Once the MC is bled, reinstall it and tighten the lines down finger tight.
Have someone push the pedal down until you see fluid coming out of the loose lines.Both lines should show fluid flowing.If they don't then loosen them up a little until they do. This will refill the lines and allow any air to escape. While your friend is holding the pedal down, tighten both lines.
I've done it this way many times without having to bleed the whole system.
......the manual states that if you disconnect any line at THE WHEEL then you can get away with bleeding just that line. HOWEVER, if you disconnect the lines at THE MC, you MUST bleed the entire system!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,924
Likes: 700
From: WI