Bleeding brakes on C5?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Bleeding brakes on C5?
Does anyone have a link to instructions on bleeding brakes on a C5? I would really appreciate any help, I'm planning bleeding my brakes tomorrow afternoon and was wondering if there are any pitfalls to watch out for?
- bleed order
- does the ABS pump need to be bled?
- is there an outboard brake balancer or anything else that needs to be
bled?
Thanks in advance for any help!! :D :D :cheers: :cheers:
- bleed order
- does the ABS pump need to be bled?
- is there an outboard brake balancer or anything else that needs to be
bled?
Thanks in advance for any help!! :D :D :cheers: :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 3
From: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (QUIKAG)
Bleed from the furthest to the closest, on the C5 that means LR, RR, LF, RF. If you want to flush your fluid with higher temp fluid, I recommend Ford Motorcraft Dot 3, from any Ford dealer. Suck out the reservoir with either a baster or a fuel bulb, it won't all suck out, you just gotta flush a little more. Dry boiling over 550 and 3.50 a can-cheap race fluid. 2-3 cans for a flush. ABS pump and M/C don't need to be bled unless you let the reservoir go empty and suck fluid into the system-then you gotta take it to the dealer, ABS pump can't be bled without dealer's Tech II programming tool's directions.
Take the wheels off, stick your hose on the nipple, have a helper press the brakes down and hold, crack the valve half a turn until fluid stops flowing, tighten nipple well, release brake pedal. Wait 15 seconds for piston to return. Repeat. A MityVac or any other suction bleeder or a reservoir pressure bleeder makes this job even easier than it is. Another option is to put in SpeedBleeders, makes it an easy one-man task with no risk of introducing air into the system if you and your pedal man get the timing off.
Sam
Take the wheels off, stick your hose on the nipple, have a helper press the brakes down and hold, crack the valve half a turn until fluid stops flowing, tighten nipple well, release brake pedal. Wait 15 seconds for piston to return. Repeat. A MityVac or any other suction bleeder or a reservoir pressure bleeder makes this job even easier than it is. Another option is to put in SpeedBleeders, makes it an easy one-man task with no risk of introducing air into the system if you and your pedal man get the timing off.
Sam
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (Sam Lin)
Sam,
Thank you very much for the post! I have a question about the brake fluid, can I use Valvoline SynPower Synthetic Brake Fluid instead of the Ford stuff? The Valvoline was what was recommended to me for some good cheap brake fluid.
Also, do I really need to wait 15 second for the piston to return or can I just tighten it, lift brake pedal, push down brake pedal, open nipple??
Thank you very much for the post! I have a question about the brake fluid, can I use Valvoline SynPower Synthetic Brake Fluid instead of the Ford stuff? The Valvoline was what was recommended to me for some good cheap brake fluid.
Also, do I really need to wait 15 second for the piston to return or can I just tighten it, lift brake pedal, push down brake pedal, open nipple??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (QUIKAG)
QUIKAG
I have done this many times. I use the Valvoline Synthetic in my C5 without problems.
You need to go in this order:
RR
LR
RF
LF
Make sure you don't get fluid on the paint as it will instantly remove it.
I have done this many times. I use the Valvoline Synthetic in my C5 without problems.
You need to go in this order:
RR
LR
RF
LF
Make sure you don't get fluid on the paint as it will instantly remove it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (gonbad)
Thanks for the correction Willi and Gonbad. I have plans to meet up with a buddy tomorrow afternoon with a big helping of Valvoline synthetic and put some fresh fluid in my poor abused C5. :D I've driven the poor car over 16k miles with 3 roadrace events and several autocrosses without changing the brake fluid. :(
Pro
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (QUIKAG)
Well... I'll throw this out as food for thought. A mechanic at the dealer
I bring my car to, says the valvoline synthetic is a little too synthetic and
can eat the seals in the abs system. He claims he's had to rebuild a
number of them and recommened to go back to a regular DOT 3 fluid.
I haven't ever heard or seen anything like this. It would be interesting
to hear from anyone who has been running this fluid for a couple of
years to get their experiences. I haven't checked to see what
valvoline has to say either.
Maybe the ford dot 3 is a better choice?
[Modified by willi, 4:24 PM 9/25/2001]
[Modified by willi, 4:26 PM 9/25/2001]
I bring my car to, says the valvoline synthetic is a little too synthetic and
can eat the seals in the abs system. He claims he's had to rebuild a
number of them and recommened to go back to a regular DOT 3 fluid.
I haven't ever heard or seen anything like this. It would be interesting
to hear from anyone who has been running this fluid for a couple of
years to get their experiences. I haven't checked to see what
valvoline has to say either.
Maybe the ford dot 3 is a better choice?
[Modified by willi, 4:24 PM 9/25/2001]
[Modified by willi, 4:26 PM 9/25/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 3
From: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (QUIKAG)
Sorry about getting the bleed order wrong, heat of the moment thing. My foot is stuck in my mouth.
I recommend the Ford Fluid over almost anything, except ATE Super Blue/Amber (and that's not for performance reasons, only because the colors make flushing really easy to distinguish), and Castrol SRF, the GOD of brake fluids. It's got dry boiling over 600F, and wet over 500F!! However, costs about $80 a can... The Ford Fluid will outperform Valvoline Synthetic dry, and underperform it wet (by a little, so flush it once a year, and bleed before track events, which I recommend with ANY fluid besides SRF), for less cost-why not use it?
Edit: The 15 second wait is important, it lets the main piston retract completely before the next pump, otherwise it stays pumped and the secondary piston pumps. Then they're both forward, you are more likely to pull fluid back up through the system as well as moving a little less fluid. You want to keep fluid moving through the main piston to flush any junk down the line and out.
Sam
[Modified by Sam Lin, 8:49 PM 9/25/2001]
I recommend the Ford Fluid over almost anything, except ATE Super Blue/Amber (and that's not for performance reasons, only because the colors make flushing really easy to distinguish), and Castrol SRF, the GOD of brake fluids. It's got dry boiling over 600F, and wet over 500F!! However, costs about $80 a can... The Ford Fluid will outperform Valvoline Synthetic dry, and underperform it wet (by a little, so flush it once a year, and bleed before track events, which I recommend with ANY fluid besides SRF), for less cost-why not use it?
Edit: The 15 second wait is important, it lets the main piston retract completely before the next pump, otherwise it stays pumped and the secondary piston pumps. Then they're both forward, you are more likely to pull fluid back up through the system as well as moving a little less fluid. You want to keep fluid moving through the main piston to flush any junk down the line and out.
Sam
[Modified by Sam Lin, 8:49 PM 9/25/2001]
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (Sam Lin)
Sam's suggestions for fluids are excellent.
Another wonderful fluid is Wilwood's. Excellent specs and less expensive than other premium fluids.
(ATE Supre Blue in my car right now).
Another wonderful fluid is Wilwood's. Excellent specs and less expensive than other premium fluids.
(ATE Supre Blue in my car right now).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 32
From: USA
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (Elk)
I have used Valvoline synthetic for 2 years with no problems. This includes road course use.
You do not need 2 people to bleed the brakes, though.
Just open the bleeder 1/4 turn and get in the car and slowly depress the brake pedal. About 25 pumps will empty the reservoir so be careful.
I know some will disagree but you do not need to close the bleeder each time you pump the brake pedal. This is ideal, of course, but not necessary.
Keep the bleed hose immersed in fluid or get a hose with a check-valve in it.
I have bled over 100 corvette systems by myself with no problems.
You do not need 2 people to bleed the brakes, though.
Just open the bleeder 1/4 turn and get in the car and slowly depress the brake pedal. About 25 pumps will empty the reservoir so be careful.
I know some will disagree but you do not need to close the bleeder each time you pump the brake pedal. This is ideal, of course, but not necessary.
Keep the bleed hose immersed in fluid or get a hose with a check-valve in it.
I have bled over 100 corvette systems by myself with no problems.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Re: Bleeding brakes on C5? (corvette dave)
Wow, is this a great forum! Thanks for all the information. My buddy has already purchased the Valvoline and based on Corvette Dave's testimony, I'm going to take my chances with it now. With my buddy helping me, I'm going to go ahead and close the valve between pumps and I will wait 15 seconds between pedal pushes. I'll let you all know how it goes, I'm sure it's going to feel better than the mush I have now in my brake pedal. Thanks again and if anyone else wants to throw in their 2 or more cents, do it before 2pm central time because that is when I'm sneaking out of work to go do this. :D :cool: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :chevy
