Bleeding the brakes?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 301
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From: GA
Bleeding the brakes?
How should I bleed the brakes? Car running or off? Farthest to closest wheel. Just pump up the brakes, hold, release fluid/air, close valve, repeat until fluid only, no air?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
There are many ways to bleed brakes: manual/2 person, vacuum, pressure, gravity.
There are 2 different sequences, depends on year (location of abs pump, early years have it in back, later years in front).
Don't leave the master cylinder go dry or you will need a TECH II to bleed the abs.
There are 2 different sequences, depends on year (location of abs pump, early years have it in back, later years in front).
Don't leave the master cylinder go dry or you will need a TECH II to bleed the abs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
I installed the speed bleeders when I had my calipers powder coated. One person job now. Put a hose on the end and loosen the bleeder and pumped till the fluid came out clean. Tighten and then moved to the next one. Just make sure you check the level of the reservoir so it doesn't get empty on you and the cap is tight when you pump them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
I have used speed bleeders but the easiest way to bleed your brakes is with a Motive Power Bleeder. http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/c...Brake_Bleeders
I have one of these and its so easy to use, just take the cap off of your master cylinder and attach the Motive Power Bleeder. Fill it up, pump it up to 15 psi. Go to each wheel put a hose on the bleeder and put the hose into a jar and open the bleeder until air bubbles quit. Check the pressure in the power bleeder before you go to another wheel and pump it back up. Thats all there is to it. You can bleed your brakes in about 10 minutes.
I have one of these and its so easy to use, just take the cap off of your master cylinder and attach the Motive Power Bleeder. Fill it up, pump it up to 15 psi. Go to each wheel put a hose on the bleeder and put the hose into a jar and open the bleeder until air bubbles quit. Check the pressure in the power bleeder before you go to another wheel and pump it back up. Thats all there is to it. You can bleed your brakes in about 10 minutes.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
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From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I would suggest you just manually bleed the brakes in the order noted above.
No need to pump the brakes. Just have a helper push the pedal down and hold the pressure constant, crack open the bleeder valve, close it when flow slows, then tell the helper to slowly let the pedal return to normal height. Do this until you get clean fluid and no air bubbles.
I use a clear plastic hose from the bleeder to a small bottle (I used a coke bottle)
The Tech II can be used to open the circuits in the ABS system to get new fluid in to all the circuits, but these circuits are normally closed, and it is possible to manually bleed the brakes without getting air into the ABS contol block. Just make sure you keep the reservoir full. I have actually replaced the master cylinder, then bled the air out the M/C ports, and would not have had to bleed the system at all. I went ahead and bled each caliper because I wanted to get clean fluid into the system.
No need to pump the brakes. Just have a helper push the pedal down and hold the pressure constant, crack open the bleeder valve, close it when flow slows, then tell the helper to slowly let the pedal return to normal height. Do this until you get clean fluid and no air bubbles.
I use a clear plastic hose from the bleeder to a small bottle (I used a coke bottle)
The Tech II can be used to open the circuits in the ABS system to get new fluid in to all the circuits, but these circuits are normally closed, and it is possible to manually bleed the brakes without getting air into the ABS contol block. Just make sure you keep the reservoir full. I have actually replaced the master cylinder, then bled the air out the M/C ports, and would not have had to bleed the system at all. I went ahead and bled each caliper because I wanted to get clean fluid into the system.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
