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Any advice or How to's on a virgin brake bleeder. (Keep the comments clean) :crazy: Wanting to upgrade to DOT4 fluid for upcoming track event. Also, needing advice on changing pads esp How to's. If there are any great links that would be great :yesnod: . TIA! :seeya
I sent you a few illustrated emails detailing how to bleed the brakes and change the pads. Remember that the bleeding sequence on the later model cars like my 2002 and your 2003 is different than the earlier years. It is RR, LF, LR, RF due to the cross-piping configuration used in the later-model brake systems.
Also, I use this pressure bleeder I got from Motive Products to make it a quick and easy one-man bleeding job with no pedal-pumping involved. Works great and you never worry about running the MC dry.
Also, if you use the Power Bleeder, make sure the adaptor to your resevoir is sealed tight. Mine seemed airtight until I pumped it to 15psi. Needless to say, I spent the majority of my day cleaning up brake fluid.
Not having used one, I ask this from some ignorance, but why do you pressurize it to 15 psi? Wouldn't 2 or 3 work as good? Be a heck of a lot easier to seal!
Actually, I pressurize mine to almost 25 psi for better performance. 2-3 psi wouldn't overcome the friction of all the bends in the tubing or air pockets in an unbled system. I tried it first at about 10 psi on my brake lines when they had lots of air from removing the calipers and it purged more air when I increased the pressure. The brake system in the C5 is rated to 25 psi for pressure bleeding. I checked the service manual spec. while I was researching pressure bleeders.
Also, if you use the Power Bleeder, make sure the adaptor to your resevoir is sealed tight. Mine seemed airtight until I pumped it to 15psi. Needless to say, I spent the majority of my day cleaning up brake fluid.
What I do is run a dry pressure test to make sure there are no leaks and then release the tankpressure, fill it with fluid, re-pressurize and go for it. Works every time.
I've got the Speed Bleeders also and the pressure bleeder is easier. With the SB's you still have to pump the pedal and monitor the MC fluid height. The Motive system is my preference. Of course, to each his own. :yesnod:
But the system doesn't have a vacuum in it, it's already got ambient pressure in it. So why do you have to add 15 additional psi to it? Sounds like it just takes that much force to move the fluid through the system.
I'm going to be trying one out here after the first of the year, so I guess I'll learn then.
Thanks for the offer Greg, I will talk to over the weekend. Might even see you at the :party: tomorrow nite. The family is still out of town so it will just be me, work permitting.
The power bleeder is proably the best way, but I have always had good luck with a mityvac. The one without the gauge is cheaper. No pedal pumping just crack the bleeder screw and pump it up. You just have to watch the level of fluid in the resivior or you will suck it dry and have to start over. Another tip is to wrap the threads on the bleeder screw with teflon tape or air will be sucked in that way. I saw also mitty vac makes a brake bleed kit with larger containers for the waste fluid, the one on the tool fills up pretty fast. any way you choose to do it have fun and watch out, that fluid eats paint for lunch. Dont ask how I know :rolleyes:
From: Defending the US Constitution in Northern CA
Re: Brake Bleeding? (Patches)
I would go with the pressure bleeder and speed bleeders.
We have the speed bleeders in stock and ready to ship if you want. we just started carring them so I don't think that they are on our Web site yet.
As far as brake fluid, I recomend PFC "Z-rated" fluid first for performance/$. It is like ten bucks a can and takes two cans to fully bleed system. It has a 550 degree dry boiling point. Ate Blue has about the same specs. Motul 600 has a 50 degree higher dry boiling point but costs over 50% more. Most people don't need the higher boiling point until they really get going.
I think the Speed bleeders are just under $20/pair and you need two pair.
If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an IM or email.