Brake bleeding PIA

[Chevyguy]

The brake fluid looked like black ink in my Marauder at 75K if not original than really old.

Having recently done two full brake line swaps followed by bleeding with my mityvac pump I went at it with 2 quarts and gusto.

First PIA was that the 2004 style Master cyl seems like my 96 but you can only empty about half through the fill hole after over a pint I figured I should bleed it down low instead to get the nasty black inky crap out.

This is where it got to be a PIA, the stupid reservoir has compartments like the degas/overflow so only the front section drained through the rear brakes. Took the nearly another pint to finally get clear fluid out the right rear, left rear was faster and the first quart was gone already.

On to Right front, lots of inky mess came out however the stupid compartments bit me here. When you drain down the front brakes and refill it does not really fill the rear section (which feeds the front brakes) so I ended up sucking some air through the Master cyl. If you fill slower and allow it to burp and pump the float it will fill completely.

Bled thorough the rest of the second quart and turned the car on, brake pedal was mushy. Normally I would pump the brakes 3-4 times and the pedal would get rock hard.

Had to jump in the Town car, go get another quart of fluid. Bled through the rear and fronts again. This time it pumped up hard, went for test drive jammed the brakes on several times activating the ABS, first time was a bit laggy then Ok after. Pedal still not as hard as the Lincoln but as good as it was before. Bled the backs again to finish off the third quart, then back out for ABS testing seems a bit harder pedal now brakes good.

So with those stupid compartmented master cyls, gotta bleed slower it was not even one catch container full till it sucked air, vs over 2 with the older style. I almost had to get the brakes bled with a scan tool, so be careful!!

[guspech750]

When I installed my Wilwoods and SS brakelines. My old fluid was a green Nasty poo fluid. I think it took me almost two large bottle of brake fluid to finally get clear fluid out at each corner. Now the brake pedal feels rock hard.


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[justbob]

I've had better luck with a $4 one man brake bleeder kit than my mightyvac. You want even quicker results and no mess, have a helper at the pedal and run a clear hose from the bleeder to a catch can. Be prepared to chew thru two big bottles of fluid.

This post is rated E for everyone.

[Chevyguy]

With a good seal on the bleeder using the vac grease it drew through pretty easy and a bit TOO fast. Pumped it down to 25 in and it just kept going and sucked the back compartment dry SLURRRP scrambled over and filled it back up as fast as possible. Clearly got as close as possible to needing the Scan tool. Brakes got hard enough before I went for the ride, but def burped out some air the first few 45 MPH abrupt stops.

Never had luck with the one man bleeder but I did go with the vac pump like 5-7 years ago. On my second one after finally killing the first one.

The wife does not miss having to be the pumper doing the old method

[tbone]

The bleeder system I have works like a champ. It's just a special cup with a hose attached to the bleeder. Got it a Farm and Fleet for $4 I think. Open the bleeder a little and start pumping the brakes and re-filling the master. No need to close the bleeder between pumps and no second person needed. Empty the cup once in a while until the fluid is clear. My MM was a breeze, as well as my son's new used Toyota Celica we just did last Wednesday.

[capt512]

tbone - is this what you are talking about? http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/298700-brake_bleeding_kit.html?lref=% 2fcatalog%2ffind.aspx%3fm%3dC% 26t%3dbrake%26c%3dAll%2bProduc ts%252f%252f%252f%252fUserSear ch%253dbrake%252f%252f%252f%25 2fAutomotive%2b%2526%2bService s%252f%252f%252f%252fAutomotiv e%2bTools

[Chevyguy]

That is just like the business end of the pump kit, hook the hose to the bleeder hook the pump to the lid and pull a vacuum. The Vacuum lid is different with a dip tube for the fluid so you don's suck fluid into the pump. Pedal was even harder yesterday and better than ever now.

[tbone]

tbone - is this what you are talking about? http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/298700-brake_bleeding_kit.html?lref=% 2fcatalog%2ffind.aspx%3fm%3dC% 26t%3dbrake%26c%3dAll%2bProduc ts%252f%252f%252f%252fUserSear ch%253dbrake%252f%252f%252f%25 2fAutomotive%2b%2526%2bService s%252f%252f%252f%252fAutomotiv e%2bTools


Yep, that's the one.

[capt512]

Wow, cheap and sounds incredibly easy! Looks like I know my next purchase!

[tbone]

Wow, cheap and sounds incredibly easy! Looks like I know my next purchase!

You will love it. Let us know how it goes.:burnout:

[capt512]

T-Bone, planning to do my swap to TCE lines and full bleed today, just wondering if there were any tips I need to know etc as this will be my first bleed.

[tbone]

Just keep the master cylinder topped off, or else you'll start all over.....

[capt512]

Should they be bled with the car running or off? I was thinking off, but some vehicles with ABS people suggest bleeding with car on due to ABS pumps...

[tallpaul]

I chose to get a one man brake bleeder kit from brakebleeder.com. I got the next to bottom of the line kit because I don't do this every day so I don't need the professional kit. It was still a little pricey but well worth the money. You can do four kinds of bleeding processes with this kit. It is simple to use and works great. I bleed my system after putting on my TCE brake lines. Stacey David used it on a Gearz episode and I was impressed.

[dohc324ci]

This is a messy job and is a royal PIA. But i was able to get my son to help (12yr) and that was well worth it. It took me two full bottles and a little 5 dollar kit from Monument; better off making your own aquarium tube and a water bottle. Just take your time use jack stands or ramps and tighten the banjo bolts and triple check for leaks. The fluid is corrosive and will destroy paint.

[fastblackmerc]

How about using a turkey baster to empty all the fluid out of the http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/master_cylinder.jpg then adding new clean fluid before you start bleeding?

[Krytin]

How about using a turkey baster to empty all the fluid out of the http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/master_cylinder.jpg then adding new clean fluid before you start bleeding?


DING DING DING! We have a winner!

This is a must when flushing the system. The plate/adapter that inverts the bottle/can of brake fluid over the top of the master cylinder reservoir a la water cooler helps prevent drawing any air into the system by running out of fluid in the reservoir.

Love the picture!

[fastblackmerc]

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

This is a must when flushing the system. The plate/adapter that inverts the bottle/can of brake fluid over the top of the master cylinder reservoir a la water cooler helps prevent drawing any air into the system by running out of fluid in the reservoir.

Love the picture!

So you remember "The Master Cylinder".

He's at 5:03

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsg-Qzojmzo

[Krytin]

So you remember "The Master Cylinder".

He's at 5:03

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsg-Qzojmzo


I remember that one as well as the others posted there - nicely restored too!