Gravity bleeding brakes - more info please

ja9 · Postby **ja9** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:49 pm

Hi Mattsplatt and welcome,

I'm wont be answering your question exactly but I do have the best way for one person to bleed their brakes. They're called Speedbleeders. They come from the US and are relatively cheap to buy. Google it to get all the info you require and Youtube so see how simply it is.

Regards - John

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:51 pm

Speedbleeders need to be used with care. There are a few threads on here with people having problems with them weeping.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:12 pm

Also if you've run the master cylinder dry it's likely that there's air in the lines up closer to the master as well (and maybe in the lines leading to the other calipers)

Best bet is to bleed the whole system, it's also a good opportunity to give it a flush since it's likely never had a fluid flush. (usual bleeding method, just pump a whole bottle through, then use another bottle for the actual bleed)

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:15 am

If the master has been run dry, you need to bleed all four lines.

If you ever to do this sort of job again, either buy line clamps or caps from an auto stop, they are cheap as chips. or use a broom handle and just press the the cylinder slightly creating press and locking the fuild into the system.

What you did by dissconnecting the caliper and leeting the line drip dry is basicly gravity bleeding.

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:40 am

Not in my experience but if you have big bubbles it wont happen, kind of like siphoning.

Get a length of clear hose and suck the fluid through.

Dann

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:34 am

mattsplatt wrote:
project.r.racing wrote:What you did by dissconnecting the caliper and leeting the line drip dry is basicly gravity bleeding.

Yes, but it bled out, not in. :-) That line refused to refill by gravity alone. Even an attempt to get it started with a bit of suction failed.

So is there something about the proportioning/isolating valves that prevent a single corner from being flushed/bled by gravity?

of course it bled out. dunno how it could go dry if the fluid went in/up.

doubt you get a line to refill by gravity alone, just not enough pressure vs air pockets ets. i'd use the brake pedal to refill the line.

and if doing the job by yourself. broom handle wedged between the pedal and seat backrest should hold the pedal down in place while you screw up the caliper nipple.

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:06 pm

Go to super cheap, spend $20 and get yourself one of the 'one man' brake flushing kits. Has a hose with a one way valve and accumulator and you just keep pumping fluid through till the bubbles stop

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:09 pm

Or buy the bloke next door a stubbie and get him to press the brake pedal while he drinks the beer. Some jobs a just way easier with two of you there

Racing Logic · Postby **Racing Logic** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:58 am

Zcootz wrote:Go to super cheap, spend $20 and get yourself one of the 'one man' brake flushing kits. Has a hose with a one way valve and accumulator and you just keep pumping fluid through till the bubbles stop

I have just started using one on my MX5 project and its fantastic. Best of all I don't need to get the wife to pump the peddle and here her whinge about my stupid little car.