Okay, so I've bled brakes before.....just had to get that out there. What I haven't done before is remove all of the calipers and hardware at the same time so that I could paint it all. Yeah, yeah, I know I could've left them on and done it that way. But I elected not to this time because I thought I'd do a better job than times past. And I was right, I did. However, in consulting the BGB I came up with a question on just what to do when I have an empty reservoir and bled out lines. The main one is this: Which is the longest brake line? Is it the RH rear? In descending order from longest to shortest what is the order? The other question I have I think I can work out on my own so I'll post up again if I can't.
Passenger Rear --> Driver Rear --> Passenger Front --> Driver Front That's the order they should be bled in. Once they're all hooked back up get a power bleeder, you'll save a shit load of time.
There's a couple variants of it. The one I have consists of two parts. A clean fluid reservoir and the dirty fluid collection tank. It works exactly how it sounds. The clean fluid reservoir is filled with fresh brake fluid. I take this and invert it over the brake master cylinder reservoir. I then take the colllection tank and connect it to the bleeder valve. The collection tank then connects to an air hose off my compressor. I squeeze the trigger and it uses the air pressure (suggested 90-110PSI) to create a vaccum and bleeds the line of air and old fluid. Just keep an eye on your fresh fluid and make sure it doesn't run dry. The nice thing about this though is that it actually bled all 4 lines at the same time. I hooked up to the passenger rear caliper and turned it on. It ran for about 30 minutes before it was fresh fluid without air bubbles. When I went to the driver rear caliper, it started sucking out fluid almost instantly. I still flushed all 4 corners in succession, but it only took about 45 minutes total to do it. There's other types out there as well. Another popular one you hook to the master cylinder reservoir and it creates a seal on it. You then open up whatever line you're flushing/bleeding and force the fluid through it (instead of vacuuming it out you're pushing it through). The tool is like $20 from Harbor Freight for the one I use.
I just discovered a harbor freight near my house yesterday. Can you send me a link or a model number? I'll be picking it up in the morning
New problem: Just noticed that one of my calipers has its bleed valve snapped off. Guess I have to get a bolt extractor kit. I always knew this day would come. Any suggestions? I've done some light shopping around, but nothing really jumps out at me......I need suggestions.
Harbor Freight. They're a backyard mechanic's best friend. I have a full set of Craftsman tools (wrenches, sockets, blah blah blah). Then from there I also have sockets and wrenches (mostly hand tools) from Harbor Freight. Lifetime warranty on all hand tools (including the bits/etc).
Extractors are in hand. Just found out my GF's dad has a power bleeder. Dude is another gear head like me. Has a total of 5 restored MGs. We get along!
Her dad has already lent me a bunch of tools I don't have so it's been great. Her brother (and his only son) couldn't care less about cars or home construction which are both things the old man and I share in common. Usually in laws or future in laws are a nightmare. I actually have more in common hobby-wise with this fella than I do with my own dad. It's cool.
That's what happened with my father inlaw Kevin. He had 3 daughters. The one I'm with she was the tomboy and helped him with everything. I came into the picture, he basically shunned her from helping and used me instead (she still helps once in a while but I'm his #1 choice).
Is any part if the bleed valve accessible or is it broken off flush? I've had success with heating it up with a propane torch, insert a snug fitting drill bit into the valve opening and then using Vice Grips. the drill bit supports the valve walls from collapsing.
That's a good idea. But I opted to go get myself an axtractor kit from harbor Freight. I needed an excuse to finally purchase the kit and this situation finally presented itself. The bleeder was snapped off pretty much flush. I busted out the drill/extractor and had it out and a new bleeder installed within about 20 seconds. Loved the whole affair!
