[V8] Brake Reservoir Cap - Bleeder(s) Revisited

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

Even cheaper - and probably the best and cleanest way too - is just a simple and
cheap catch bottle you hook up to the bleeder valve. You just pump the fluid
through with the pedal - so no pressure or vacuum needed.
I have tried all three ways on various cars, and to me the simplest and fastest
is this way. You can either buy a simple system that has nice adaptor plugs, or
just get a length of clear tubing you can force over the bleeder nipple, and a
glass jar. The only trick is to keep the jar end of the tube below the fluid
level so you don't pull air back up into the wheel cylinder.

The only problem you might have is if the master cylinder is in bad shape - as
in corroded and near failure anyway. When you pump the fluid through, the pedal
will bottom out and if the normally un-used part of the cylinder bore is rough
or corroded then you can tear up the seals. The fact is though that your master
cylinder is near failure anyway and this will just help you decide to fix it
sooner rather than later.
On the brighter side, if you always do it this way, the cylinder bore will get
cleaned out periodically and perhaps last longer.
I will also add that I have never had a master cylinder fail this way - even my
83 ranger that had never had any regular fluid service done to it.


This is also the way most brake shops I have seen do it because it requires no
special tools and works on any car.


Dave


Quoting Jeremy Ward <jward.v8 at gmail.com>:

> Another option is to pull the brake fluid from the valve at each wheel.  I
> bought a cheap (~$40) tool at the FLAPS that has a vacuum gage and a fluid
> reservoir for pulling (and removing) fluids.  I used it to bleed the brakes
> and it worked well.  Don't forget to refill the reservoir on the master
> cylinder though ;-)
>
> Cheers,
>
> - Jeremy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: v8-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:v8-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of
> Etdmail at cs.com
> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 6:52 AM
> To: v8 at audifans.com
> Subject: [V8] Brake Reservoir Cap - Bleeder(s) Revisited
>
>
>  Hi All
>
>  An old post, I thought I'd resend for an easy bleeder ..
>
>  In the event, the ABS-Pump or gravity won't bleed the system.
>
>  In the past - I've used a 'spare' brake master-cylinder cap
>  with the correct-sized hole cut, in it's center, to accept a
>  tire/rim's valve-stem .. And then used a 'bicycle-pump' to
>  supply pressurization to the master and lines.
>
>  With the lower pressure levels there should be little worry
>  about brake fluild landing on costly to repair paint surfaces.
>
>  Also have found the (Valvoline) Synthetic brake fluids available
>  in AutoZones, etc. .. Gives good service and leaves a slightly
>  harder brake-pedal, hot or cold.
>
>  HTH
>  Best,
>  Ed
>
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