Bleeding Brake system, Difficulty?? Options

[Jeremy1210]

So I jsut received my rear disc conversion from tap Recycling... I am going to put it on Friday night.

Question: How hard is it to bleed the brake system? is it hard? If its not too hard, can some one let me know how to do it?

Thanks a lot

Jeremy

[ConeTrouble]

It is not hard to bleed your brakes at all. You will need a helper, though. The bleeding process goes like this:

1) Take a turkey baster and siphon all the old fluid out of the master cylinder.

2) Top off the fluid in the master cylinder with new fluid.

3) Go around to the wheel farthest from the master cylinder (passenger rear), and wiggle underneath. On the side of the caliper will be a little nipple sticking out, it should have a rubber cap on it. Remove the cap, and slide on a piece of vaccuum hose about two feet long, and run the other end into a plastic 2-liter bottle.

4) Get a box-end wrench (8mm or so, iirc) and loosen the nipple about a half a turn.

5) Have your helper depress the brake pedal all the way to the floor (and hold it to the floor). Old fluid will be pushed out the bleeder valve.

6) Tighten the bleeder screw.

7) Have your helper release the brake pedal.

Repeat steps 4-7 about 6 times or so, then top off the master cylinder. Make sure to not ever let the cylinder run dry, or you will get air in the line and have to start over.

8) once you see that the fluid draining into the bottle is clear (new fluid), tighten the bleeder screw and have your helper press on the brake pedal and make sure it is firm.

9) repeat the process for the Driver rear, then the passenger front, then the driver front.

10) top off the fluid in the master cylinder to the 'full' mark, and make sure the pedal feels firm.

A couple hints/tricks.

Once you get the hang of the process, you get to where you just say 'DOWN' to your helper, tighten, then say 'UP'. Rinse and repeat. Remember to check the master cylinder often to make sure it doesn't run dry.

If you have the time and money, I recommend a couple things to help the process along. SpeedBleeders are awesome (not necessary, but very nice). They will allow you to do this yourself, or, if you have a helper, do it even faster. They are great if you bleed your brakes more than a couple times a year. The other thing is ATE SuperBlue brake fluid. It is really nothing more than very good fluid that has some blue dye in it... but man, it sure makes know when the old fluid is out and the new is in REAL easy. You alternate your bleedings between blue and regular, so you always know when the old fluid is flushed out of the system. Should be able to get it Here.

hth

[Jeremy1210]

about mhow much brake fluid should I buy for this job?

[ConeTrouble]

One of those big bottles/cans (about a quart) should do you fine.

[Jeremy1210]

Sweet. Thanks alot for the help

[SpedToe169]

Cone Trouble is right on, but I'd like to add a couple things. I like to pump the brakes up after the valve is closed. Its not as necessary as it used to be, but its good to give it a couple pumps to make sure you've got pressure back in the system. If your car hasn't been bled in a long time, the master cylinder might be worn and as a result might stick in the lower part of its travel (the part that it never uses because the brakes never go to the floor in normal conditions). This is ok, but not great, so if it sticks, try to avoid letting it go to the floor on subsequent bleedings. And lasly, if you buy a big bottle of brake fluid, make sure you squeeze all the air out of it before you store it. I always try to buy my fluid in small bottles so I use it up quickly, but whatever. The fluid will absorb the moisture in the air and elminating the moisture (and air) in the brake system is what you're trying to do in the first place. I haven't used the fluid that conetrouble recommended, but any DOT 4 fluid should work just fine. I stay away from the synthetics but its largely a matter of prefrence.

[ConeTrouble]

[Jeremy1210]

I don't think my car has ever been bled. I know I haven't done it in the 4 years i have had it. Is it good to bleed them once a year? Will this help with braking?

[Hanyo]

make sure u clean up anything that had contact with brake fluid. because it can eat away paint and cause rust.

[SpedToe169]