Subject: "Step by step on bleeding brakes?" Archived thread - Read only
    Previous Topic | Next Topic
Printer-friendly copy     Email this topic to a friend    
Conferences Brakes Topic #93
Reading Topic #93
MaddShadezteam
Charter Member
1563 posts		 Jul-26-01, 08:00 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail MaddShadez Click to send private message to MaddShadez Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
"Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
 
Before I leave for Colorado friday, I'm wanting to bleed my brakes, but it's something I've never done, nor witnessed. I do know my way around the brakes, having just replaced the fronts. WHat all do I need? I know I'll need a second person, as well as fluid, but how much fluid? WHat do I use to open the bleeder valve? Thanks!!


dj
93 Mark VIII 70,000 miles
Burgandy exterior/ grey interior


  Printer-friendly page | Top
HOTLNCteam
Charter Member
694 posts		 Jul-26-01, 08:40 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail HOTLNC Click to send private message to HOTLNC Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
1. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #0
 
   1 According to THE MANUAL, bleeding of the master cylinder takes a special tool. Bleeding the lines is done conventionally.
2 Make sure you keep the master cylinder full at all times.
3 Starting at the Right Rear wheel, position a suitable box wrench on the bleeding nipple.
4 Attach a rubber hose to the bleeder fitting. You may need a hose clamp on the fitting end. Air must not get in this connection – a tight fit.
5 Put the free end of the hose in a container holding some clean fluid. The end of the tube should be submerged.
6 Have your assistant (kids are PERFECT) S L O W L Y press on the brake pedal all the way down WHEN you have loosened the nipple fitting. Fluid or bubbles will flow from the end of the tube. Close the nipple and tell the assistant he can now release pressure on the pedal.
7 Your assistant should press the pedal when you open the nipple and YOU stop the pedal by closing the nipple. Make sure your assistant does not release the pedal with the nipple still open. That will draw the fluid back into the wheel caliper through the hose. Only release the brake pedal AFTER you have closed the nipple.
8 Continue bleeding this cylinder until there are no more bubbles in the line. You can also keep doing the wheel until there is NEW fluid coming out of the tube. DO NOT ALLOW THE MASTER CYLINDER TO GO DRY.
9 Close the nipple, remove the hose and wrench.
10 Go back to step 2 and check/top off the master cylinder.
11 Repeat steps 3 to 10 for the wheels in the following order: Right Left, Right Front, Left Front (You bleed the brake lines in length order – the longest first – from the master cylinder.)
12 Ensure the diaphragm-type gasket is properly positioned in the master cylinder cap.

94 Mark VIII (Tx Plate: HOTLNC)
94 Continental (wife's Tx Plate: STERLN)
94 Mark VIII (#1 Daughter's: REDHOT)
95 Cougar (#2 Daughter's Tx Plate: REI CHN)
87 F-350 6.9 Diesel (Bad Leroy Blue)


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Chadriccoteam
Charter Member
124 posts		 Aug-12-01, 01:02 PM (EDT)
Click to EMail Chadricco Click to send private message to Chadricco Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
7. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #1
 
   ....you may also concider dabbing a bit of heavy grease around exposed threads of the bleeding nipples. I once went insane when bubbles kept coming out. (wasn't the Mark) Turned out to be air drawn in past the threads of a too-loose nipple.

-Chad
'93 Mucho Miles Mark


  Printer-friendly page | Top
sleeperteam
Charter Member
2805 posts		 Aug-13-01, 03:06 PM (EDT)
Click to EMail sleeper Click to send private message to sleeper Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
8. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #7
 
If you want to do it the easy way (just as effective) go to an auto parts store and buy a 1-man brake bleeder kit. They have cheap ones, and there are also expensive pumps that you can use. I have never used one of the pumps, but the cheap kits come with some clear rubber hose, and a little resevoir with a valve on the top. You just hook up the hose to the nipple on the caliper, loosen it, and start pumping. The valve on the other end of the hose keeps air from flowing back in. But beware, these are cheap kits, and some of them don't actually work properly. Make sure that the fluid isn't getting sucked back in.

And the most important part is to make sure you always have plenty of clean (DOT 4, if possible) brake fluid in the master cylinder.

Once you get started it is a pretty easy job. The hardest part, is when you go to grab your beer and you knock over the bottle of brake fluid and have to clean it up.

Good luck

dave

94, 145k+ miles, bone stock except for trans.


  Printer-friendly page | Top
HOTLNCteam
Charter Member
694 posts		 Aug-13-01, 03:18 PM (EDT)
Click to EMail HOTLNC Click to send private message to HOTLNC Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
9. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #8
 
   The one man bleeder kits work OK, like Dave says. The only problem I've had with them is that they tend to leak air at the nipple connection. If you can prevent that air leak, you can do without spouses and kids as helpers!

94 Mark VIII (Tx Plate: HOTLNC)
94 Continental (wife's Tx Plate: STERLN)
94 Mark VIII (#1 Daughter's: REDHOT)
95 Cougar (#2 Daughter's Tx Plate: REI CHN)
87 F-350 6.9 Diesel (Bad Leroy Blue)


  Printer-friendly page | Top
MaddShadezteam
Charter Member
1563 posts		 Aug-13-01, 03:20 PM (EDT)
Click to EMail MaddShadez Click to send private message to MaddShadez Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
10. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #8
 
Back when I did a power steering flush, I bought a Siphon kit from walmart, supposed to be used for gas or whatever. It's a plastic tube with a hand pump bladder in the middle. I took off the pump and just used the tube, and it's fits perfectly. Very tight, so no air leakage, and about 3 feet long. Whole thing took me about 45 minutes, although sometime (whenever I get the time) I'm going to do a full flush instead of just bleeding it.

dj
93 Mark VIII 78,000 miles
Burgandy exterior/ grey interior


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Lots of 5.0 experience
Charter Member
399 posts		 Jul-26-01, 08:46 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail Lots%20of%205.0%20experience Click to send private message to Lots%20of%205.0%20experience Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
2. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #0
 
   I use a box end wrench (of the proper size, of course) on the bleeder valves. I don't remember what size the Mark takes, though. Put the wrench on so you have enough swing to both open and close the valve without removing the wrench. Then, push a piece of vacuum hose snugly over the end of the valve and let the other end of the hose reside in a jar, coffee can, etc. Be very careful not to pump your reservoir too low and force air back in the system. While you are at it, I would recommend just getting three or four cans of DOT 4 fluid and completely flushing the system. You brakes will thank you. Have your helper press and hold the brake pedal while you open and close the valve at each wheel (in turn). Keep the end of the hose under the old fluid to keep air from siphoning back in to the caliper when the brake pedal is released (just in case you get out of sync with your helper and don't get the valve completely closed before they release the pedal). If you are going for a complete flush-n-fill, start with the right rear wheel and bleed several times untill you start getting the new fluid at the bleeder valve. You should be able to see the change of color in the brake fluid. In either case, start with the wheel that is farthest from the master cylinder (right rear) and work your way down to the shortest run (left front). i.e., RR, LR, RF, LF, in that order. Bleed each wheel in turn until the new fluid starts coming out. This is probably more than you wanted to read, but I got on a roll.


Don - Lifetime maintenance provider for a Mk VII LSC
"95 Mk VIII, bone stock daily driver
'91 Mustang show & go car - my money pit
'96 Ranger Pickup - Wife's favorite car


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Lots of 5.0 experience
Charter Member
399 posts		 Jul-26-01, 08:50 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail Lots%20of%205.0%20experience Click to send private message to Lots%20of%205.0%20experience Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
3. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #2
 
   Damn, HOTLNC, did you copy off of my paper, or did I copy off of yours? LOL Well, I guess we got THAT subject beat to death.

Don - Lifetime maintenance provider for a Mk VII LSC
"95 Mk VIII, bone stock daily driver
'91 Mustang show & go car - my money pit
'96 Ranger Pickup - Wife's favorite car


  Printer-friendly page | Top
jacky2wacky
Charter Member
1308 posts		 Jul-26-01, 10:02 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail jacky2wacky Click to send private message to jacky2wacky Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
4. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #3
 
   good job guys.very helpful.


  Printer-friendly page | Top
HOTLNCteam
Charter Member
694 posts		 Jul-26-01, 10:41 AM (EDT)
Click to EMail HOTLNC Click to send private message to HOTLNC Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
5. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #3
 
   Great minds all think alike.

By the way, helping my father bleed the brakes when I was 5 or 6 was one of the first memories I have at car/truck maintenance. I have passed that tradition along to my girls. Hopefully, they will do likewise, assuming they ever want to make their mother a grandmother. I'm too young to be a grandfather.....

94 Mark VIII (Tx Plate: HOTLNC)
94 Continental (wife's Tx Plate: STERLN)
94 Mark VIII (#1 Daughter's: REDHOT)
95 Cougar (#2 Daughter's Tx Plate: REI CHN)
87 F-350 6.9 Diesel (Bad Leroy Blue)


  Printer-friendly page | Top
8Bangerteam
Charter Member
163 posts		 Aug-10-01, 07:51 PM (EDT)
Click to EMail 8Banger Click to send private message to 8Banger Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
6. "RE: Step by step on bleeding brakes?"
In response to message #5
 
   I like to use a six point socket(NOT 12) to initially open the bleeder nipple because it has to be tight and a 6 point won't strip it. For each pedal depression I use a regular wrench. I then tighten it up with the 6 point.


  Printer-friendly page | Top

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

Lincoln Mark VIII Ring site owned by Lincolns of Distinction Mark VIII Club.
[ Previous 5 Sites | Previous | Next | Next 5 Sites | Random Site | List Sites ]