Brakes Again

[Pete Gannon]

Jerry Bramlett responded to my question about bleeding the brakes earlier today. He mentioned that pressure bleeding with an external pressurized resevoir will do the trick. Jerry, or any other of you smart guys, where would I find this tool and how do you use it. Is it connected to the m/c or back at the calipers?

Another thought while I am at it. I have never had this kind of trouble bleeding brakes on any of my other cars. I did read, today, in my corvette restoration book that it is possible that the rubber hose from the end of the steel brake line going into the caliper may be worn out. This would cause the hose to expand when the the fluid is pressurized. Has anybody heard of this actually happening? It seems unlikely due to the fact that the rubber is so short.

Thanks for all of your help gentlemen.

[Joe Fisher]

Re: Brakes Again

Pete, a pressure bleeder is too expensive for the one or two times you will use it. To use it you attach an adapter to the master, fill the pressure bleeder with brake fluid, pressurize it, and open each bleeder. On some cars with disc brakes, you must hold open the shuttle valve on the proportioning valve. Another option is a vacuum bleeder. You bleed the system from the calipers. It is less messy and eay to use. A good autoparts store should be able to help you. If not, contact me and I will get you some information. Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: Brakes Again

Pete-----

When servicing your brake calipers ALWAYS replace the rubber flex brake hoses. The hoses DO DETERIORATE on the INNER surface. The outer surface may look fine, though. It's the INNER part that's most important.

[Doug Flaten]

Re: Homemade Pressure Bleeder

I posted on this before. You can get a small plastic pump-up yard sprayer. Cut off the spray nozzel and put on a small hose valve and a quick connect air fitting on the hose. Buy yourself another master cylinder cap and drill a hole in it to put a quickconnect fitting on it. You may also be able to find pre-made adapters at some parts stores. You may have to secure it with a nut and washer, solder, JB weld, etc. Fill the sprayer withe brake fluid and pump up the sprayer. Allow it to sit long enough to make sure the fluid is not aerated. Connect it to the master cylinder adapter cap and open the valve. Pressure bleeders allow you to get the rate through the lines to push the air on out. You may be able to build one for about $40. I think the store bought ones will cost at least twice that.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Homemade Pressure Bleeder

Doug,

That's a cool idea; but, I thought pressure bleeders put up a lot more pressure than a garden sprayer will provide. You've tried this and it works well? I can probably build one of those for about $5 since I already own all the big pieces.

Chuck Sangerhausen

[Iron Duke NCRS #22045]

Re: Homemade Pressure Bleeder

You only need 10 to 20 psi to pressure bleed. Thirty tops.

Duke

[motorman]

Re: Brakes Again

joe is right. i know a guy who change a calipher 3 times because it would not release because the inner part of the hose would let the pressure go into the calipher but because of a loose piece of rubber would not let all the pressure out. it acted like a one way valve.

[Doug Flaten]

Re: Homemade Pressure Bleeder

I have used it for about 10 years. I made a mistake with my first one and used a steel pot with an epoxy lining. The brake fluid was not compatible with the lining and it came off. It does a good job of bleeding and don't be shy about using plenty of brake fluid. It is a sickening sound to hear air jetting through the last brake line as you ran out of fluid in the sprayer.