Brake bleeding with Dot 5

[Christopher R.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

I bought the Motive one John Hinckley recommends. Don't know how good it is. But it's much better than fighting with my girlfriend when we do the open the bleeder/push the pedal/close the bleeder method.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

I bought the Motive one John Hinckley recommends. Don't know how good it is. But it's much better than fighting with my girlfriend when we do the open the bleeder/push the pedal/close the bleeder method.

[Werner M.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

Because DOT 5 fluid entrains air bubbles easily and is slow to release them, be certain to do nothing that "agitates" the fluid during the bleeding process. Don't let it spash into the master cylinder and don't bleed the system by repeatedly pumping the pedal before opening the bleeder screw and having the fluid squirt through the lines.

We prefer to pressure bleed fo the sake of expedience, but have successfully pump bled (one stroke at a time), gravity bled and vacuum bled DOT 5 brake fluid. If you a doing a complete brake job (and the master cyl., lines and calipers are empty),and do not have access to a pressure bleeder, vacuum pump or willing/capable assistant and haven't the time to gravity bleed, here's a way to guarantee results without specialized tools:
1)Close all bleeder screws and fill master cyl. reservoir with brake fluid
2)Attach CLEAR plastic tube to bleeder screw furthest from master(usually rh rear outer), open bleeder and apply oral vacuum to the hose---yes--suck on it. When fluid appears in the tube, close the bleeder and repeat for the next furthest bleeder. Use CLEAR tubing to allows you to see the fluid before ingesting it------it tastes really bad.
3)Check fluid level repeatedly, keeping the master cylinder full during this process to prevent air from being drawn into the lines
4)Repeat Step 2 at each bleeder screw.
5)Check for firm brake pedal

This process may sound crude, but it works spendidly. Learned it from a local industrial arts teacher who taught his students to use this process because he could never get 2 students to coordinate their efforts.

[Werner M.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

Because DOT 5 fluid entrains air bubbles easily and is slow to release them, be certain to do nothing that "agitates" the fluid during the bleeding process. Don't let it spash into the master cylinder and don't bleed the system by repeatedly pumping the pedal before opening the bleeder screw and having the fluid squirt through the lines.

We prefer to pressure bleed fo the sake of expedience, but have successfully pump bled (one stroke at a time), gravity bled and vacuum bled DOT 5 brake fluid. If you a doing a complete brake job (and the master cyl., lines and calipers are empty),and do not have access to a pressure bleeder, vacuum pump or willing/capable assistant and haven't the time to gravity bleed, here's a way to guarantee results without specialized tools:
1)Close all bleeder screws and fill master cyl. reservoir with brake fluid
2)Attach CLEAR plastic tube to bleeder screw furthest from master(usually rh rear outer), open bleeder and apply oral vacuum to the hose---yes--suck on it. When fluid appears in the tube, close the bleeder and repeat for the next furthest bleeder. Use CLEAR tubing to allows you to see the fluid before ingesting it------it tastes really bad.
3)Check fluid level repeatedly, keeping the master cylinder full during this process to prevent air from being drawn into the lines
4)Repeat Step 2 at each bleeder screw.
5)Check for firm brake pedal

This process may sound crude, but it works spendidly. Learned it from a local industrial arts teacher who taught his students to use this process because he could never get 2 students to coordinate their efforts.

[John H.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

I did my brakes on 1972 in 1978 with denatured alcohol and then silicone
fluid. Bleed system by having the bleed line submerged in bottle with some
fluid already in bottle, after denatured liquid was poured out.
This allowed any return fluid to be pulled back without any air present.
My pedal is still rock solid and master cylinder is clear to the bottom.
Thanks from Staineless Steel Brake Corporation.. 1978...Big John

[John H.]

Re: Brake bleeding with Dot 5

I did my brakes on 1972 in 1978 with denatured alcohol and then silicone
fluid. Bleed system by having the bleed line submerged in bottle with some
fluid already in bottle, after denatured liquid was poured out.
This allowed any return fluid to be pulled back without any air present.
My pedal is still rock solid and master cylinder is clear to the bottom.
Thanks from Staineless Steel Brake Corporation.. 1978...Big John