One Man Brake Bleeding

[hancock1701]

Originally Posted by Joe B

One word: Mityvac.

You can't open the bleed nipple and then pump the brake pedal several times. Each time the pedal comes back up, it will suck air back into the bleed nipple. You should press and hold down the brake pedal, open the nipple, allow the fluid (and air bubbles) to come out, then close the nipple before you release the brake pedal. Then repeat until the new brake fluid reaches the bleed nipple. That's why it's a 2-person job, or 1-person, easy peasy, with a Mityvac .
Don't forget to keep the brake fluid reservoir topped up, or you will suck air into the top of the system.

I have the hand pump Mityvac, and it sucks a lot of air through the bleeder valve thread, so I can't tell if my system is free of air when I use it

[boxster6354]

Always use the specialized tool for this procedure.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by hancock1701

I have the hand pump Mityvac, and it sucks a lot of air through the bleeder valve thread, so I can't tell if my system is free of air when I use it

Hancock,

Why don't you put some teflon tape on the bleeder treads..? This will help to keep you from sucking vacuum through the treads.

.

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Hancock,

Why don't you put some teflon tape on the bleeder treads..? This will help to keep you from sucking vacuum through the treads.

.

You're joking right? You shouldn't say things like that. People who don't know better might actually do it.

[mikesz]

get a piece of air tubing like for an airline for an aquarium with a diameter that will fit over the bleeder valve. get a small clean jar with a cap. punch a hole in the cap so the airline fits into the hole and reaches the bottom of the jar. half fill the jar with fresh clean brake fluid. prop the jar so it stays upright and wont fall over you can use wire or a large rubber band. open the valve and leave it open. make sure the brake reservoir is full. now pump on your brake pedal. the air bubbles will be forced out and when the brake pedal is released it will suck in new fluid from the jar.