So I am bleeding my brakes....or trying to

[Nasty Wendy]

and man I got the vacuum pump doohickey and everything. Got me Dot 4 fluid for the job. New brake lines so I know its going to suck up some fluid. So I pop the adapter thing on the bleeder AFTER I put a couple of teflon wraps on the bleeder and I pumping and sucking and raising hell. Nothing is coming through the line. NOTHING. So I pull the adapter off and pull the bleeder out and fluid is dripping out of the bleeder hole. I take the teflon off and re-wrap it making doubly sure that I don't wrap over the little bleed hole. Put it back in and pumping and sucking and raising hell and NOTHING is coming through the hose. I go check the reservoir and its full of all new DOT 4 brake fluid. WTH? So I put the bleeder back in and barely get it started in the hole and give it one full turn. Now I know its not sealing up because its close to falling out. I'm pumping and sucking and raising hell and NOTHING IS COMING THROUGH THE FRUGGIN HOSE. So I walked away from it. Went washed my hands and ate a plum. Fixed some Kool Aid and my Kool Aid is THE BOMB. You see I use just a little hot water to dissolve the Kool Aid mix and then pour in a two liter bottle of Mountain Dew. So I'm drinking my Green Apple Bohemian Paradise....I call MY Kool Aid Bohemian Paradise. As I sip I think about what the hell could be the trouble with my bleeding procedure. Maybe its the adapter. So I go back into the garage and take the vacuum pump off and pull the adapter off the bleeder. Brake fluid is drizzle-dripping from the bleeder. The adapter is a 90º deal so I can't see through it. I wash it off by wiping it on my T-shirt and blow into it. NOTHING. I can't blow crap through this adapter. So I took a small drill bit and drilled out what was supposed to be the brake fluid passage and reamed it out some and now I can blow through it. Put it back on and BINGO we are bleeding brakes. So guys whenever you hit a snag just remember 'Bohemian Paradise' for the win.

 

[novaderrik]

i always just let gravity do all the work... pull the bleeders all the way out and leave them until fluid starts to run, then put the bleeders back in with a hose to direct the fluid to a container of some sort... after a while i seal it up and 9/10 times i have a firm pedal.. that remaining time can be a real bitch sometimes, tho..

 

[charlief1]

Its referred to as KISS in the military Clay. It means Keep It Simple Stupid.

 

[Nasty Wendy]

Its referred to as KISS in the military Clay. It means Keep It Simple Stupid.

Fugg that I'm not put just water in my kool aid. I don't care how simple the military wants it.


Well its 3 wheels down and one to go.

 

[John Larkin]

Drip is better than vacuum. I always seem to introduce bubbles by drawing the fluid with a MityVac. I would love a Phoenix reverse bleeder but $400 for bleeding brakes is not in my budget. Clear tubing and empty Nestle' water bottles are though.

 

[BuickMike231]

Motive Power Bleeder works well and is pretty inexpensive. I've used it many times on my car with great success every time.

 

[BuickMike]

Motive Power Bleeder works well and is pretty inexpensive. I've used it many times on my car with great success every time.

What he said. Back when I was a mechanic, it didn't take me long to realize that the vacuum bleeders were way more hassle than they were worth. I ended up doing it the old fashioned way. I borrowed a friend's Motive power bleeder recently, which puts pressure (with the brake fluid) on the master cylinder end instead of sucking it through, and it worked extremely well. If I wanted a power bleeder, I would go with this one.

The ATE Super Blue and Super Yellow DOT4 fluids are great for flushing brake systems. Use this with a power bleeder and you know you are on new fluid because the color changed.

 

[Street Lethal]

I just remove the brake fluid reservoir cap then let gravity do the rest, just remember to put the cap back on before you start pumping the brakes...