Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
I did a brake flush yesterday, by myself for the second
time, on my 91 Civic LX (176k miles). I use the Mity-Vac system ( a hand-held vacuum pump, connecting to a small container to collect fluid, tubing, and adapters). It went much more quickly. One concern I have is that, while the kit has a well-fitting adapter for the front bleeder bolts, it does not have a good one for the rears. The front setup holds a vacuum really well as I bleed fluid. By contrast, on the rears, massive air bubbling occurs, and I have to continuously pump to maintain vacuum. I think it's because the rear adapters fit so loosely that, when I draw a vacuum with the pump, it sucks air in at the adapters. I am thinking of buying a set of those one-way (that is, check) bleeder valves that Pep Boys, for one, sells, to (1) maybe get a better fit from adapter to valve; and (2) minimize air introduction into the rear brake system. Can anyone make other suggestions? I want to stick with the Mity-Vac approach, as opposed to getting a friend to push the brake pedal while I bleed at each wheel. The Mity Vac system works really well on the front. I am optimistic that some brainiac here can help me getting the rears working better, or I'll stumble onto an improvement for the rears. A few comments for the archives: -- I used a 32 oz ( = two pints) container of Valvoline "exceeds DOT 3 and 4 requirements" brake fluid for the flush. I had a second container ready, in case I found a lot of dirt etc. in the fluid I bled. I did not. It seemed pretty dirt free. -- About 1.8 years and 22k miles have elapsed since the last flush. The Owner's Manual recommended interval is 2 years and 30k miles. I see a lot of folks here do a brake system flush once a year. I was thinking of switching to a one-year interval, but think I'll stick with two years using the more expensive, supposedly more moisture resistant Valvoline brake fluid. I live in a low humidity part of the country, to boot. -- The brake pedal travel before and after the flush still seems a little large. I'm thinking it's because in fact I am not getting all the air out of the system, and if any part is to blame, its the rear bleeder bolt/adapter set-up I'm using. Or possibly it's the fact that yesterday just before the flush I disassembled, cleaned, lubed, and inspected, then re-installed the rear brake shoe assemblies, and so they weren't quite seated right. -- I do not see symptoms of a leaky master cylinder (e.g. the brake pedal does not keep going down after I first hit what seems "bottom"). |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> > I did a brake flush yesterday, by myself for the second > time, on my 91 Civic LX (176k miles). I use the Mity-Vac > system ( a hand-held vacuum pump, connecting to a small > container to collect fluid, tubing, and adapters). It went > much more quickly. One concern I have is that, while the kit > has a well-fitting adapter for the front bleeder bolts, it > does not have a good one for the rears. The front setup > holds a vacuum really well as I bleed fluid. By contrast, on > the rears, massive air bubbling occurs, and I have to > continuously pump to maintain vacuum. > > I think it's because the rear adapters fit so loosely that, > when I draw a vacuum with the pump, it sucks air in at the > adapters. > > I am thinking of buying a set of those one-way (that is, > check) bleeder valves that Pep Boys, for one, sells, to (1) > maybe get a better fit from adapter to valve; and (2) > minimize air introduction into the rear brake system. > > Can anyone make other suggestions? -------------------------------------- Pressure bleeding is the way to go if you don't have a good helper. You build a rig that attaches to the reservoir cap and away you go. I'm going to use the 'insecticide sprayer' style when i get around to it. Google it. Gets out air. Vacuum method is confusing because, as you mention, lots of 'local' air confuses whether you're really getting out the 'internal' air. A well-trained helper is even better, if you can get one. :-) If you yell at her, you won't get supper. 'Curly' |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> > I did a brake flush yesterday, by myself for the second > time, on my 91 Civic LX (176k miles). I use the Mity-Vac > system ( a hand-held vacuum pump, connecting to a small > container to collect fluid, tubing, and adapters). It went > much more quickly. One concern I have is that, while the kit > has a well-fitting adapter for the front bleeder bolts, it > does not have a good one for the rears. The front setup > holds a vacuum really well as I bleed fluid. By contrast, on > the rears, massive air bubbling occurs, and I have to > continuously pump to maintain vacuum. > > I think it's because the rear adapters fit so loosely that, > when I draw a vacuum with the pump, it sucks air in at the > adapters. > > I am thinking of buying a set of those one-way (that is, > check) bleeder valves that Pep Boys, for one, sells, to (1) > maybe get a better fit from adapter to valve; and (2) > minimize air introduction into the rear brake system. > > Can anyone make other suggestions? -------------------------------------- Pressure bleeding is the way to go if you don't have a good helper. You build a rig that attaches to the reservoir cap and away you go. I'm going to use the 'insecticide sprayer' style when i get around to it. Google it. Gets out air. Vacuum method is confusing because, as you mention, lots of 'local' air confuses whether you're really getting out the 'internal' air. A well-trained helper is even better, if you can get one. :-) If you yell at her, you won't get supper. 'Curly' |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> > I did a brake flush yesterday, by myself for the second > time, on my 91 Civic LX (176k miles). I use the Mity-Vac > system ( a hand-held vacuum pump, connecting to a small > container to collect fluid, tubing, and adapters). It went > much more quickly. One concern I have is that, while the kit > has a well-fitting adapter for the front bleeder bolts, it > does not have a good one for the rears. The front setup > holds a vacuum really well as I bleed fluid. By contrast, on > the rears, massive air bubbling occurs, and I have to > continuously pump to maintain vacuum. > > I think it's because the rear adapters fit so loosely that, > when I draw a vacuum with the pump, it sucks air in at the > adapters. > > I am thinking of buying a set of those one-way (that is, > check) bleeder valves that Pep Boys, for one, sells, to (1) > maybe get a better fit from adapter to valve; and (2) > minimize air introduction into the rear brake system. > > Can anyone make other suggestions? -------------------------------------- Pressure bleeding is the way to go if you don't have a good helper. You build a rig that attaches to the reservoir cap and away you go. I'm going to use the 'insecticide sprayer' style when i get around to it. Google it. Gets out air. Vacuum method is confusing because, as you mention, lots of 'local' air confuses whether you're really getting out the 'internal' air. A well-trained helper is even better, if you can get one. :-) If you yell at her, you won't get supper. 'Curly' |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug
sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if there's corrosion on the plunger. One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray EVERYWHERE. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug
sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if there's corrosion on the plunger. One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray EVERYWHERE. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug
sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if there's corrosion on the plunger. One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray EVERYWHERE. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> Can anyone make other suggestions? i took off the bleeder screws and wrapped the threads with teflon tape. home depot/lowes should have some vinyl hose that will tightly slip on the nipple. otherwise, i know there are rubber 90 degree bleeder arms that would work, and that should have come with your mityvac set. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> Can anyone make other suggestions? i took off the bleeder screws and wrapped the threads with teflon tape. home depot/lowes should have some vinyl hose that will tightly slip on the nipple. otherwise, i know there are rubber 90 degree bleeder arms that would work, and that should have come with your mityvac set. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Elle wrote:
> Can anyone make other suggestions? i took off the bleeder screws and wrapped the threads with teflon tape. home depot/lowes should have some vinyl hose that will tightly slip on the nipple. otherwise, i know there are rubber 90 degree bleeder arms that would work, and that should have come with your mityvac set. |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
"Bruce" <andrew.bruce@regions.com> wrote in
news:1146083076.777984.140290@i39g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com: > I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug > sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No > helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper > pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if > there's corrosion on the plunger. If there's corrosion on the master cylinder plunger or MC bore,the MC already needs replacing or rebuilding. > > One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release > the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master > cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray > EVERYWHERE. > > Does the "bug sprayer" keep the reservoir filled so air does not enter the MC? -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
"Bruce" <andrew.bruce@regions.com> wrote in
news:1146083076.777984.140290@i39g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com: > I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug > sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No > helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper > pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if > there's corrosion on the plunger. If there's corrosion on the master cylinder plunger or MC bore,the MC already needs replacing or rebuilding. > > One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release > the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master > cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray > EVERYWHERE. > > Does the "bug sprayer" keep the reservoir filled so air does not enter the MC? -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
"Bruce" <andrew.bruce@regions.com> wrote in
news:1146083076.777984.140290@i39g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com: > I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug > sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No > helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper > pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if > there's corrosion on the plunger. If there's corrosion on the master cylinder plunger or MC bore,the MC already needs replacing or rebuilding. > > One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release > the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master > cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray > EVERYWHERE. > > Does the "bug sprayer" keep the reservoir filled so air does not enter the MC? -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Jim Yanik wrote:
> "Bruce" <andrew.bruce@regions.com> wrote in > news:1146083076.777984.140290@i39g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com: > > >>I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug >>sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No >>helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper >>pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if >>there's corrosion on the plunger. > > > If there's corrosion on the master cylinder plunger or MC bore,the MC > already needs replacing or rebuilding. damned right!!! fear of not using the full cylinder stroke in case of encountering this problem blows my mind. this is the #1 safety component of the vehicle. better make sure it's 100%. > > > >>One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release >>the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master >>cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray >>EVERYWHERE. >> >> > > > Does the "bug sprayer" keep the reservoir filled so air does not enter the > MC? > |
Re: Brake Flush Bleeder Bolt Adapters?
Jim Yanik wrote:
> "Bruce" <andrew.bruce@regions.com> wrote in > news:1146083076.777984.140290@i39g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com: > > >>I second the pressure bleeding method... I bought one of the bug >>sprayer models a few years ago and it seriously could not be easier. No >>helper necessary. Besides, I've read in several posts that the helper >>pumping method can sometimes ruin the seals on your master cylinder if >>there's corrosion on the plunger. > > > If there's corrosion on the master cylinder plunger or MC bore,the MC > already needs replacing or rebuilding. damned right!!! fear of not using the full cylinder stroke in case of encountering this problem blows my mind. this is the #1 safety component of the vehicle. better make sure it's 100%. > > > >>One caution if you get the bug sprayer bleeder ... be sure to release >>the pressure in the bottle before you undo the fitting on your master >>cylinder resevoir or you'll get a nasty mess. Brake fluid will spray >>EVERYWHERE. >> >> > > > Does the "bug sprayer" keep the reservoir filled so air does not enter the > MC? > |
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