Need help with brake bleeding

[nitro71]

I got the front skyjacker springs in but had to disconnect the brake lines to do it. Now I've got bleeding issues. I can't seem to get any presure built up on the brake pedal. Bleeding them makes them shoot some then stop.

Is there some kind of valve that is closing them to the brake system? If I got air into the ABS part will I have to get the special part to bleed them? If so is there a work around for buying the tool such as using the wiring harness and jumpering some pins?

But it does look pretty awesome with the 2" springs up front!

 

[chetzar]

Are you replinishing your Master Cylinder resivore as you do this? Also how are you bleeding them (Aka an auto bleeder, or losening the bleeder screws and having someone press down the pedal all the way then tightening them)?

 

[nitro71]

I was trying the manual bleeding method. Do you start the engine or do it with the engine off?

 

[chetzar]

The way I was shown how to do it (By my dad, former mechanic) is with the car off, one person in the cab, one person with a wrench at the caliper. Person at caliper opens the bleeder screw, tells the driver to push down the pedal and hold it (if you dont hold it and the pedal comes back up before the bleeder screw is tightened more air just gets sucked in). Caliper dude tightens the screw, drivers lets up slowly. Rinse and repeat until you get no air comming out of either side, and you may have to do it so much that you need to add brake fluid to the MC resivore.

 

[fixxxer]

The best way to manually bleed the system without special tools, like a vacuum bleeder, is to take the cap or cover off the master cylinder so you can keep constant watch on the level and with the engine off, pump the brakes until you start getting firmness to the pedal and then while keeping a constant pressure on the brake pedal, open the bleeder on the wheel cylinder farthest away from the master cylinder. The brake pedal will start to sink to the floor at this point, just before it hits bottom, close the bleeder and pump the brakes up again. Repeat this sequence until no more air bubbles appear at this wheel cylinder bleeder valve. It will be easier to see the bubbles if you put a length of clear flexible tubing over the tip of the bleeder valve. Close the bleeder snugly (not too tight or you will strip the threads) and move to the next wheel cylinder. Repeat this sequence for all 4 wheels. Keep a close eye on the level in the master cylinder at all times or you will introduce more air into the system.

 

[nitro71]

I hope I didn't get air in the master cylinder... Dang dang.. I'll get further on this when I get someone to push the brake for me again today.

 

[Dannyboy]

no big deal if you did, it just takes a lot of time. While you are waiting if you can get some sort of a tube and catch container to save some of the brake fluid or even better, allow it not to hit the ground. I "recycle" the fluid back in to the master cylinnder on occassion when I lost a bunch of fluid out of the rear caliper and had several pumps to get it working good, this little guy catches 3 oz. or so at a time.

 

[nitro71]

Thanks all! I got it whipped. I took a smaller bottle and put some fluid in it and ran a hose from my bleeder to it and put it over the caliper. Then I opened the caliper and with the engine OFF! I pumped the brakes up and let it bleed. Did both fronts like that and it seems to be working well now. I must not have gotten air into the master cylinder. Then using someone on the forums( can't remember who posted it) took it out and locked up the brakes on a gravel road a bunch to work any air bubbles out of the ABS system. I'll bleed it again here once I get someone to pump them for me and call it good.

 

[meterman1976]

good deal, glad ya got it figured out.. and its good to go.

 

[nitro71]

Bled em again this evening with my gals help. Got some more air out. Should be good to go. I'm ready to wheel!

 

[chetzar]

Awesome, gald you got it all worked out. Really, having a second person to help you when your doing it manually makes everything so much easier.

 

[nitro71]

Putting a hose in a bottle with brake fluid worked great. I just had her pump them for a while then I'd close the valve and do one traditional pump, hold and bleed. Worked great!