In a message dated 12/8/00 7:26:13 AM, ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM writes: << I don't think I need to have the car running to bleed power brakes, but I though I might as well ask......Does it make any difference if the Van is running or not? >> Mark, Bleeding the brakes should be done with the engine turned off. If nothing else, not having the power assist allows you to better sense the firm pedal of a brake system which is purged of air. Are you aware that you should place a block of some sort beneath the brake pedal in order to keep the master cylinder piston within its normal range of travel? By not doing this you risk damaging the piston cups or contaminating the brake system with some of that ca-ca which settles in the bottom of a used master cylinder bore. I have found that applying a slight positive pressure to the reservoir is a much easier method to bleed the brakes than the old pump-pump-pump-hold method. Ideally, a pressure bleeder should be staight hydraulic, but since there are only so many hours in a lifetime, I have not gone beyond a simple air-over-oil hook up. Rich Rich |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.