Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:55:42 -0800
Reply-To: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: bleeding bloody brakes
In-Reply-To: <FA1C9162-6F72-4318-B321-3A583EEBF089@VERIZON.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 1/11/07, Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@verizon.net> wrote:
> The air vent hole I am not sure about.
It is a small slightly larger than pinhole sized hole in cap that
covers brake fluid resorvoir.
> What I am puzzled about is brake bleeding. I have no idea how to do
> that. I leave the plastic plugs in, fill reservoir and keep pumping,
> the vise holding it? 50 times?? I just took it out the other day and
> did what my idea was of bench bleeding: no plugs, cylinder in vise at
> angle like in vanagon, filled up reservoir, then pumped several
> times, cleaned up (had rags all round it). Watched bubbles coming up
> at rear brake connection (aft). Then reinstalled.
Yes bench bleed MC with plugs removed. You can even bleed it some more
when it is installed on booster. Just crack lines open a little and
with rags under, slowly pump pedal a bit. Any remaining air in MC
should bubble through at cracked open lines. Tighten up the lines and
bleed brakes.
> Obviously I don't know w hat I am doing then, because I have no idea
> what a bleeding kit would look like(obviously wasn't included. The MS
> came with plugs, but doubt they would hold any pressure (no threads).
Caps are there for shipping only. They keep crap from getting in.
> Or I ruined the MS. Sometimes I would have it pressurrized at 20psi
> AND push the pedal...but then why does it work after 1 pump?
> How come the Bentley or Hanes doesn't mention bench bleeding?
> Airic, your way is probably the best, though I prefer using the brake
> pressurizer. Once I get any of my mates involved it will involve
> several sixpacks, and they'll have a good laugh at me that's for sure.
>
> I am obviously missing:
>
> bench bleeding kit and the understanding and know how of the bench
> bleeding process. I know some of you explained this, but I still
> don't get it.
In bench bleeding, you are simply getting most of the air out of the
MC prior to install. If you didn't, and installed it dry, you would
introduce LOTS of air into system, which would then take LOTS of
fluid/time/pumps to get out. Bench bleeding allows you to take a
shorter route, if you will, to getting air out of MC.
