Date:         Sun, 8 Jul 2007 21:02:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Brake and Clutch Bleeding; Sequence
Comments: cc: Kevin Mulligan <mulligan_kevin@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20070708163754.WUEU17477.fed1rmmtai111.cox.net@fed1rmimpi03.cox.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

> From:    Kevin Mulligan <mulligan_kevin@YAHOO.COM>
> Date:    Sun, 8 Jul 2007 10:55:53 -0400
>
> I'm planning to flush the brakes and clutch and am wondering which to
> do first. Brakes first (LR, RR, RF, LF), then slave, then master?

Usually I start at the wheel furthest away from the brake master and
work towards it, so the sequence for most cars would be RH, LH, RV, LV
(or even RR, LR, RF, LF).  For a flush, I just keep bleeding at the
wheel until fresh fluid comes out at that wheel.  Don't let the master
run dry - in a Vanagon this is easy because your accomplice at the brake
pedal can also add fluid as needed while he or she sits there.  For the
clutch, there's only one slave cylinder, so it's easy to figure out
which one to do first.

> Is it necessary to flush the master if the slave is flushed?

I don't bleed the master (brake or clutch) unless I've disconnected a
line at the master.

If you're into it you can look at the size of the wheel cylinders, the
length and ID of the lines, and the size of the master reservior and
work out the minimum amount of fluid it should take to completely flush
the system.  In practice, buy two quart bottles and maybe a couple of
pint bottles and that should do the brakes on most "normal" cars, vans,
and light trucks.

Matt Roberds