Air in Brake System

[jimindm]

Gravity bleeding works OK if it will bleed. Some will, some won't. You can pinch off the rubber lines at the wheel. Pinch them off at the chassis end. Pinch them all off, see how the pedal feels. If its at the top, then release them one at a time, see which one lets the pedal go to the floor. If after pinching them off, the pedal is still soft, it is an indication the master cylinder is out. Most vehicles, by pinching the hoses, you have made the brake system a smaller unit, so some air is more apt to compress a little making a full pedal, or a firm pedal. There are tools made for pinching the lines off, that have rounded edges. I have done it with needle nose vise grips but you have to be carful.

[mgold]

Thanks jimindm! I will try that. I think I know those tools you are talking about. How much do they cost?

[Guns R Tools]

http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-4506.aspx

I think that some use needle nose vise grip with rubber hose around teeth.

[rlitman]

Originally Posted by Guns R Tools

http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-4506.aspx

I think that some use needle nose vise grip with rubber hose around teeth.

That's fine for fuel hose, which has nylon braiding inside.
Brake hose is a hydraulic hose. It has steel braiding inside the rubber, which will permanently deform if pinched shut. I wouldn't drive around in a car that had had its brake hoses crimped shut. It's just a bad idea.

The only time I crimped my brake hoses shut, was when I was doing a something that involved replacing the hoses later, so I pinched them to make less of a mess.

[AdamsAutoAdvice]

I've seen people pinch flexible brake lines all the time with vise grips.

[mgold]

Going to try to Gravity bleed today... it's going to be messy!

[rlitman]

Originally Posted by AdamsAutoAdvice

I've seen people pinch flexible brake lines all the time with vise grips.

Yeah, people do it. That doesn't make it right.
This goes right along with a number of other notorious arguments you see on sites like this (PVC comes to mind first).

[jimindm]

I would not recommend driving around with them pinched off. I meant before he bleed them.

When you are in a pickle i have done all kinds of things that I would not reccomend. I have driven cars with nothing but ebrakes, broken clutch cables, no accessory belts, the list goes on. I know the limits, its only to get to the shop. Its not across the country, over mountains, etc. You have to know your limits, otherwise that is what towing services are for. A persons ability changes that limit. Some should never even be allowed to open a hood. Others could work beside me.

[mgold]

Originally Posted by jimindm

Some should never even be allowed to open a hood.

Some days we all feel like that!

[Even Steven]

Gotta be real careful bleeding the brakes on some of the newer cars. If you let air into the system via the master cylinder, you might have to take it to the dealer to have it bled using a dealership scan tool. Depends on the vehicle though...

[J Persons]

I use a pressure bleeder from www.motiveproducts.com it makes brake bleeding a one man operation. The pressure bleeder pressurizes everything including the brake reservoir. Pump it up, and crack the bleed screws open one at a time. Works great! You can get the pressure bleeder through Summit or direct from Motive Products.

[shanker]

im having issues getting the brakes bled on my 1991 C1500 now...I replaced the flexible brake lines and master cylinder...now I only get a good firm pedal if a pump the brake's a time or two before applying them......

what did I screw up?

[mgold]

Gravity bleeding fixed it!

[mrbreezeet1]

Originally Posted by mgold

Gravity bleeding fixed it!

OH Good deal, so you didn't need a master cylinder?

[mgold]

Didn't need a new Master Cylinder! Of course it will probably go out next week!