Bleeding Procedures
- All Vacuum Units
It is recommended
that all brake bleeding be performed with a pressure bleeder.
If one is not available, use the following procedure.
Frame Mounted:
2 Line Units
DO NOT RUN ENGINE WHILE PERFORMING BLEEDING OPERATIONS.
1. |
Fill the reservoir
of the new, rebuilt or flushed out master cylinder with new,
clean, heavy-duty brake fluid. |
2. |
During bleeding check frequently
to make certain that fluid in master cylinder reservoir maintains
at least 1/2 inch of fluid. Failure to do so may require starting
all over. |
3. |
Loosen tube nut
to pre-bleed master cylinder and slowly pump master cylinder
until fluid runs clear. Re tighten nut. |
4. |
Bleed power unit
as required. Pump pedal slowly to avoid creating air bubbles
in fluid. Bleeder screws should be opened on the pressure stroke
of the master cylinder and closed on the return stroke. |
5. |
Continue around
vehicle wheels until all bleeder screws run clear. |
6. |
Refill master cylinder
reservoir and slowly pump pedal with no bleeder's open. This
allows master cylinder to evacuate any air bubbles that may remain
in cylinder bore. Air will escape through compensating port in
the reservoir bottom. |
7. |
Start engine, pump
pedal two or three times. Then allow time for fluid to return
to the reservoir. If pedal is firm but has excessive stroke,
adjust brakes at all wheels. If pedal is spongy, it still has
air in the hydraulic system. See step 8. |
8. |
Some vehicles may
require "serge" bleeding. To accomplish this, have
engine running at idle and make a firm pedal application. Open
and close wheel cylinder bleeder screws very quickly. Do not
let the pedal go clear to the floor. Repeat this step at each
wheel. Remember to check brake fluid level in reservoir. |
9. |
Proceed with road
test. |
Frame Mounted:
3 Line Units
1. |
Three line units,
(with third line connected to master cylinder reservoir) can
not be properly bled without a pressure bleeder. |
2. |
Set bleeder pressure
at 50 to 60 psi. Be sure reservoir on master cylinder is filled
above third line connection port. |
3. |
Do not run engine
while bleeding. |
Firewall
Mounted (Push through boosters) All Makes.
1. |
The bleeding procedure
is essentially the same except that the engine should be running
at the very beginning and throughout the entire process if a
pressure bleeder is not used. |
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