Bleeding The Brakes

[V8 BJC]

I lost some brake fluid while replacing the brake light switch on my Dax as I was unable to seperate the switch from the male to male and female to female adapters with these parts on the car. I collected the fluid (about half of the fluid in the resevoir bottle) in a clean container and put it back in the plastic resevoir bottle.

Will I now need to bleed my brake system? If so, can you let me know the proecedure for doing this.

Cheers

[kdavies3]

Hi Brian, the answer is yes you'll need to bleed the brakes, as for sure you'll have a small amount of air in the system.
It should be easy enough as you haven't drained the whole system.
You may even get away with just bleeding one brake, probably the right front.
Firstly top up the cylinder, with an assistant (to pump the pedal), have a length of clear bleed hose as this helps to see the bubbles and a clean jar with an inch of clean fluid in the bottom.
Keeping the end of the bleed pipe under the level of ther fluid in the ar at all times.
Attach the bleed pipe to the nipple and slacken the nipple about half a turn (you may need more or less to get good flow).
Get your assistant to pump the pedal several times and watch for bubbles coming into the jar.
After several pumps hold the pedal down and lock off the nipple, release the pedal and top up the reservoir once more.
Repeat the above procedure until no more bubbles are seen coming fron the bleed hose.
If necessary repeat at each bleed nipple 'til all the air is gone.

[V8 BJC]

Cheers KevJust one question - do you need to take the wheel off to get to the bleed nipple?

[kdavies3]

It may be possible with the wheel on but I reckon it's a lot easier with the wheel out of the way.
If you need to do the rears that can be tricky unless you've fitted a remote bleed point.

[DaxV8Cleveland]

Hi V8 BJC

Fronts are easy to do with the wheels on use Gunson Easi- bleed and one way valve single man operated Halfords stock them. It makes it so easy . The rear inbounds are a wheel off and jack up job . Also get youself a brake nipple spanner.

Start at the rear and work your way round to the front ending with the closest to the master cyclinder . You should end up with a sold as a rock pedel. Job done.

Warning use latex gloves and make sure you have lots of water just incase you get brake fluid on the body work.

Cheers John

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by DaxV8Cleveland

Hi V8 BJC

Fronts are easy to do with the wheels on use Gunson Easi- bleed and one way valve single man operated Halfords stock them. It makes it so easy . The rear inbounds are a wheel off and jack up job . Also get youself a brake nipple spanner.

Start at the rear and work your way round to the front ending with the closest to the master cyclinder . You should end up with a sold as a rock pedel. Job done.

Warning use latex gloves and make sure you have lots of water just incase you get brake fluid on the body work.

Cheers John

I second the Easi-bleed recommendation, it makes it so easy. In terms of sequence I always start at the front offside, then front nearside, then rears............ I remember years ago when I was a kid just starting repairing cars being told that this was the correct sequence. I suppose with modern split systems the sequence isnt as important as it was then..
Cheers,

Tony

[V8 BJC]

No laughing now but can you tell me exactly where the bleed nipples are front and back. I have not looked yet but want to get this done quickly on Thursday morning.

Cheers

[TonyD]

Bleed nipples are always on the top of the caliper so trapped air can escape. On the front calipers they face towards the engine and on the rear calipers they are on the top surface of the caliper facing the boot floor. ( unless the builder put some remote bleed nipples in a more convenient location.)

BTW The rear nipples are a right pain to get to .

If you are unsure as to what to do, and given the importance of good brakes it may be best all round to get the brakes bled at a garage. If your brake fluid is over three years old its advisable to get it completely changed in any event as it will have absorbed more than the safe amount of water.

Cheers,

Tony