Brake bleeding

projectheaven · 05-10-2008, 11:00 AM

What is gravity brake bleeding?

Oldsguy · 05-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Opening the bleed nuts, taking the lid off the master cylinder, and letting gravity to it's thing. I have never done it that way but many people here have and like to do it that way. I used to have my wife do the foot pumping for me but she isn't strong enough now to hold it down (can't drive any longer either do to weakness in her legs) so I have to enlist the help of someone else or do the gravity thing or get one of those one-man brake bleed kits.

Modern Motoring · 05-12-2008, 03:52 AM

I have used the poor mans brake bleeder.. a BROOM STICK ! pump up three times, wedge the broom stick between the pedal and the seat, go and open up the bleeder valve. It's a lot of work but when you don't have someone around to help and you can't find your one man bleeder tool, it works !

Oldsguy · 05-12-2008, 06:04 AM

I tried the broomstick once but it dropped loose the first time, there was lots of air in the system. Instead, a short chunk of 1x12 long enough to leverage the pedal weighted by a cinder block; or just a cinder block depending on the car.

Modern Motoring · 05-15-2008, 01:11 PM

I had my now ex wife help me bleed the brakes once. I told her to pump three times and hold it. She heard "pump three times". I had more air in that system.....

05-10-2008, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
projectheaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The bay area Posts: 100	Brake bleeding What is gravity brake bleeding? __________________

05-11-2008, 02:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,857	Opening the bleed nuts, taking the lid off the master cylinder, and letting gravity to it's thing. I have never done it that way but many people here have and like to do it that way. I used to have my wife do the foot pumping for me but she isn't strong enough now to hold it down (can't drive any longer either do to weakness in her legs) so I have to enlist the help of someone else or do the gravity thing or get one of those one-man brake bleed kits. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

05-12-2008, 06:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,857	I tried the broomstick once but it dropped loose the first time, there was lots of air in the system. Instead, a short chunk of 1x12 long enough to leverage the pedal weighted by a cinder block; or just a cinder block depending on the car. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

05-15-2008, 01:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Modern Motoring Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 119	I had my now ex wife help me bleed the brakes once. I told her to pump three times and hold it. She heard "pump three times". I had more air in that system..... __________________ 1963 Oldsmobile 98 convertible. "Marge, the big blue barge"

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05-12-2008, 03:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Modern Motoring Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 119	I have used the poor mans brake bleeder.. a BROOM STICK ! pump up three times, wedge the broom stick between the pedal and the seat, go and open up the bleeder valve. It's a lot of work but when you don't have someone around to help and you can't find your one man bleeder tool, it works !

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