Bleedin’ Brakes
Discussion
My Chimaera has just had the diff rebuilt and after an eye watering bill I have decided to do some DIY maintenance.
Noticing a squishing noise coming from the brake pedal over the first couple of inches of travel with braking not up to expectations I decide to replace the fluid and bleed the brakes, thinking how hard can it be ? Many years ago I spent some time as an aircraft fitter doing brakes on light aircraft so I recon no worries.
After reading “the bible”, doing a search on PH and tooling up with one of them pressurised ezee-bleed bottles and some DOT5.1;
1. I blow fluid out of the reservoir all over the place doing a pressure test with the wrong o ring in the cap.
2. The 20psi bike tire I’m running the thing on runs out of puff after a pushing through couple of mils of fluid so I’m running round the car from nearside rear tyre to the engine bay and back to keep pumping up the bike tyre until I canna take it any more.
3. So I borrow a simple non return ezieeer-bleed tube and switch to the pumping the brake pedal method.
4. After about 4 hours or mucking around I get to the last tyre and find that I cant undo 2 of the wheel nuts and give up (Naturally, there is still a squishing noise coming from the brake pedal).
Arse !
Noticing a squishing noise coming from the brake pedal over the first couple of inches of travel with braking not up to expectations I decide to replace the fluid and bleed the brakes, thinking how hard can it be ? Many years ago I spent some time as an aircraft fitter doing brakes on light aircraft so I recon no worries.
After reading “the bible”, doing a search on PH and tooling up with one of them pressurised ezee-bleed bottles and some DOT5.1;
1. I blow fluid out of the reservoir all over the place doing a pressure test with the wrong o ring in the cap.
2. The 20psi bike tire I’m running the thing on runs out of puff after a pushing through couple of mils of fluid so I’m running round the car from nearside rear tyre to the engine bay and back to keep pumping up the bike tyre until I canna take it any more.
3. So I borrow a simple non return ezieeer-bleed tube and switch to the pumping the brake pedal method.
4. After about 4 hours or mucking around I get to the last tyre and find that I cant undo 2 of the wheel nuts and give up (Naturally, there is still a squishing noise coming from the brake pedal).
Arse !
I did the 'blow brake fluid everywhere' thing too. In my case I had the right washer, pressure tested it, all ok. Then when I filled the easibleed bottle with fluid I didn't notice the washer drop out! Bugger!
It might have taken ages this time but you'll be so much quicker next time. Use the car tyre as the pressure source and get yourself a big torque wrench to sort out the wheel nuts.
I now have 2 trolley jacks so its really quick to get the whole car up in the air with axle stands under it. Takes about 10-15 mins to bleed the brakes once its up there.
Don't give in to it!!
It might have taken ages this time but you'll be so much quicker next time. Use the car tyre as the pressure source and get yourself a big torque wrench to sort out the wheel nuts.
I now have 2 trolley jacks so its really quick to get the whole car up in the air with axle stands under it. Takes about 10-15 mins to bleed the brakes once its up there.
Don't give in to it!!
upgrade for my tyre iron I have got the stuck wheel bolts off and will score a second trolly jack and some axle stands asap to continue my misson.Mine makes a slight squishy noise at the top of the pedal. I think you hear it due to the servo not being soundproofed from the cabin. Seems normal. I have had a new brake master cylinder too and my servo is working fine.
I replaced my fluid with 5.1 the old fashioned way BTW, made a big difference to the feel of the pedal and resistance to fade. Mind you, the original fluid was 5 years old ...
T/.
I replaced my fluid with 5.1 the old fashioned way BTW, made a big difference to the feel of the pedal and resistance to fade. Mind you, the original fluid was 5 years old ...
T/.
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