Bleeding Brakes Question OT

DownSouth · May 20, 2011

Hey guys and gals,
I had a leaking brake cylinder on the RR of my little 88 Ranger, so I replaced both rear cylinders as well as the shoes. Now I need to bleed the brakes and I will have to wait until the wife is home to work the pedal while I open / close the bleeders. (Done this before on other vehicles) This truck has power brakes, so my question is "does the truck need to be running to bleed the brakes, or can it be off?" No, I'm not concerned about her driving over me but I am concerned about her being able to hear me. You know, "OK, push it again, now let off etc."
Yea I know it's probably a dumb question, but I din't recall ever bleeding brakes on a vehicle with power brakes.

Eldo case · May 20, 2011

Don't need to be running. Good luck!

Goose · May 20, 2011

Simplest is to gravity bleed. Just take the cap off the master cylinder, open the bleed valves one at a time, and wait till a solid stream of fluid comes out.

Errin OH · May 20, 2011

I bleed brakes by myself all the time. I attach a hose to the bleeder and put the other end in a quart jar with a few inches of brake fluid in it (aquarium air line works just fine). As I push the air out, the fluid in the jar prevents air from going back in the system. Once I have pushed about a pint of brake fluid through the system I close the bleeder, remove the hose, and start on the next one.

Engine running is not necessary but a clothes pin holding the tube on/in the jar helps.

El Toro · May 20, 2011

I gave that job to my wife to pump the brakes until they bought a Wagner brake bleeder at work
to bleed the brakes. I would borrow it when I needed it. I replaced all the wheel cylinders on a 1959 Rambler wagon and used that brake bleeder. Bought the wheel cylinders from Sears catalog back then. Hal

Tony in Mass. · May 20, 2011

this is what I have been doing for years now, at first thought it a waste to pour a brand new quart out of the bottle into a mason jar, but it's worth it, engine running if needed, alone if necessary. big thing is to remember to leave the box wrench on the bleeder from the start, and make sure the hose is airtight

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old · May 20, 2011

I bought a vacuum brake bleeder years ago and that was the best $20 I spent. One person can bleed the brakes simple hand operation of the pump and you can do all 4 wheels in less then 30 minutes if the bleeders brake free that is. Oh by the way if you have bleeders that will not open up take a hammer and tap them 2 or 3 times and most of the time that will do the job

Mel in SW Iowa · May 20, 2011

I agree with Goose, gravity bleeding is the simplest
although it may not work with all brake systems. It has worked on most I have tried it on. I let each caliper/wheel cylinder drip into a jar until new clear fluid without bubbles is coming out. Steel brake lines will last longer if flushed once a year.

DownSouth · May 20, 2011

Thanks Goose for the great idea. It worked perfectly, and got the truck back on the road even before the wife got home.
Update

Bleeding Brakes Question OT

DownSouth

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Eldo case

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Goose

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Errin OH

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El Toro

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Tony in Mass.

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old

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Mel in SW Iowa

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DownSouth

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