Bleeding brakes

bpm · 04-11-2006, 13:41

Righty. I got new rear discs on the car about 1 month ago and I think some air got into the system. (there is more effort involved in braking and the handbrake needs to be pulled up higher in order to work correctly) So, what do I need to bleed the system and how do I do it? (if thats the case)

(Only asking this as the local dealer won't touch non-OEM parts and the place I got the discs installed is about 200 miles away..)

Ta

vRSLen · 04-11-2006, 18:52

Use a large syringe and draw the brake fluid through.

If you need one, drop me a line. I might have a few knocking about.

TeflonTom · 05-11-2006, 02:15

my vote goes for the pressure vessel type bleeder that screws onto the brake flud resovoir and forces out the air using compresser air

Decron · 05-11-2006, 04:56

You really do need a pressurised bleeder. I have seen it mentioned that bleeding the brakes the old fashioned way with the pedal can cause damage to the seals somewhere.

They are about £15 IIRC, and sometimes you need to extend the pipe that fits onto the resevoir cap as the resevoir is buired under other things (It is on the Fabia Vrs) but other than that it will be £15 well spent!

**GAFF** · 05-11-2006, 05:34

What about trying another dealer ? Brakes are brakes, I'm sure there all bleed the same !

Goochie · 05-11-2006, 11:51

Just go to a local independant garage. I supplied 2L Halfords fluid and they changed the fluid for £15.

Considering the pressure kits are £16 ish - I thought that was a bargain.

bpm · 05-11-2006, 17:47

I'd rather get the kit and learn how to do it for future reference.

Any one have a how-to ?

VRSPhil · 05-11-2006, 21:58

It's pretty simple. The kit I have uses the air from a tyre (spare) to force the fluid through the system. The way I usually do it is to use a syringe to remove most of the fluid from the reservoir and then replace it with fresh fluid. Next I connect the bleeding kit to the top of the reservoir in place of the normal cap and fill the feeding tank with fresh brake fluid. Normally you work from the furthest corner away from the master cylinder (if the cylinder is on the passenger side bulkhead the bleed sequence would be O/S/R, N/S/R, O/S/F. N/S/F). It's just a case of attaching a short piece of clear tube to the bleed nipple with a jar at the other end of the tube and open the nipple. The fluid will be forced through by the pressure from the spare tyre. I'm not sure how long it should be left open but I normally let a fair amount of fluid through to be on the safe side (just make sure the reservoir never runs dry or you will cause yourself problems!). Once you have done that, tighten the nipple back up, remove tube, replace dust cap and move to the next wheel. One thing to note is that most of the kits I looked at recommended that the tyre used to pressurise the system should be reduced to around 14psi before starting. Sorry for a slightly crap description but it gives you an idea! The kit I have (eeze bleed) came with good instructions anyway and I would imagine others do too.

04-11-2006, 13:41	#1
bpm ------ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dublin Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 12 Thanked 21 Times in 18 Posts	Bleeding brakes Righty. I got new rear discs on the car about 1 month ago and I think some air got into the system. (there is more effort involved in braking and the handbrake needs to be pulled up higher in order to work correctly) So, what do I need to bleed the system and how do I do it? (if thats the case) (Only asking this as the local dealer won't touch non-OEM parts and the place I got the discs installed is about 200 miles away..) Ta __________________ BPM This is a website , NOT a mobile phone. STP USNG TXT SPK

04-11-2006, 18:52	#2
vRSLen Bully Bully :) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 169 Thanked 180 Times in 125 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes Use a large syringe and draw the brake fluid through. If you need one, drop me a line. I might have a few knocking about. __________________ Current car: Black MKII Octavia vRS Combi Previous: Black MKI Octavia vRS Combi Black Fabia Elegance 100 BHP Last edited by vRSLen; 04-11-2006 at 18:53. Reason: Update

05-11-2006, 02:15	#3
TeflonTom Briskodiodion Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hayling Island, Hampshire Posts: 7,995 Thanks: 43 Thanked 211 Times in 183 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes my vote goes for the pressure vessel type bleeder that screws onto the brake flud resovoir and forces out the air using compresser air __________________ vorsprung durch czechnik

05-11-2006, 04:56	#4
Decron It's all good Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cwmbran - South Wales Posts: 3,382 Thanks: 58 Thanked 224 Times in 172 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes You really do need a pressurised bleeder. I have seen it mentioned that bleeding the brakes the old fashioned way with the pedal can cause damage to the seals somewhere. They are about £15 IIRC, and sometimes you need to extend the pipe that fits onto the resevoir cap as the resevoir is buired under other things (It is on the Fabia Vrs) but other than that it will be £15 well spent!

05-11-2006, 05:34	#5
GAFF Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 5,773 Thanks: 25 Thanked 65 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes What about trying another dealer ? Brakes are brakes, I'm sure there all bleed the same ! __________________ GAFF Briskoda Ireland Events, Meets & Pictures.....Race Blue Octavia MkII vRS.....Old Octavia MkI vRS

05-11-2006, 11:51	#6
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes Just go to a local independant garage. I supplied 2L Halfords fluid and they changed the fluid for £15. Considering the pressure kits are £16 ish - I thought that was a bargain. Last edited by Goochie; 05-11-2006 at 11:52.

05-11-2006, 17:47	#7
bpm ------ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dublin Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 12 Thanked 21 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes I'd rather get the kit and learn how to do it for future reference. Any one have a how-to ? __________________ BPM This is a website , NOT a mobile phone. STP USNG TXT SPK

05-11-2006, 21:58	#8
VRSPhil Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cleveland Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 179 Thanked 191 Times in 135 Posts	Re: Bleeding brakes It's pretty simple. The kit I have uses the air from a tyre (spare) to force the fluid through the system. The way I usually do it is to use a syringe to remove most of the fluid from the reservoir and then replace it with fresh fluid. Next I connect the bleeding kit to the top of the reservoir in place of the normal cap and fill the feeding tank with fresh brake fluid. Normally you work from the furthest corner away from the master cylinder (if the cylinder is on the passenger side bulkhead the bleed sequence would be O/S/R, N/S/R, O/S/F. N/S/F). It's just a case of attaching a short piece of clear tube to the bleed nipple with a jar at the other end of the tube and open the nipple. The fluid will be forced through by the pressure from the spare tyre. I'm not sure how long it should be left open but I normally let a fair amount of fluid through to be on the safe side (just make sure the reservoir never runs dry or you will cause yourself problems!). Once you have done that, tighten the nipple back up, remove tube, replace dust cap and move to the next wheel. One thing to note is that most of the kits I looked at recommended that the tyre used to pressurise the system should be reduced to around 14psi before starting. Sorry for a slightly crap description but it gives you an idea! The kit I have (eeze bleed) came with good instructions anyway and I would imagine others do too.

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