Bleeding brakes...

owains · 27 May 2009 at 19:52

My brakes are feeling a little bit spongey so I thought I'd give them a bleed before MOT on Friday. Went to a local car shop and asked for the correct gear and picked up a cheap plastic tube device...

Apparently, there's a little slit at the plugged end which allows the fluid out and prevents air getting back in. I was told that it should be obvious when the system is clear of air as it will stop bubbling through the slit.

Just had a look at some online guides and they all seem to suggest I use a clear tube and actually look for air bubbles flowing down the tube.

What are your thoughts? Has anyone else used a tube as I have just got? Should I just give it a go and see what happens? Or should I go and search for a bit of clear tubing? As this is my first time doing something like this, and with the MOT on Friday, don't really want screw it up!

Thanks for any advice!

Dogbreath · 27 May 2009 at 20:18

My thoughts are that these tubes with a slit don't work unless the threads in the bleed nipple are totaly air-tight. If they aren't then you simply draw in air every time you release the pedal. A bit of grease around the nipple will help to achieve this.

If you can get a mate to help, then a clear tube will allow you to see any air bubbles, and the bleed nipple can be loosened and tightened as you push and lift the pedal to ensure no air gets drawn back.

floatindolphin · 27 May 2009 at 20:21

I'd leave it to the experts.......do you trust yourself that you know that you'll stop after you've "fixed" them?

ganesh · 27 May 2009 at 20:24

I've never done it, but if i were to do it, i've heard this is good - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._uBh7I0HsoM6PrXlrTnVfBMuaytXY3CWAzxhqCaggOQ1U

Lopéz · 27 May 2009 at 20:37

I always use a normal container with a clear tube with no issues, Kate pumps while I do the nipples.
All I managed to do with an Ezibleed when I tried one was make a mess.

Rilot · 27 May 2009 at 20:38

A length of clear tubing and a mate is what you need.
None of the bleed kits (apart from pro pressure bleeders) work properly and I've used many.

Thomas. PLease. · 27 May 2009 at 20:40

Lopéz said:
Kate pumps while I do the nipples.

I bet she does

owains · 27 May 2009 at 20:56

Thanks for the advice chaps.

It looks like the general consensus is to ditch the orange tube and have a go with the standard clear one.

I have no idea where I can pick up just a piece of tubing, but I've found the Europat Vizibleed Bleed Aid, which looks decent.

The problem is, I don't think I'll be able to get to Halfords before it closes tomorrow, so I may not be able to sort it out before MOT on Friday. Will loose spongey brakes cause the car to fail the MOT? Or can I just leave the job until afterwards?

Thanks again!

Rilot · 27 May 2009 at 21:00

Any hardware store such as B&Q will sell you clear plastic tubing.

hyster · 27 May 2009 at 21:10

B1aze said:
Thanks for the advice chaps.

I have no idea where I can pick up just a piece of tubing, but I've found the Europat Vizibleed Bleed Aid, which looks decent.

The problem is, I don't think I'll be able to get to Halfords before it closes tomorrow, so I may not be able to sort it out before MOT on Friday. Will loose spongey brakes cause the car to fail the MOT? Or can I just leave the job until afterwards?

Thanks again!

windscreen washer tubing does the job.

If you have air in your brakes, the pedal will usually build after pressing it a few times into a better pedal, leave it 10secs or so and its back to the way it was to start. If its not doing that it may not be needing bled.

At an MOT it goes on a rolling road and they test brake efficiency, if you have air in the system then it will show as a drop in one (or more) of the wheel's braking power.

If you are not familiar with brakes then take the advice you have been given and leave it to the experts mate.

numnutz · 27 May 2009 at 21:37

Can't you just get the MOT place to bleed the brakes if you're that worried? It's 15minutes work for them, as they'll have access to a vacuum based device.

If anyone's serious about bleeding brakes, you should invest in a Mityvac - It's an awesome piece of kit.

Ev0 · 27 May 2009 at 21:40

Lopéz said:
Kate pumps while I do the nipples.

what an image

BigglesPiP · 27 May 2009 at 22:01

I don't use a tube at all, you can clearly see when bubbles stop coming out of the bleed nipple. All I need is the correct wrench and a monkey to press the pedal.

This method was taught to me be an ATA Master Tech.

I don't use a pressure bleeding system because professional mechanics don't, if it was easier or better they would use it, they do not scrimp on tools.

Lopéz · 27 May 2009 at 22:03

B1aze said:
Will loose spongey brakes cause the car to fail the MOT?

Unless the pedal is fairly firm, yes it will fail. Might be worth paying a garage to do it with a proper pressure bleeding kit, you get a lovely hard pedal that way and it shouldn't cost a huge amount either.

Dogbreath · 27 May 2009 at 22:10

Note that seized caliper pistons or sliders can also cause spongy brakes.

Peter Diffey · 27 May 2009 at 22:24

Bleed kits only work if the nipple is the right shape - otherwise air will get in and render it useless. As mentioned, you dont need to use plastic tubing, only if you want to direct the fluid neatly into a jar or something, just watching the fluid coming out of the nipple itself is obvious

Dave L · 28 May 2009 at 07:38

BigglesPiP said:
I don't use a tube at all, you can clearly see when bubbles stop coming out of the bleed nipple. All I need is the correct wrench and a monkey to press the pedal.

This method was taught to me be an ATA Master Tech.

I don't use a pressure bleeding system because professional mechanics don't, if it was easier or better they would use it, they do not scrimp on tools.

So you just let it **** out of the nipple all over the caliper etc?

jumpy · 28 May 2009 at 08:37

ganesh said:
I've never done it, but if i were to do it, i've heard this is good - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._uBh7I0HsoM6PrXlrTnVfBMuaytXY3CWAzxhqCaggOQ1U

Have used one of those before... I guess it's ok if you are trying to do the job on your own, it did the job without too much bother. Criticisms? : you have to keep disconnecting the system from the master cylinder reservoir in order to refill the replacement fluid container - this means disconnecting the source of air pressure too (your spare tyre), also sometimes the seal where you attach the hoses to the master cylinder reservoir can be a bit leaky. Honestly though, for the money it made it relatively easy to bleed the brakes as a one man job

On the whole it could have been a worse task. The bleed nipple could have sheared off the calliper for a start... :rolleyes:

Some clear hose, an assistant and a container to collect fluid in would be far cheaper, just make sure you immerse the end of the drain tube in some fluid in the collector jar - prevents air being drawn back into the system.

Dogbreath · 28 May 2009 at 12:07

Dave L said:
So you just let it **** out of the nipple all over the caliper etc?

Yep, this is the sort of thing tech's do because they don't give a crap about other peoples cars.

helpimcrap · 28 May 2009 at 12:14

B1aze said:
Thanks for the advice chaps.

It looks like the general consensus is to ditch the orange tube and have a go with the standard clear one.

I have no idea where I can pick up just a piece of tubing, but I've found the Europat Vizibleed Bleed Aid, which looks decent.

The problem is, I don't think I'll be able to get to Halfords before it closes tomorrow, so I may not be able to sort it out before MOT on Friday. Will loose spongey brakes cause the car to fail the MOT? Or can I just leave the job until afterwards?

Thanks again!

yes, clear hose only else you won't see the bubbles. on some cars you *may* need to take the caliper off one at a time and wedge something like a thick screwdriver in if there is still air in there as it will trapped in the caliper. happens a lot on motorbikes.