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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair => Topic started by: jow003 on June 18, 2010, 06:43:24 AM

Title: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on June 18, 2010, 06:43:24 AM
this makes me feel kinda incompetent but o well.  I need to bleed the brakes but i dont really know how to doit.  any pointers?  how much fluid should i have on hand?  thanks in advance
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: Bobthebiker on June 18, 2010, 07:16:13 AM
Bleeding brakes is best done with 2 people.  one pumping the brakes, and one opening bleeders.    you have to pump the brakes up, then hold pressure while you or your helper opens a bleeder to let air out, close it, then let off the brake pedal and repeat until ONLY brake fluid comes out of the bleeder.   do this on each caliper.    how mcuh fluid you need on hand depends greatly on how much air is in the lines.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on June 18, 2010, 07:28:32 AM
so...
-connect lines
-fill resevoir (sp?)
-pump brakes
-loosen bleeder to let bubbles out(what does that look like?)

that seems easy enough
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: Bobthebiker on June 18, 2010, 07:45:14 AM
I usually use a piece of tubing on the bleeder to hold some brake fluid, which makes it easier to see the air bubbles.     think about air bubbles in water,  looks the same as that basically.   

btw DO NOT get brake fluid on paint.  stuff is freakin corrosive and WILL DESTROY paint.  it'll eat down to metal.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on June 18, 2010, 07:57:19 AM
my pain isnt something to be savored haha but noted
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: Drone637 on June 18, 2010, 09:27:39 AM
You want to start on the brake line that has the most distance to travel first.  So probably drivers rear, passenger rear, passenger front drivers front.

It might be worth it to pick up a brake bleeder kit from your local Harbor Freight so you get a nice catch bottle. 
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on June 18, 2010, 10:01:34 AM
will do, hopin to have it rollin tonight!
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: Bobthebiker on June 18, 2010, 02:30:50 PM
Btw,  vacuum bleeders are GREAT.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: 8yota9 on July 17, 2010, 05:56:39 PM
i belive on a samurai the passenger rear has the most distance to travle
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: fordem on July 17, 2010, 07:35:45 PM
i belive on a samurai the passenger rear has the most distance to travle

Is your Samurai right hand drive or left hand drive?  The left side rear has the longest lines.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: 8yota9 on July 18, 2010, 08:20:58 AM
i just relized my error. the brake lines travle down the right side making the left side the farthest to travle. sorry guys
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on July 20, 2010, 05:26:29 AM
when i put on my SPOA i had to add brake extensions (2 of em for the rear) but i have stripped the bleeder nut on the rear passenger side trying to get it loose.  started with a socket and then vice grips to no avail, can i bleed it at the bottom of the extension i put on ??? or would that not help
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: grats on July 20, 2010, 06:51:35 AM
Won't help, because you still have air in the cylinder. Buy a new brake cylinder, the're cheap. Like $20.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: wildgoody on July 20, 2010, 06:53:20 AM
That won't help, go get a rebuilt wheel cylinder and be done with it, in
fact go get 2, they don't cost that much and then it will all be new

Wild
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on July 20, 2010, 07:43:34 AM
i dont think its the wheel/brake cyninder.  the bleeder nipple is what i mean, its rusted/corroded such that PB blast and vice grips do nothing but strip it.  if thats what yall are talkin about then its me, ill try and snap a pic when i get home this afternoon
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: grats on July 20, 2010, 09:40:04 AM
Yes, but to replace the bleeder you have to buy the whole brake cylinder. It comes attached when you buy one.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: wildgoody on July 24, 2010, 12:34:58 AM
That is correct, bite the bullet and replace them, unless you can remove
and replace the bleeder, replace the wheel cylinder

Wild
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: fordem on July 24, 2010, 06:04:34 AM
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1987-Suzuki-Samurai/Brake-Bleeder-Screw/_/N-iiv3lZ8knge (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1987-Suzuki-Samurai/Brake-Bleeder-Screw/_/N-iiv3lZ8knge)
Bleed screws are available separately from most parts stores
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on July 27, 2010, 06:22:15 AM
took off the hub and everything was nasty as you can see in the pic, put a little fluid in and pushed the brake pedal and you'd a thought there was a water gun in there it sprayed so bad.  got a new one, $15 at autozone, and so far so good.  any ideas on how to get a bleeder off/out when its been stripped by box end/vice grips?
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: fordem on July 27, 2010, 06:41:17 AM
any ideas on how to get a bleeder off/out when its been stripped by box end/vice grips?

I'd use an "easyout" or something similar - start by very carefully drilling the hole in the bleed nipple larger & larger until you get the easy out in.

Or just replace the entire wheel cylinder.
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: jow003 on July 27, 2010, 06:54:21 AM
i thought i had to get it off to replace it, may just do that and save the headache.  my first one took 2-3 hours, 2nd only about 45min
Title: Re: bleeding brakes
Post by: wildgoody on July 27, 2010, 08:23:43 AM
Go to autozone and get them to look up the part, then take a look at it
so you know what it looks like and how it's all together, like the bleeder
is part of the wheel cylinder.

That's why we kept telling you to just get a new wheel cylinder, it is the
fast easy way to fix your problem, but if you want to do this the hard way
I won't stand in your way  ;) , You asked for help, and the best way was
given, but you have to follow the suggestion or beat your own path, the
choice is yours, and a learning experience along the way

Wild