Bleeding the brakes - single person way

[vrooom]

how you do it? do i have to get thin by running back and forth to brake pedal and pump it, then top up the tank, and undo/close the bleed nipple all my self ?

or is there an easier way to do it?

Jay

[guru_1071]

buy a easybleed???

[miniman]

Yup, get a Gunson's easi-bleed. You connect the reservoir to a tyre and the airt pushes the fluid through the pipes. Don't use a fully-inflated tyre, though. I did, and it really pisses the fluid through too fast!

[vrooom]

Hmm. i thought you cant allow air into the expension tank?

Where i get them gunson's eazi bleed?

Jay

[miniman]

With the easi-bleed, you don't actually apply air to the master cylinder - you apply it to an extra bottle of brake fluid which is then forced into the master cylinder. You have to be very careful to keep plenty of fresh fluid in the easi-bleed reservoir otherwise it will indeed blow air into the brake lines.

You can see it in action in this pic:



The white cylinder is the extra reservoir which you have to keep full of fluid.

Product available from Frost:

www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8024

I have also seen them from time to time in Halfords.

[Plotloss]

Halfords sell 'em

Pain in the bloody arse things IMHO

Much easier to just get a mate to help.

[miniman]

Plotloss said:

Pain in the bloody arse things IMHO

You think? I will admit that it took me a few tries to find the correct seal for the master cylinder connector to stop fluid pissing out everywhere, but after that it was pretty plain sailing.

[Plotloss]

I just couldnt be arsed with the spare malarky so used a wheelbarrow wheel.

Which then ran out of air.

Repeat

[pdV6]

An alternative is the one-man brake bleed kits that are simply a rubber hose with a one-way valve on the end.

Connect the open end to the bleed nipple and immerse the valved end in a jar of brake fluid.

Pump away at the pedal, remembering to pause and top-up the expansion tank before the level drops too far.

Stop and do up the nipple when you stop seeing bubbles.

Easy.

[vrooom]

I hope my mini let me have a go on her. I hope its worth it, will be on 10"s

[tuscan_v8]

Drag Shelley out and help you !!!

[vrooom]

Oh, aye as if!!

[guru_1071]

dont forget that if you pump the brake pedal on minis fitted with the tandam masters you run a great risk of knackering the seals inside it.

a easybleed is a must on this type of cylinder (unless its new, in which case pumping the pedal will be fine)