Easy Splitty brake bleeding

[burnt clutch]

Is there a easy 1 person way to get the air of of the brakes on a Splitty? I'm replacing a dead Brazillian M.C. with a new German one, and was wondering if I jacked the front end up, if I could work out the air bubbles just by pumping the brakes? What methods do you all use for getting the air purged out of your brakes?

-Karl

[CarlSpackler]

The suggestions I got from here for this was to either: a) using an old MC cap, connect an air inlet to the cap, then connect compressed air from a source where you can set it to 10 or so psi. Just enough to push the brake fluid through the lines, then bleed each brake. Or b) remove the MC cap, cut a bike intertube, attach the tube to the top of the MC, fill it with air, and bleed the brakes. I used option b, and though it wasn't fast, it worked. Just make sure you don't run the MC dry or you'll be starting all over again.
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'67 Micro Bus
'73 Thing
'91 Westy

[arthurnugen]

Haven't tried it yet, but I remember someone on her mentioned using a plastic syringe at the bleeder valve and pushing fluid back to the reservoir. Sounds like a cool idea.
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[LittleThunder]

[diy570]

it's faster with two people, but you can just do it the old way by yourself. fill the res, pump the pedal 30 or so times, go to the right rear, crack the bleeder and let the air out. repeat that process on the same wheel til no more air, move to the left rear, same deal, then the fronts. make sure to keep the res topped off throughout.
i rarely use a second person to bleed brakes, and have no troubles.

[Aaron]

I've done my bus brakes the same way I've done all my other cars, am I missing something?

-fill the mc. res.
-put some extra fluid in a jar
- put a section of tube on the bleeder (rear pass, rear driver, front pass, front driver)
submerge the tube in the fluid in the jar, open the bleeder.
-pump the pedal with your hand while watching for the bubbles to stop running thru the tube. Don't let the mc. go dry. Rear pass side is the hardest to monitor.
-when the bubbles stop close the bleeder while keeping the end of the tube submerged in the jar so no air can get in.
The above method is simple, clean and has worked fine for me. I don't think brakes are a thing to rush thru anyway.

[Campy]

For many years, I bled my buses brakes the same whay that 570GRAG described, which is the same way that it is described in the Floyd Clymer's transporter manual.
I got tired of having to have someone push down on the brake pedal while I opened a bleeder valve so I bought one of those cheap ass little brake bleeders, the one with the tiny plastic bottle with the magnet on it, at Kragen's and it has worked good.

[space junkie]

I use the glass jar filled with brake fluid method.

[crass camper]

Just buy an easy bleed kit from a good motor store they have a valve in them that lets air out but not in

[incynr8]

you can use a spare cc syringe for it.
I want a postive fluid pressure bleeder than rams in fresh fluid under mild pressure into the MC and down the pipes, I am seriously considering one of those, gets fluid changed out fast.
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..........
Do it right, or don't bother.

[Wayland]

The method I use for bleeding brakes by myself on my Vws and all other cars is to pump the pedal 6 or so times, then insert a length of 2x4 or whatever between the seat and the pedal. Then you can go under and crack the bleeder screw, then repeat the pump-and-block procedure. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to bleed brakes by yourself.

[cosmo]

I use the bleeder valves. They let the fluid out but have check valve inside to prevent air from returning. Use just crack the valve and start pumping the pedal. You can get them from any auto parts store.

[burnt clutch]

Thanks much for the replies! Does anyone have a brand and size of the bleeder valves that they're using? I remember trying to get some for my Scirocco a few years ago, but the FLAPS only stocked domestic SAE valve sizes.

-Karl

[Kevin T]

I have one of these and it is awesome and very well made
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=85700

[Culito]

$70?!
With a helper, tube and clear bottle, it takes like 15 minutes....
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© CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug

[cdennisg]

The only problem I see with having the hose in the bottom of a bottle of fluid and pumping away at the pedal is this; when the pedal is released some fluid will be drawn back into the system. The point in bleeding brakes is to either clear out old dirty fluid or to replace water contaminated fluid. Either way I wouldn't want to draw the old stuff back into the system. I use two people and only have the valve open when the pedal is being pushed or held down. If the whole system is new, then none of this matters, I guess.

I like the idea of the one-way valves in the bleeders or a pressure system, but as long as I can do things the old way for no extra expense, thats what I'll do.

I've bled the fronts by myself by laying under the bus and pulling on the lever between the brake pedal and the MC while opening and closing the bleeders, but that is tough to do for the rears.

[Ian]

[Campy]

Cdennisg is right: when using the hose from the bleeder valve into a jar of brake fluid method, the bleeder valve should only be opened while the brake pedal is being pushed down. It then needs to be closed when the pedal is near the floor (before it is let up) so air doesn't go back into the system. The only other thing is that the whole point of letting fluid out of the bleeder valve, besides replacing the brake fluid, is to get the air out of the system. Also, brake fluid attracks water and should be replaced every few years.

[Yustrn]

I just did this last weekend myself.

A. 1 empty Corona Bottle
B. 1 line of clear hose
C. New brake Fluid.

Pumped about 30 times, used the end of a broom stick to hold down the pedal, pour some brake fluid into the bottom of the bottle insert clear hose, put the other end of the hose on the bleeder valve, released and watched for air bubbles...did it again as necessary, follow the above steps till you've done all four..and you should be golden. Mine work great.
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I own a copy of "The Car of the Century" by Garwood. This means I am authorized to act like a twat in thesamba forums.

[Culito]

Just don't mistake the brake fluid for Corona later.
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© CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug