My first time brake bleeding - a few questions.

[Radrick123]

I have a '76 Bay Window and a leak in the rear passenger cylinder so I will be replacing the cylinder, shoes and bleeding the brakes.

Is one of the $20 vacuum bleeding kits OK? Or should I get a friend to pump the brakes?

How much brake fluid do I need? What brand? And would you suggest DOT 4 or 5?

Thanks!

[aeromech]

It’s DOT 3 or 4. DOT 5 will screw up your brakes.

Use a friend to pump the brakes. My bleeder is $150 and I’d never use anything else.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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DC9/MD80
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Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
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Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[TomWesty]

I don’t like the vacuum bleeders on a bus. I’ve always had better success with the pump method.
_________________
If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music!

[aeromech]

I never had any luck with a handheld Mityvac but my Vacula can suck the chrome, well you understand
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Wildthings]

Buy a quart of brake fluid, you will probably not use it all, but may use more than one of the smaller bottles.

[stwesty]

I've tried various one person bleeding contraptions including the Mityvac and all of them are an exercise in frustration. Get a helper to pump the brakes.

The only type I haven't tried are the pump style ones like this: https://www.amazon.com/Motive-Products-European-Bleeder-Adapter/dp/B0002KM5L0

But given the price and the space it'll take up I'm inclined to stick with a friend and a can of beer.
_________________
1974 Westfalia, automatic, dual-carb

[hiwaycallin]

[wiscokid]

Make sure your friend knows what he is doing, it makes everything go a lot smoother. Many moons ago I had some help bleeding brakes, I could hear him pumping the pedal but after many attempts still no pressure, turns out he was pumping the clutch.
_________________
Nathan
1970 deluxe nine passenger (Hugo)
1970 westfalia

[Radrick123]

Maybe this is a stupid question but can’t i do the pump method myself if I have a long enough bleed tube that reaches to the drivers seat?

[raygreenwood]

[Spike0180]

[Wildthings]

[timvw7476]

^^^^^^wrap the bleeders in teflon, & do a gravity bleed.^^^^^^^^^
One person operation. Has to be tutorial on the Samba somewhere.

[Abscate]

I’ve never owned a pressure bleeder and bleed them solo.

You don’t need to put the hose under brake fluid, just route it up and then down so it has a head in it from the hose.

If air leaks into the bleeder it’s either too loose or it’s toast, out a new one on. I always have four new ones in my hand when I do brakes so that they never freeze. My cars typically go five years between major brake jobs so I put new bleeders on then.

If air is sneaking in between the hose and bleeder it isn’t tight enough. Put a small clamp on it.

I flush with the bleeders wide open, until clean fluid comes out, then close , pump 10x, then just crack (1/8 turn or less) then apply slow strokes to push air out.

Road test for action and sponginess.
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.ssS!

[udidwht]

[jtauxe]

If you are pumping the pedal, just be careful and don't make the mistake I made (twice ): If you have an old master cylinder and pump it beyond its wear-in limits, which is all too easy to do when bleeding, you will force the rubber seals into the crappy area of the cylinder and tear them up. Then you get to rebuild or replace the master cylinder, too!
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[raygreenwood]

[jtauxe]

[raygreenwood]