Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap
Forum Index -> Beetle - 1958-1967 Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
hhf12345
Samba Member


Joined: May 28, 2022
Posts: 1
Location: Maryland
hhf12345 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2022 5:20 pm    Post subject: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

I'm in the process of replacing most of the braking system on my '67 Beetle and read numerous posts about the time and effort required to bleed after replacing the master cylinder, wheel cylinders and lines. I saw the various methods of using vacuum pumps, garden sprayers, gravity bleeding and the traditional pump-the-pedal-forever. Here's what worked for me, virtually no-cost:

- Plastic air pump used for sports balls
- Cap from a bottle of brake fluid (or other similar cap)

Drill a hole in the cap (1/4" worked for me.) Use the tapered plastic nozzle on the air pump (the one used for blowing up a beach ball.) Fill the reservoir, attach clear plastic tubing to the bleeder screw with the other end in a bottle. Open the bleeder screw 1/2 turn.

Insert the pump nozzle into the hole in the cap and pump 10-15 strokes. No sealer on the cap is necessary, since the nozzle is tapered. Check the tubing at the wheel to see if you're getting fluid and/or bubbles. Keep pumping until you get only fluid, checking the reservoir every so often to make sure the fluid level is sufficient.

I bled in the sequence suggested, RF, LF, RR, LR. It took about 20 strokes for each front wheel and 30-35 for the rear wheels. Very easy and used about 2/3 of a quart of brake fluid.

I put teflon tape on the threads of the bleeder screws to keep fluid from seeping out while the screw is open. Just don't cover the little hole near the bottom.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Cusser
Samba Member


Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 32483
Location: Hot Arizona
Cusser is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2022 7:00 am    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

hhf12345 wrote:
I'm in the process of replacing most of the braking system on my '67 Beetle and read numerous posts about the time and effort required to bleed after replacing the master cylinder, wheel cylinders and lines. I saw the various methods of using vacuum pumps, garden sprayers, gravity bleeding and the traditional pump-the-pedal-forever. Here's what worked for me, virtually no-cost:

- Plastic air pump used for sports balls
- Cap from a bottle of brake fluid (or other similar cap)

Drill a hole in the cap (1/4" worked for me.) Use the tapered plastic nozzle on the air pump (the one used for blowing up a beach ball.) Fill the reservoir, attach clear plastic tubing to the bleeder screw with the other end in a bottle. Open the bleeder screw 1/2 turn.

Insert the pump nozzle into the hole in the cap and pump 10-15 strokes. No sealer on the cap is necessary, since the nozzle is tapered. Check the tubing at the wheel to see if you're getting fluid and/or bubbles. Keep pumping until you get only fluid, checking the reservoir every so often to make sure the fluid level is sufficient.

I bled in the sequence suggested, RF, LF, RR, LR. It took about 20 strokes for each front wheel and 30-35 for the rear wheels. Very easy and used about 2/3 of a quart of brake fluid.

I put teflon tape on the threads of the bleeder screws to keep fluid from seeping out while the screw is open. Just don't cover the little hole near the bottom.


Seems good to me.

I had used a small air compressor set to low pressure to do similar bleeding on my 1971 last year.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
vwtrey
Samba Member


Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 589
Location: NM
vwtrey is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2022 7:04 am    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

I was thinking about this the other day, probably on the 1 millionth pump on my vacuum pump. Glad it works.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
74 Thing
Samba Member


Joined: September 02, 2004
Posts: 7582

74 Thing is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2022 11:42 am    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

That is thinking outside of the box!

I have used anti seize on the bleeder screw threads so that air will not get sucked back in when bleeding and so of course they don't seize for the next time you want to bleed your brakes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Cusser
Samba Member


Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 32483
Location: Hot Arizona
Cusser is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2022 12:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

Cusser wrote:
I had used a small air compressor set to low pressure to do similar bleeding on my 1971 last year.


In this thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Trikeman72
Samba Member


Joined: April 16, 2008
Posts: 42
Location: Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Trikeman72 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2022 4:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

Cusser wrote:
Cusser wrote:
I had used a small air compressor set to low pressure to do similar bleeding on my 1971 last year.


In this thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0


I may do something like this if I have to bleed my brakes more.
I got a marathon thread for my rail brakes been kicking my donkey.
I actually had way too much gap between push rod and mcy piston. Now it’s properly setup. Waiting on my helper to get back from Ohio 😞
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Heiferman
Samba Member


Joined: February 28, 2024
Posts: 205
Location: Georgia, USA
Heiferman is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 4:24 pm    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

Cusser wrote:
Cusser wrote:
I had used a small air compressor set to low pressure to do similar bleeding on my 1971 last year.


In this thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0


For the win. I was screwing around with a master all day and saw this thread. I bench bled it, have new lines, blah blah, even cracked lines between the metal lines and hoses and got fluid but nothing from the front bleeders. Put a valve stem in a plastic Coke bottle cap. Used a bike pump and it worked well to get some fluid to the front cylinders on my Thing.

The rears were no problem.

Thanks for the post!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
zerotofifty
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3098

zerotofifty is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 5:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Pressure Brake Bleeding - Easy and Cheap Reply with quote

74 Thing wrote:
That is thinking outside of the box!

I have used anti seize on the bleeder screw threads so that air will not get sucked back in when bleeding and so of course they don't seize for the next time you want to bleed your brakes.


Use brake system compatible grease, the same stuff that VW called "brake paste" regular antiseize can ruin the rubber bits in the brake system. Brake compatible grease is harmless to the rubber bits. I also use this brake grease for assembly if the cylinders, coating the bores and piston sides with it to prevent corrosion on the non wetted surfaces. Never use brake fluid for this purpose as doing so will promote corrosion as the fluid absorbs moisture.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Beetle - 1958-1967 All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2024, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.