Bleeding

[Kev56]

Having worked on my own vehicles for many years, I know a fair bit about them (old school cars)
But I recently saw some videos on the tube about bleeding the brakes, using the ‘ gravity method ‘ anyone done this because I don’t get it, how do the air bubbles travel downwards? I’m obviously missing something. I always used the pedal down, up, down, close the bleed screw. Then came the one way bleed valve tubes. I just don’t get how gravity pulls down the air.

 

[sidepod]

Never heard of this method.

One thing I do which seems effective is add a syringe to the bleed tube then pull a vacuum before opening the bleed nut.

What job are you doing? Caliper change perhaps?

 

[Kev56]

Never heard of this method.

One thing I do which seems effective is add a syringe to the bleed tube then pull a vacuum before opening the bleed nut.

What job are you doing? Caliper change perhaps?

Yes, i've seen vacuum pumps that do the same. Have a look on you tube theres a ton of them on the gravity idea, but as i've said it makes no sense to me.

 

[dspuk]

I guess technically all bleeding is gravity, you’re just giving gravity a helping hand with the pedal or another contraption to speed things up. Looks like it would take a while as you need to wait for the liquid to drain through and be bubble free but can’t see how it would not work. Eventually.

I’ve always had a helper and use a one way valve on my hose for my 63 Land Rover. I guess if I was patient and had a lot of spare brake fluid this would work. I’ve tried contraptions on the MC but find them fiddly.

Mind, the LR brake still spongy after. Kit this old you need to also use the stick holding down the brake pedal for 24h method as well.

Like everything on un-social media. Part true. Part twaddle. Mostly harmless as Douglas would say.