Gravity brake bleeding

[Ken B.]

Every time I have do brake bleeding I have used someone to work the brake pedal for me. As I get ready to take the car out for its maiden cruise the brakes are a little spongey. And of course i have no one to give me a hand at this time.Can someone tell me the proper procedure for gravity bleeding.Thanks
Ken

[Donald T.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

Ken,

The procedure to gravity blead brakes really isn't any different, except you won't have someone working the pedal. It will take a little longer, but that's about it. The master cylinder is higher than the caliper, so gravity will cause the fluid to drain once the system is opened up. I've done it many times without an assistant without any problems.

[Ken B.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

So just open the bleeder and let it drip? One wheel at a time?

[Don Y.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

That's pretty much the process. You can open all of the bleeders but it just gets messier faster. I have found this is a good initial process for getting a jump start on the bleeding but never felt comfortable without then surge bleeding the system after the gravity bleeding.
Don Yesacavage

[Rob A.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

Ken,

You can buy a very inexpensive kit that comes with a small bottle that has a magnet on it. You attach the tube frome the bottle to the bleeder valve and the bottle will hold by magnet. Gravity bleeding is slow, and you can go away for awhile. You'll be able to see how much fluid needs to be replaced by the bottle. After the first valve, you'll know how long it takes to fill the bottle.

[Donald B.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

For $30 or so you can purchase a hand held/operated pump that sucks the fluid out. Leaving a brake line open to drain and then walk away sound like you are increasing the risk of all the fluid draining out and introducing more air to the system. Gravity bleeding also sounds like it is time consuming.

Doesn't make sense to me - but, oh well.

JMO

[Gregory M.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

Ken,

I am always looking for ways to do things myself. The best $40 I have spent recently was for a "Mighty Vac" at Pep Boys. Just read the instructions and you won't believe how well it works and how easy it is to bleed brakes by yourself. Trust me, its "greg" proof...

You can also use it for other things, like troubleshooting vacuuum leaks and testing vacuum diaphrams...every tool box should have one...

GM

[John H.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

The best sixty bucks I ever spent for a tool was for the Motive Products power bleeder; bleeds ANY Corvette in ten minutes, with one person, and one trip around the car, and you don't have to keep an eye on the master cylinder. Have used all the other methods over the years (gravity, pump-and-hold, Mityvac, Phoenix Injector, etc.), and none of them even come close.

[Don Y.]

Re: Gravity brake bleeding

Looks like a midget garden sprayer!