C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

[Christopher R.]

Has anyone successfully bled their C1 brakes by using the gravity method?

[John H.]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

Chris -

Nope, not that patient. Have always used either my MityVac or the "pump-and-hold" routine with a helper.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

to gravity bleed you must leave to cap off the MC and this will let excess moisture into the fluid and this is a no/no. the least time the cap is off the MC the better off you are.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

I have successfully used one of those "one-man-bleeder" kits that you get at the auto parts store for $5. Has a lenght of clear tubing and a small bottle witha magnet on it. They really work quite well, and a re handy even if you are using the regimen with the helper. Keeps fluid from going everywhere. No success at all with the Mity Vac. Too much problem sucking air around the bleeder screw threads.

[Patrick T.]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

I have gravity bled my '57 and '67 many times, but I used DOT 5 Silicone fluid, so moisture was not a problem. It works well, if you're not in a rush.

[andy#34338]

Clem, C1's have vent holes in the cap

Clem,
C1's have vent holes in the cap

[Bob Malone #35242]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

Okay, I'll bite. How do you gravity bleed a system?

[Clem Z.]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

just open the bleeders and go on a weeks vacation,when you come back it may be done. just kidding but it does take quite a while. just make sure you keep the MC full. the best way is to use a pressure bleeder you can rent from some large auto parts.i like the speed bleeders myself because it take all the open/close routine out of the equation.

[Ted Stock]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

FYI - I've had good luck with a Mity Vac but you need to put teflon tape around the bleeder threads to prevent air from coming in around the threads. If you do that up front you can bleed an entire system pretty quickly with minimal fluid waste. And if you're using Dot 5 fluid waste even becomes more important. I bought a Mity Vac because of a brake system I couldn't get the ol' two person pump-hold-bleed method to work.

Ted

[Ted Stock]

Re: C1 Gravity Brake Bleeding

FYI - I've had good luck with a Mity Vac but you need to put teflon tape around the bleeder threads to prevent air from coming in around the threads. If you do that up front you can bleed an entire system pretty quickly with minimal fluid waste. And if you're using Dot 5 fluid waste even becomes more important. I bought a Mity Vac because of a brake system I couldn't get the ol' two person pump-hold-bleed method to work.

Ted