Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

[Bryan M.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Guys,
That power bleeder looks like the answer for my one person operation.
Fortunately, I didn't have to spend any money on my homemade job so I can toss it and invest in a quality unit.

John,
What's the model #?

[Joe L.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Guys,
That power bleeder looks like the answer for my one person operation.
Fortunately, I didn't have to spend any money on my homemade job so I can toss it and invest in a quality unit.

John,
What's the model #?

Bryan-----


For a 1967-82 Corvette, Motive Products #0105 is the way to go. This is a kit which includes the bleeder unit + the adapter for 67-82 master cylinders.

The same bleeder unit can be used for ALL Corvettes and most other cars. However, different master cylinder adapters may need to be acquired.

[W H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Bryan -

If you do purchase the Motive power bleeder (which I highly recommend), make sure that you follow John and Joe's advice to use an alternate clamping method for the MC adapter - the OE chain system will leak.

Though not as professional looking as John's setup, it works! Had to use two clamps due to the configuration of my 65 power brake MC.

Good Luck

Dave

[Greg H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

When using these pressure bleeders, do you first have to bleed the master cylinder or do they also accomplish that as part of the system bleed?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

When using these pressure bleeders, do you first have to bleed the master cylinder or do they also accomplish that as part of the system bleed?

I would always bench bleed the master cylinder first. Yes, the pressure bleeder might do a fine job, but since it does not take much time or effort to bench bleed the MC, do you want to take the chance?

Patrick

[Greg H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Yup, best sixty bucks you can spend - makes bleeding Corvette disc brakes a one-person ten-minute job, produces a nice hard pedal.

In this setup the tube is completely void of air. Is the reservoir also? That would mean a messy removal of the tool. When I first tried this (unsuccessfully) there was a mixture of air and fluid in the tube, so also int eh reservoir. I did not have a mess, but found I had a leaky MC. Any tips on using this tool to ensure you don't run out of fluid in the reservoir but still don't create a mess?

[John H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

In this setup the tube is completely void of air. Is the reservoir also? That would mean a messy removal of the tool. When I first tried this (unsuccessfully) there was a mixture of air and fluid in the tube, so also int eh reservoir. I did not have a mess, but found I had a leaky MC. Any tips on using this tool to ensure you don't run out of fluid in the reservoir but still don't create a mess?

If you have fluid in the bottle, you won't have air in the tube (unless you shake the bottle); the pump doesn't pump fluid- it just creates air pressure above the fluid in the bottle to force the fluid through the tube.

If I was going to use this tool every day, I'd add a pair of valves to the adapter with tubes 1/2" long into the reservoirs, and use a suction bulb to withdraw the excess fluid from the reservoirs prior to removing the adapter.

[Greg H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Here's how it worked for me. I pressurized the bottle with fluid in it, some fluid entering the tube, pressing the air toward the MC. The fluid then settles in the tube, so there is fluid, air, fluid, air. Is it intended to have absolutely no air so the reservoir is completely full of fluid? Sounds like a real mess in the end. I must be missing something.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Here's how it worked for me. I pressurized the bottle with fluid in it, some fluid entering the tube, pressing the air toward the MC. The fluid then settles in the tube, so there is fluid, air, fluid, air. Is it intended to have absolutely no air so the reservoir is completely full of fluid? Sounds like a real mess in the end. I must be missing something.

Greg,

I suspect that you might not have had enough fluid, or you had the bottle tipped away from the fluid inlet port which is situated at the bottom of the canister. You can see it when you have the top off the unit.

When I use the pressure bleeder I specifically tip the bottle toward the fluid inlet so it's always covered with fluid. When I get to the last wheel (usually left front) I tip it away and allow air to go into the system. That's usually just enough to drain down the level of the fluid inside the MC so that I don't end up with too much in the system and any in the pressure lines. I then go ahead and bleed the last wheel and all is well.

Patrick

[Thomas E.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Will this same Motive kit work on a "66" with power brakes? Anyone have the 65/66 power brake system experience care to comment?
Thanks,Tom in Ohio

[Joe L.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Will this same Motive kit work on a "66" with power brakes? Anyone have the 65/66 power brake system experience care to comment?
Thanks,Tom in Ohio

Tom-----


The Motive Products bleeder will work on a 1966 with power brakes. The problem is that there's no specific adapter available for this master cylinder configuration. However, I think it would be possible to use one of the other adapters that Motive Products has available (i.e. for small, round master cylinders) and use it (with a clamp arrangement like John has pictured). You would then bleed the front and rear systems separately. In other words, you would install the adapter on the forward reservoir, bleed 2 wheels and then move the adapter to the rear reservoir and bleed those 2 wheels.

If anyone has used the Motive Products bleeder on a C1, I would think whatever adapter they used would also work on a 65-66 with power brakes.

[Mark P.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

I used a Motive bleeder for the 1st time this past weekend when I changed the non-power MC on my 1965. It worked really well. Once I bench bled the MC I installed it. The bleeding took 15 minutes. The whole job was an hour. The pedal is nice and firm.

I was the first customer of their new kit for the 63-65 Corvette non-power. It has a 6" round plate of 1/8" inch steel. I did have to cut 1/4" off to seal properly because it was hitting the firewall.

I told the owner of Motive and he will look at modifying the plate or enlarging the gasket.

[Edward M.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

Yup, best sixty bucks you can spend - makes bleeding Corvette disc brakes a one-person ten-minute job, produces a nice hard pedal.

Yes, except see if you can find a bigger clamp, that one looks kind of chinzy

John is right, best 60 buck investment you can make!

[Scott S.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

I used some green garbage bags and filled the area around the master cyl. with them and taped the bags and some old rags to make suire nothing would get on any paint. The pressure cap for the bleeder leak a little , glad I had everything covered up. Also had a can of blake cleaner to spray things. Once I tighten down the cover everything went good. Just keep the pressure around 5 lb. to 8 ilbs. works great.

There was a thread on CF a few years ago where the guy was bleeding with his Motive and the tube burst spraying brake fluid all over his paint. I always check mine carefully before and after I pressurize and I tarp my fender with garbage bags.

[John H.]

Re: Pressure Bleeding the Corvette Brake System

There was a thread on CF a few years ago where the guy was bleeding with his Motive and the tube burst spraying brake fluid all over his paint.

I remember that thread - the guy didn't help any by pumping the bottle up to 30 psi instead of the specified 10-15 psi; if all else fails, read the instructions.