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*How many times should you need to bleed new brakes?

1615 Views 84 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  panelman, 
panelman
On my Vette project, I had to replace the calipers. I think I have gone all of the way around the car twice now to get all of the air out.

Today it still feels like there's air on the lines. Is it normal for me to have to do a third bleed on an updated system?
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ETriggs
Possibly, was there any air in the master cylinder?
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Had a few Tri 5's
Sometimes air hangs out in calipers. Hit you calipers with a large plastic hammer around the sides and let it set a while. See if you get anymore air out. If you let the M/C run dry, it might be a :pIA without a pressure bleeder.
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panelman
ETriggs said:
Possibly, was there any air in the master cylinder?
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I honestly don't know. The car sat with shot caliper seals for quite a few years :(
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panelman
Had a few Tri 5's said:
Sometimes air hangs out in calipers. Hit you calipers with a large plastic hammer around the sides and let it set a while. See if you get anymore air out. If you let the M/C run dry, it might be a :pIA without a pressure bleeder.
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Thank you.
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Pops @ Tri-5.com
What method are you using to bleed the brake system?
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wagonman100
If the master cylinder ran dry, you will have to bench bleed it. You can do it on the car by disconnecting the lines and installing fittings and hoses directed back into the reservoir and gently pumping the pedal until there are no more bubbles. Then reconnect the lines and bleed the brakes as normal starting with the furthest wheel from the master cylinder.and working to the closest. It should take no more than one pass if you do it until you see no bubbles coming out of the bleeders. I usually put a clear vinyl hose on the bleeder and hold the end in a jar with the end of the hose submersed in some brake fluid. A pressure bleeder does make the job easier and a one person job. I made one out of a garden sprayer and a spare master cylinder lid and some fittings. You can look up how to do it on YouTube.
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panelman
I am doing manual bleeding with a 2nd person, and going from the farthest wheel to the closest.
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Pops @ Tri-5.com
panelman said:
I am doing manual bleeding with a 2nd person, and going from the farthest wheel to the closest.
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I have found (through many failures) that this method: DIY Pressure Bleeder or a Motive Brake Bleeder work better.
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zr1bill
I’m sure you know this, but just in case, there are two bleeders on each caliper on a C2/C3 caliper.
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Elijah
I recently sold a C3 Vette that I had owned for close to 10 years and brake bleeding that car was far different than anything else I had owned. A power bleeder is your friend with a Vette and lifting the rear end of the car so the master is level was another great tip that I found out about.
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Shadetree55
panelman said:
I am doing manual bleeding with a 2nd person, and going from the farthest wheel to the closest.
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I always start at right ft and work my way around.
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panelman
Elijah said:
I recently sold a C3 Vette that I had owned for close to 10 years and brake bleeding that car was far different than anything else I had owned. A power bleeder is your friend with a Vette and lifting the rear end of the car so the master is level was another great tip that I found out about.
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Interesting on making it level! I had not heard that before. At this point I'll try anything. Don't understand how this car's brakes are so different!!

And thank you also to the poster who mentioned the extra bleeders on the back wheels. I did catch those, thankfully!
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panelman
Shadetree55 said:
I always start at right ft and work my way around.
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May I ask what the theory is behind that? I'm not being sarcastic at all, just never heard that done before.
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hotrodg726
panelman said:
Interesting on making it level! I was always taught you wanted the MC higher! At this point I'll try anything. Don't understand how this car's brakes are so different!!
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the are not that difficult. you just have not bled enough. its not how many trips around the car it how much fluid you push thru at each corner. as other have posted a pressure bleeder is your friend.
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Shadetree55
panelman said:
May I ask what the theory is behind that? I'm not being sarcastic at all, just never heard that done before.
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no theory, just the way I have always done it and never had a problem.
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Elijah
panelman said:
Interesting on making it level! I had not heard that before.
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Make sure you put a short bubble level on top of the master cylinder to get it perfectly level. The logic behind this is that on a C3 the master cylinder is greatly tilted up in the front and this allows for an air pocket to form and that will cause brake bleeding issues with the air pocket that you can't get rid of.
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angs1957
I`ve bleed mine like hotrodg726 suggested, sometimes I`ll sit on the same cylinder more than once so I don't have to go round and round again
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panelman
Thanks all for the info. I'm not sure if I am willing to spend 60 bucks on a pressure bleeder that will sit on my shelf forever once I'm past this debacle. I also don't have the gift of making one out of a garden sprayer, so I'll have to ponder on that one :)
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Shadetree55
panelman said:
Thanks all for the info. I'm not sure if I am willing to spend 60 bucks on a pressure bleeder that will sit on my shelf forever once I'm past this debacle. I also don't have the gift of making one out of a garden sprayer, so I'll have to ponder on that one :)
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A vacuum bleeder is about 30 bucks and is handy
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