New favorite brake bleeder
08-31-2004, 04:44 PM
#16
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Hi Ron,
I USED to bleed brakes years ago with the pumping-the-pedal method (with many diff vehicles), and never had any mc go bad on me. The difference, I believe, is that I would depress the brake pedal only as far as its normal pedal travel, and not all the way to the floor (I've used the clutch pedal as a reference point). The issue is that the piston in the mc goes only so far under normal use. Over years of this same-travel-wear, the area of the bore just beyond the piston stroke (which has never seen wear over the period of time) may develop corrosion or minor ridges. This is of no consequence UNTIL the pison pushes through this area (when you're bleeding it and pushing that pedal to the floor) which then can damage the seal at the piston. All of sudden, what was once a perfectly good, albeit old, mc is now one that leaks --not leaks fluid, but the piston now pushes through the bore which results in the classic "pedal sinks at a stoplight" syndrome. I would theorize that if one bleeds the pedal-pushing method from day-one of a new mc's installation, and bleeds fairly regularly so as to prevent any build-up beyond the "normal" spot, then all would be fine. For me, this is too much truoble; the Motive is just easier. And as for bleeding at the track, the "pedal method" is perfectly fine so long as one depresses the pedal no further than its normal point (but again, wouldn't the Motive be easier in this case, too?). Hope this makes sense..take care.
Edward
I USED to bleed brakes years ago with the pumping-the-pedal method (with many diff vehicles), and never had any mc go bad on me. The difference, I believe, is that I would depress the brake pedal only as far as its normal pedal travel, and not all the way to the floor (I've used the clutch pedal as a reference point). The issue is that the piston in the mc goes only so far under normal use. Over years of this same-travel-wear, the area of the bore just beyond the piston stroke (which has never seen wear over the period of time) may develop corrosion or minor ridges. This is of no consequence UNTIL the pison pushes through this area (when you're bleeding it and pushing that pedal to the floor) which then can damage the seal at the piston. All of sudden, what was once a perfectly good, albeit old, mc is now one that leaks --not leaks fluid, but the piston now pushes through the bore which results in the classic "pedal sinks at a stoplight" syndrome. I would theorize that if one bleeds the pedal-pushing method from day-one of a new mc's installation, and bleeds fairly regularly so as to prevent any build-up beyond the "normal" spot, then all would be fine. For me, this is too much truoble; the Motive is just easier. And as for bleeding at the track, the "pedal method" is perfectly fine so long as one depresses the pedal no further than its normal point (but again, wouldn't the Motive be easier in this case, too?). Hope this makes sense..take care.
Edward
09-01-2004, 11:29 PM
#18
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For those of you that still use the pedal method and who's SO is tired of running out to the garage to pump said pedal. There is a product called a speed bleeder, its at Performance products. Makes it easy to bleed them by yourself. 
http://smallurl.com?i=17892
Pete
http://smallurl.com?i=17892
Pete
