Front Caliper Brake Bleeding

[afree]

A few questions when bleeding the front calipers:

1. Using a power bleeder, is it painfully slow for anyone else? When the bleeder is too far out, it leaks out the sides, still slow. When just barely cracked open, still leaks out the sides (not as much) but still very slow. Power bleeder set to 10-15psi.

2. Do you need to bleed both the inner and outer sides of the caliper or is the outer enough? I noticed both sides of each front caliper have a bleeder port. I assume this is so they can get away with one caliper PN for both sides?

Thanks

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[razorlab]

Both sides. Use 20-25psi

L/R caliper are not the same part number.

 

[climhazzard]

Front passenger was a bit slow for me until I increased the pressure to a little over 15 psi. I echo what @razorlab said, and make sure not to exceed 29 psi/2 bar.

 

[i3igpete]

yes it's painfully slow. i used this thing with a checkvalve on the hose so i could footpump. with this thing, hitting the other bleeder is trivial - swap it and give it a pump. i still had a pressure bleeder hooked up so i wouldn't need to keep checking the reservoir.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YF7T2CG?psc=1

note: ziptie or springclamp the hose onto the nipple so it doesn't wiggle off

 

[tracer bullet]

checkvalve

Oh! I haven't seen one of those before. Excellent idea.

 

[afree]

yes it's painfully slow. i used this thing with a checkvalve on the hose so i could footpump. with this thing, hitting the other bleeder is trivial - swap it and give it a pump. i still had a pressure bleeder hooked up so i wouldn't need to keep checking the reservoir.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YF7T2CG?psc=1

note: ziptie or springclamp the hose onto the nipple so it doesn't wiggle off

Damn this is a great idea.

 

[climhazzard]

Just did my brake fluid again (3 years… I know, terrible.)

I kept a close eye on things this time; my front right outer bleeder is painfully slow; it drips at the pace of a gravity bleed. I waited 45 minutes and maybe got 100 ML out. Every other bleeder, including the front right inner, is exponentially quicker with a steady stream of fluid. I used about 20 psi on the pressure bleeder.

I’m not sure if this is normal, but I can’t imagine what would be wrong. Stock car, original owner, under 6000 miles.

 

[lucky phil]

yes it's painfully slow. i used this thing with a checkvalve on the hose so i could footpump. with this thing, hitting the other bleeder is trivial - swap it and give it a pump. i still had a pressure bleeder hooked up so i wouldn't need to keep checking the reservoir.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YF7T2CG?psc=1

note: ziptie or springclamp the hose onto the nipple so it doesn't wiggle off

One thing to be aware of using this or the old manual bleeding method with someone else on the brake pedal is that you are pushing the master cylinder piston a lot further down the bore than it ever travels normally and after some years of use this is where corrosion and wear contaminants can accumulate. During full travel of the piston when manual bleeding this can cause seal damage to the master cylinder piston seals. Not a major issue on a new/fairly new car but something to bare in mind when the car has some age/miles on it. Better to pressure bleed then.
Phil

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