brake bleeding question

[cprince]

The car: 1987 BMW 325e 2.7L I6 +225K miles(odometer broke).

Edit: the car has ABS.

The car had been sitting around for a while(~4years) before I bought it. I use a vacuum brake bleeder, and the rear wheels bled just fine. But I could never seems to get the air out of the front wheels. Bubbles constantly appears like air in an aquarium. I went through at least 16oz of brake fluid, and still air bubbles. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[jlee]

Are you keeping the reservoir full while bleeding them? If it drops too low, it'll suck more air in.

 

[cprince]

Originally posted by: JLee
Are you keeping the reservoir full while bleeding them? If it drops too low, it'll suck more air in.

Yes. I read some where that I need to wrap Teflon tape around the bleeder screws. Does this sound right? Why just the front brakes give me problem?

 

[Audiotherapy]

sounds like your using a self bleeder kit? could be non-air tight seals around the bleeding nipple. check the hoses, with age it might start to deteriorate



for ABS, i think you are suppose to pump the brake till its firm and then start from the closest to master cylinder... all else fails get some one to step on the brake for you...

 

[cprince]

Originally posted by: audiotherapy
sounds like your using a self bleeder kit? could be non-air tight seals around the bleeding nipple. check the hoses, with age it might start to deteriorate



for ABS, i think you are suppose to pump the brake till its firm and then start from the closest to master cylinder... all else fails get some one to step on the brake for you...

I'm using the Mityvac Vacuum Pump: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=39522

I couldn't find any leaks, but will do a more thorough check tomorrow. The service manual said to start with the farthest caliber and work my way back. I bought the one-man brake bleeder thing and will try it tomorrow. Just tire of wasting brake fluid.

 

[boomerang]

Round up a friend and have him/her work the brake pedal while you open and close the bleeder screw. You can use the stuff with the Mityvac to do it minus the vacuum pump.

Open the screw and have the helper press the pedal down. Close the screw and have the helper raise the pedal. Communicate with each other as you open and close the bleeder and the pedal is moved.

I'm guessing the bleeder is opened too far and you're sucking air. I do my bleeding solo all the time. The trick is to open the bleeder just enough to where the pedal will go down with some resistance but to where it won't suck air as the pedal goes up.

Either way, you'll get it.

Caveat: I seem to remember some BMW's needing special equipment to bleed with ABS. I've never turned a single wrench on a BMW and I may be totally wrong. It may be worth looking into if you can't achieve a firm pedal using one of the methods above.

Good Luck!

 

[Audiotherapy]

I have the same bleeder kit, its air coming in from the rubber seal. you have to press it down with one hand while using your wrench and pumping with the other hand.

as long as you are keep pumping it should be okay, the air is getting into the bleeder jar not the lines.

Originally posted by: cprince

Originally posted by: audiotherapy
sounds like your using a self bleeder kit? could be non-air tight seals around the bleeding nipple. check the hoses, with age it might start to deteriorate



for ABS, i think you are suppose to pump the brake till its firm and then start from the closest to master cylinder... all else fails get some one to step on the brake for you...

I'm using the Mityvac Vacuum Pump: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=39522

I couldn't find any leaks, but will do a more thorough check tomorrow. The service manual said to start with the farthest caliber and work my way back. I bought the one-man brake bleeder thing and will try it tomorrow. Just tire of wasting brake fluid.

 

[StageLeft]

I could not for the fvcking life of me get a good seal with a self-bleeder pump kit, even after buying attachments. I ended up throwing it into my storage shelf and using my wife.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I could not for the fvcking life of me get a good seal with a self-bleeder pump kit, even after buying attachments. I ended up throwing it into my storage shelf and using my wife.

Actually, I just use the hose itself over the nipple on the end of the bleeder. I've got a translucent plastic container rigged up with a vent and the bleeder hose itself. I have a hook on it that I use to hang it from a spring, the strut or whatever. I hook it up high so the air must rise. The hook also makes it easy to position it so the hose doesn't want to pop off the bleeder screw.

 

[cprince]

Well, I don't have a wife so I bought the $5 one-man brake bleeder and everything is good. No air bubbles in the clear line. I should have gone that route to begin with--save me $40 plus two quarts of brake fluid. Sometimes the best way is the simplest way. Thanks everyone.