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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] gravity bleed procedure? (semi-stranded)
[GMCnet] gravity bleed procedure? (semi-stranded) [message #307736] Sat, 24 September 2016 11:09 Go to previous message
Ek_Lektro is currently offline  Ek_Lektro   United States
Messages: 167
Registered: March 2011
Karma:
Senior Member
Good morning GMC’ers,
After a 6 hour drive, and RIGHT as i pulled into our campsite, the brakes gave out, and the light came on. (At least we made it to the spot!) (But… the campsite is on a hill… extra points)
There’s brake fluid all over the inside of the rear-most driver’s side wheel, and i’m pretty sure the leak is coming from the rusty line itself, but not 100% sure. Do they ever leak from the cylinders themselves? To see if i could confirm the leak spot, i tried adding fluid and pumping the brakes, but there must be too much air in the lines, ‘cause i’m not getting any additional visible leakage this way.

We’re out in the middle of nowhere, and i understand that for an emergency repair, i could carefully kink the offending line, do a gravity bleed, and run on 5 brakes; but fortunately a friend was arriving to the camp site one day behind, and was able to pick up a brake line, extra fluid, 3/8” flare nut wrench.. and PB Blaster. So i soaked the nut and adjuster last night, ready to go.

I’ve assisted with brake jobs many times over the years, but i was always the guy pumping the pedal up front, so i’ve never done the bleeder screw myself! My guess is that i loosen it up counter clockwise, and that once fluid comes out without bubbles, tighten it back up?

And as far as “gravity bleed”, Do i need to jack up the front? or is the height of the master cylinder enough that gravity should take its course?
Since the fluid was not low in the rear chamber, i’m guessing i don’t need to bleed the fronts, but probably will need to bleed the other side, rears?
And.. if i can get a friend to do the brake pumping, is this method more effective at all with the engine running?

Many thanks for any quick tips… (and i’m on the digest version of the list, so direct replies appreciated :)
Standing by, ready to go, cheers
Greg
SolarSonic (semi-stranded at the Symbiosis Festival :)




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