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Bleeding brakes solo

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Old Mar 13, 2010 | 07:19 PM
  #1  
perez1989's Avatar
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From: Pharr, Texas
Year: 1989
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Engine: 4.0L
Default Bleeding brakes solo

If I dont have anyone to help me bleed my brakes how can it be done by one person? If I open all the valves so that brake fluid drips out constantly will this bleed my brakes?
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Old Mar 13, 2010 | 07:37 PM
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revorg's Avatar
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All you need is a piece of rubber tubeing long enough to go from your bleeder valve into a clean soda bottle with a hole in the top to put the hose through and brake fluid of course ! Start out by putting about an inch
of brake fluid in the soda bottle that keeps it from sucking air back into the brake line.Open your bleeder valve and slip the tubeing over it and into the soda bottle make sure the end is in the brake fluid and pump your brake 4-5 times and check your fluid levle in your master cylinder so you dont run out. DON"T reuse what will be in the soda bottle it could be contamimated ! Do it a couple of times on each line make sure to close the bleeder vale and you should be OK.
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Old Mar 13, 2010 | 08:01 PM
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From: corpus christi, texas
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or you can just open the valves and let it drip out, that is called gravity bleeding your brake system and takes roughly 4 hours to do
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Old Mar 13, 2010 | 08:03 PM
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autozone sells a self bleeder kit for like 5 bux.
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Old Mar 13, 2010 | 08:10 PM
  #5  
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I've got a set of Easy Bleeders on mine, they have a one way valve in them to let fluid out but no air in!!! So all you do is loosen all of them and pump away! I **** you not, they're the cat's a$$!!!!!!!!!
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Old Mar 14, 2010 | 10:52 PM
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I would gravity bleed them like superj says it won't take 4 hours.
1. set up 4 catch pans get twice as much brake fluid as you think you will need.
2.Remove the fluid reservoir cap and fill it. Open and unscrew all the bleeders starting farthest from the fluid reservoir(RR) working your way to (LF).
3. Once they are open they will drip slow clean your bleeders screws with brake clean. Make sure to keep the resivoir full if it goes dry you will need someone to help bleed and possible power bleed.
4. once the fluid appears clean (at this point it will be flowing in a stream) close the bleeders starting at the (RR) working your way back to the (LF)

Fyi if you have seized bleeders you can try and heat them and pound the caliper housing. you can also bleed by cracking the brake lines going into the caliper or brake cylinder in a pinch
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Old Mar 14, 2010 | 11:56 PM
  #7  
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From: Prescott, AZ
Year: 1996
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need to bleed my brake system this week. subscribed.
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 12:14 AM
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I'm building a DIY pressure bleeder. I started picking up parts today. So far im $10 in.
http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...eder/index.htm
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 09:34 AM
  #9  
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From: apa
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The gravity method works fine and took me less than an hour. Cost- one empty windshield washer bottle (going in the trash anyway) some clear tubing, and about four beers (one for each wheel).
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Sc00ter
The gravity method works fine and took me less than an hour. Cost- one empty windshield washer bottle (going in the trash anyway) some clear tubing, and about four beers (one for each wheel).
X5 on gravity bleeding...Tj
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 10:14 AM
  #11  
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I like to use a power bleeder
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 10:18 AM
  #12  
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From: corpus christi, texas
Year: 1999
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wow, is that a cherokee engine? doesn't look anything like my 87
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 10:23 AM
  #13  
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looks more like a BMW...
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Old Mar 15, 2010 | 10:24 AM
  #14  
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From: Schererville, IN
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no, it is not a Cherokee engine, I took that pic from Pelican parts website.. but as long as your cap is the screw-type like the pic, then the power bleeder is the best option from solo bleeding.
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Old Jul 30, 2014 | 01:26 AM
  #15  
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I just did it with gravity, it was no trouble at all, I just pressed a clear tube onto the bleeder, loosened it, and it flowed right out. It only took about 5 minutes per wheel max, the setup time was the bulk of it, pumping the brakes wouldn't have made it any easier.
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