Questions about bleeding brakes

[ephect]

Grab yourself a 1 man bleeder kit. No pumping of the pedal and quicker

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233396961206

I've purchased one like this and worked great

 

[Deuce]

Grab yourself a 1 man bleeder kit. No pumping of the pedal and quicker

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233396961206

I've purchased one like this and worked great

These are the style you really want if you cannot phone a friend to help:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SP-Tool...hDarwoV3BBEV2b&_trksid=p2332490.c100935.m2460

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

When I say "Don't pump the pedal", I mean, don't pump it up with the bleeder closed building pressure, then open the bleeder. All this does is aerate the fluid making it harder to get the air out.

 

[vs-lover]

I totally agree with Abba's method as that's how I've done it for 40 odd years and I've never had anything else but success. It's the actual correct method that's described in many Workshop Manuals over and over again.

The gravity method is not always the best, as air will find and direct it's way upward, not down like the fluid wants to go.

 

[losh1971]

The gravity method is not always the best, as air will find and direct it's way upward, not down like the fluid wants to go.

I've been doing it the gravity way for a few years and always had a firm pedal. I used to knock it, until I gave it a go when I had no one to help, done it ever since.

 

[ephect]

These are the style you really want if you cannot phone a friend to help:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SP-Tools-800ml-Vacuum-Brake-Bleeder-New-Improved-Model-SP70852/312832386815?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20190917065201&meid=2fec290a15ec4c14b865344c50c20137&pid=100935&rk=6&rkt=12&mehot=pf&sd=233396961206&itm=312832386815&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithDarwoV3BBEV2b&_trksid=p2332490.c100935.m2460

That's even better, but I'm a tightarse

 

[shane_3800]

I've bled more brakes then some have had hot dinners.
The furthest caliper thing is total BS.
Just crack the nipple and pump the pedal while making sure there is fluid for 15 pumps then give it 30 seconds to gravity bleed the last little bit of air sucked in and close the nipple.

It's not rocket surgery.

 

[vc commodore]

This is what I use to bleed brakes

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SP-Tools-800ml-Vacuum-Brake-Bleeder-New-Improved-Model-SP70852/312832386815?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20190917065201&meid=2fec290a15ec4c14b865344c50c20137&pid=100935&rk=6&rkt=12&mehot=pf&sd=233396961206&itm=312832386815&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithDarwoV3BBEV2b&_trksid=p2332490.c100935.m2460

When I changed master cylinders, it took me 10 minutes to bleed the whole system from start to finish.

Admittably not everyone has an air compressor, so it makes this useless, but if you do have an air compressor, it's a god sent. You can actually see the change of fluid colour (on a fluid flush) or when the air is removed if bleeding the system for the first time, as it has a clear tube.

Most mechanic workshops have these, as it saves a heap of time, as well as only requiring 1 person to do the job....

I have always bleed as the op has described, but that's not to say you can't do it another way...

Best of luck

 

[Skylarking]

The standard brake fluid flush, be they manual or vaccum or pressure bleed method, are all great at getting old fluid out of the mater cylinder, lines and calipers along with any trapped air, BUT using such methods with ABS vehicles isn't enough because with ABS vehicles you can't flush the internal ABS fluid chambers, pump or solenoids using just trhese methods.

IIUC, to flush the ABS fluid chambers, pump and solenoids requires connecting a diagnostics tool to the vehicle and running a specific ABS flush routine... Atleast thats the case with my VF and other non Holden ABS vehicles i've owned.

So if your VS has ABS brakes and it hasn't been flushed in a long time, i'd get a brake place or Holden to do it using the correct diagnostics tool method...

 

[figjam]

I've bled more brakes then some have had hot dinners

I have had a few hot dinners, but these days I prefer a nice piece of fish with salad.
That is why I take my cars to a brake specialist and let them do it while I have a cup of caffeine to offset the salad goodness.
At a maintenance cost of about 12c per day per car, this method may not be a personal challenge, but much more practical.