The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1951 3100 brake question

I have a guy that gave me a pressurerized canister for filling up my brakes with new fluid. I have just replaced all lines, cylinders, shoes and springs,etc. He is telling me that I can attach the hose from the canister directly into bleeder and back fill the fluid up to the MC and to do this at each wheel cylinder and it will be good to go. Has anyone done it this way?

Also what is the reccomened brake fluid that should be used?

I don,t think I would do it like that. If you benched bled the master cyl. you shouldn,t have any problem. Although I have never used them either the speedy bleeders seem like the best way to go. Several guys have said they work good.

I know everyone says to bench bleed the MC but after bolting mine up to the frame and laying a level across the top and seeing that it was level I bled the entire system with the MC on the truck. Works great, no air in the system.

Im not sure you really need to bench bleed it with the single resevoir as once its in the truck your doing the same thing anyways, but your foot does the work!

I dont think you could get all the air out bleeding it that way, find new friends!

And use DOT 3 fluid.

Jeff

Oh yeah, speed bleeders make all the difference for quick and easy bleeding!

I had the same experience on my '52 3100. Didn't have any problem bleeding the brakes after replacing everything from master cylinder to wheel cylinders including lines. I just opened the bleeders on the wheel cylinders, filled the master cylinder full and let it set about 10 minutes,keeping an eye on the fluid level. In just a few minutes, I had fluid flowing. I closed the bleeders, then went back to the normal bleeding procedures, one wheel at a time. Biggest problem I had was getting the brakes adjusted properly- that took a little more time. Hope your brake job goes as well and easy as mine did.

You need to bench bleed any master cyclinder.

Cletis maybe you can explain that one to me. I know everyone always says to bench bleed, but why cant I bolt it onto the truck and bleed it? Whats the difference bleeding it in or out of the truck?

Thanks, Jeff

If you google "bench bleeding" you'll find it has been explained many times. Bench bleeding is the only way to ensure all the air is removed from the master cylinder.

You say "I know everyone always says to bench bleed....". You reckon everyone might be wrong? (Said with a wink. Not trying to be a smart you know what.)

All I can say is I did not bench bleed and I have a dual reservoir and I have no air in my lines or my MC. There is no difference between a MC that is bolted to the frame and one tightened down to a vice if both are level. I agree that a firewall mounted MC should be bench bled as it probably isn't level.
Everyone doesn't say bench bleed. Several guys (mechanics) I know never bench bleed.

I never knew to bench bleed either, have never had any problems doing it on the vehicle. I have done the brakes on every thing I have ever had, never owned a new car or truck, never had any trouble. I dont see how it is any different, bleeding is bleeding is it not? No mechanic, but have always done my own.

''I know everyone says to bench bleed the MC but after bolting mine up to the frame and laying a level across the top and seeing that it was level I bled the entire system with the MC on the truck. Works great, no air in the system. ''

same w/ me and it works great. took about an hour to do the whole system.

The reason I asked is that I see no difference between the two. Anytime I did it in a vise I usually ended up making a hell of a mess and I always had issues trying to push in the push rod. Personally I would rather bolt it to the frame and use my foot pressure to bleed it. Ive never done a complex system, but really havent had any issues either. About the newest vehicles Ive done this to was a few 80's Fords and a few old chevy trucks.

I did do a search and in the first page I only found one article that explained WHY you bench bleed, all the rest said 'just do it'. It said the reason to bench bleed is that there are nooks and crannys where air is trapped and it takes at least twice as long to bleed a system without bench bleeding and that without it you might not get all the air out. Maybe I never noticed since I go through the rounds a bare minimum of 2 times at each bleeder screw.

Not trying to spread misinformation or trying to tell everyone NOT to bench bleed, just never had a real reason for it.

Jeff