The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Best Way to Bleed Brakes

I just put new brake lines, brakes and wheel cylinders in my 1953 GMC and would like to know the best way to bleed the air from the system. I don't have any special equipment. If there is something that would make it easier just let me know. Do I start from the farthest wheel from the master cylinder? Thanks for the help

Start at the NEAREST wheel and work your way out. to the right rear.

I bled my brakes by myself using a little yankee ingenuity . I cut a 2x4 to wedge between the seat and brake pedal to push and hold it to the floor. Then I'd go back and quickly open and close the bleed screw until no more air came out and the pedal was firm. I repeated this process until I had all four wheels done. It went surprisingly fast. When you live alone out in the country you must figure out a way to make a two or three man job into one man job. Story of my life......

Whoa there Buckaroo.... I've always been taught to start at the FARTHEST wheel and work inward! Having a helper that can tell the difference between a little pressure at the pedal and it sitting on the floor can really help. I hope you bench bled the M/C first. And make sure the brakes are adjusted correctly before you start pumping or it will fell like you always have a bit of air in the system.
A one-man-bleeder really helps. Basically just a hose with a one way valve at the end that you stick into a jar of fluid. Stops the fluid/bubbles from heading back into the w/c. Cheap at any autoparts store.
Oh, ya, try searching this subject. We've discussed it here befor.e

what he said - shop guides show bleeding master cylinder first then start at last wheel and work you way in. I am just about in the same boat as soon as I do the king pins, I'll get brake lines and do the brakes.

(weather is stinky here right now...)

Always start with the master cyl. then the closest ending with the fartherest. The reason for this is when starting with the fartherest as you bleed, the closest will let a little bit of air back in the line when the cyl. retracts and consequently a little bit of air will get in the
lines again. That can be a viscious circle. Starting with the closest the air can't get back up to the cyl. you have bleed.

I'm not sure where the master cyl is located on your truck but if its up on the firewall the easiest way to bleed them is to open all the bleeder valves and let gravity do its thing. It will take a little while so go have a sandwich and something to drink. I usually put a piece of vaccumn hose on the valve to keep from making a mess. This is also the way nearby Freightliner
Chassis folks bleed the brakes on the truck chassis assemblies. It all depends on the master cyl being higher than the wheel cyl.

I have a small hand held manual vacuum pump with a resevoir to collect the fluid in. The brake bleeder only needs to be opened and closed once, and they all can be done by one person. One thing that has to be watched is keep the master cylinder topped up. Works great and was about $30 in Canada. Has another use, it can be hooked up to the intake manifold to check vacuum when doing tune-ups or adjusting valves. They are available at most parts or equipment stores.

bleeding brakes,you need two people to do this ,if you want it done right the first time,first of all everytime you hear air come out of the brake bleeder refill the master cylinder,i have not tryed gravity but i have heard of it,the way i always have done this is ,start from the farthest wheel and work to the closest to your master,i always jack the wheel up i'm working on but i am safe when doing this at the rear of the vehicle i put a concrete block and a 1 by 6 on top of the block and i take the wheel off to make sure the brake shoes are working correctly.have your buddy pump the pedal 6-7 times each time and hold them until they go to the floor make shure they go to the floor on each wheel.after you have bled every wheel just bleed the master to make sure you got all the air out and if this don't work then you got other problems,mark 1966 swbss