Brake Bleeding

[Guest jss]

OK I HAVE TO REPLACE MY ACCUMULATOR AND WAS GOING TO BLEED THE BRAKES AS WELL ,WHATS THE BEST TIME TO BLEED THEM BEFORE OR AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCUMULATOR ? SECOND QUESTION I SAW THESE VACUUM BRAKE FLUID EXTRACTORS TAKES THE PLACE OF AN AIR COMPRESSOR, I GUESS ,THEY SELL THEM IN GRIOTS GARAGE WILL THEY BE GOOD TO USE WITH THE REATTA SYSTEM? ANYBODY EVER USE ONE OF THESE? AND HOW HARD IS IT TO GET THAT ACCUMULATOR OFF?? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Jim]

The accumulator is easy to replace. Remove all the pressure from the system by pumping the brake pedal with the key off and then simply, using an allen wrench, unscrew the accumulator.

The following is something I have saved in my email program.

1. It is HIGHLY recommended that all the fluid in the whole system be

changed with new fluid to eliminate any built up moisture in the system.

2. Any time the brake hydraulic system is to be opened the brake pedal

should be pumped 25 times with the key off to bleed off the 2600

pounds of pressure in the accumulator.

3. Siphon out as much of the old fluid as possible from the reservoir and refill with clean fluid to the top. A better way is to cut the rubber hose that comes from the reservoir right where it attaches to the ABS pump and let all the fluid in the reservoir run out. Then remove the piece of hose still attached to the pump and reinstall the rubber hose. It is long enough to do this. I like to cut it rather than try and remove it because the hose sticks really hard to the plastic fitting and you might break the fitting trying to take the hose off.

4. When doing the rear wheels only let out about a half of a cup and then refill the reservoir. This is to make sure you don't take out too much and get air into the system.

5. To bleed the front brakes have the key off and bleed in a conventional

method.

6. To bleed the rear brakes

A. Turn on the key and allow the system to pressurize

B. Have an assistant slightly depress the pedal and hold it

C. Open each rear bleeder, one at a time, and hold open until clear

fluid comes out. (The pump and motor will do the bleeding)

When you are done there are high and low marks on the reservoir and after the system pump and motor has run and the lights are out the level should be at the low mark. When you have pumped the brakes with the key off 25 times the level will be at the high mark.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Jim's instructions are pretty good, but I'd like to add...

Brake fluid in the resevoir gets pumped around the Teves system (except the lines). What I've done is drain it out from the elbow on the rear of the resevoir, then fill it back up, then go drive (I've found that it takes a little longer for it to get to pressure, but it will get all the air out by itself).

But please, be sure your brakes are working before hitting the streets. After a day, I repeat the process. The resevoir should have all clean(er) fluid. Then, drain and fill one more time, and then bleed.

I still don't know exactly if it's better to flush/bleed before replacing the accumulator or after, but I'm thinking before, maybe?

Barney has said before that it's a good idea to remove the pressure switch, cuz crud can build up in there too.

[Vincent Vega]

I have been using one of these for a while. They work great.

Look here