whats the script on doing it on the mk1? heard the good old pumping pedal method isnt the best to do on these. :wonder:

I use this: http://www.gunson.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=674&item=1818

Means you can bleed them solo too.

Only thing to watch out for is damaging or shearing off tight bleed nipples!

thanks bodge, have brand new calipers on front so wont be an issue there..the rears however...

dont use brake as pump it will feck the master cylinder seal up

need to be done with a proper pressure kit

Edited 4 November, 201015 yr by westallc

dont use brake as pump it will feck the master cylinder seal up

need to be done with a proper pressure kit

So using this theory using your brakes at all will feck the master seals. Granted using a pressure bleeder will make the job much easier but having someone in the car pumping the foot brake will still do the job just as well.

So using this theory using your brakes at all will feck the master seals. Granted using a pressure bleeder will make the job much easier but having someone in the car pumping the foot brake will still do the job just as well.

Generally when your pump the brake pedal to bleed the brakes you do it for the full travel, where as when you brake it is unlikely you will do this.

So using this theory using your brakes at all will feck the master seals. Granted using a pressure bleeder will make the job much easier but having someone in the car pumping the foot brake will still do the job just as well.

If you have to do it this way, then make sure you don't push the pedal more than half way down or you will damage the master seals.

So using this theory using your brakes at all will feck the master seals. Granted using a pressure bleeder will make the job much easier but having someone in the car pumping the foot brake will still do the job just as well.

do what you think is best buddy what do we know lol

p.s if you go past half way let me know i will sell you a new master cylinder lmao

+1 for what he said!

I've always bled breaks using the pedal and I've never had a problem, and everyone else at my work does the same.

what on a vrs????

i always did foot pump on all the cars i worked on until skoda as the master cylinder seals pop out due to the length of travel

I always used to use the pedal pump method ( with one way valves) until the seals reversed on my old MK4 Golf ( 145K) .The problem in using this method is, that if the seals travel into the "ridge" between the highly polished normal brake master cyl. area and the normally unused cyl. bore area, there is a chance that the seals will reverse or get damaged. It makes sense to use the pressure bleeding method as this way the master cyl. piston/seals are stationary.It took quite a few years of pump bleeding to learn this lesson ! The cost of the pressure bleeding kit ( Halfords) was a lot less than a new master cylinder !

I've always bled breaks using the pedal and I've never had a problem, and everyone else at my work does the same.

I too bleed our land rover defenders at work this way,however they dont have the complex abs systems that modern cars have,its a well known problem on vag stuff & some vauxhalls,any decent garage/mechanic will use a preasure bleeder to replace brake fluid/bleed brakes.We are only trying to help you with this advice.

I always used to use the pedal pump method ( with one way valves) until the seals reversed on my old MK4 Golf ( 145K) .The problem in using this method is, that if the seals travel into the "ridge" between the highly polished normal brake master cyl. area and the normally unused cyl. bore area, there is a chance that the seals will reverse or get damaged. It makes sense to use the pressure bleeding method as this way the master cyl. piston/seals are stationary.It took quite a few years of pump bleeding to learn this lesson ! The cost of the pressure bleeding kit ( Halfords) was a lot less than a new master cylinder !

this is the real reason, and essentially is due to wear in the cylinder, nothing to actually do with travel.

So to avoid the "possibility" of having a problem, use the pressure bleed method, it's way easier too

If you get problems with damaged seals whilst bleeding, it's likely to be because the cylinder needs replacing anyway

We use pedal bleed to full travel all the time on our race car on a regular basis, with no problem at all, but the cylinder is new

One thing to not forget is the bleed nipples in the top of the master cylinder - often overlooked but equally as important as the rest!