Hi guys

my fab vrs recently failed an mot on rear brake efficiency on the offside.......looks like the caliper's seized again (typical that i hadnt noticed until after the fail).

 

I sourced a fresh caliper from the excellent brakeparts.co.uk site and intend to fit it myself.

 

Im sure the fitting will be fiddly as always but doable...........its the bleeding im concerned about as ill be doing it alone.

 

Does anyone have any tips or equipment that would make this a smooth process?

 

I was looking at getting an EZ-bleed system from halfords.....is it any good or should i fork out for A Sealey kit or similar??

 

also should i prime the caliper with fluid first?

 

any advice is much appreciated

You could get an easy bleed.

Easier way by far is remove the old caliper but leave the line connected. Install the new caliper and then swap over the line. Open up the bleed nipple and wait. Once there is a steady stream of drips coming out of the caliper tighten the bleed nipple. Top up the fluid and you are done.

hmmm would that not just introduce extra air into the system?

I'm no mechanic, but by opening up the bleed nipple, as Tech1e described above, will force any air which may have entered the system out? 

Yup. The reservoir is higher than the caliper. Gravity will push the fluid down the line, no air will be able to get in (providing the reservoir doesn't run empty) as the fluid is trying to get out. The air will be pushed out before the fluid can come out so as soon as you see fluid coming out its pretty much done.

so would you need the reservoir cap off for that to allow it to flow through the system without vacuum holding it back?

Your new caliper should arrive pre-filled with fluid, with a blanking cap holding it in.

so would you need the reservoir cap off for that to allow it to flow through the system without vacuum holding it back?

The reservoir isn't sealed anyhow. If it was your fluid level wouldn't be able to drop or the brakes function.

thanks

If it doesn't have fluid in already, pre-fill it with fluid or you will have a nightmare to bleed. I would recommend the gunson ezebleed very good piece of kit. If you still get trouble the fool proof way to bleed is undo the caliper from the carrier and as you are bleeding turn the caliper upside down and at all angles. When its bolted to the car it wont bleed fully as the nipple is not at the top.

Edited 1 April, 201610 yr by kellaway86

Pre-fill it.

 

I use a vacuum bleeder which I find is far, far better than the Eezi-bleed.

Steve,

 

When using a vacuum bleeder do you need to seal the bleed nipple threads to the caliper with ptfe tape to prevent air ingress?

Not on the one I use. It does always look like it's pulling a bit of air because the seal onto the nipple isn't perfect. I've always finished off by checking its bled properly with a bit of pipe and a jam jar and it's always been right.

Any air that went down the thread would just get sucked into the vacuum reservoir, with the fluid, I'd've thought?

Haven't bled brakes for years, but last one I had to do it on I used and auto bleed nipple on each wheel. Principle is that when nipple is slackened off a ball sealing the hole is held against the hole( by a spring) preventing fluid running out. When pressure is applied, the ball releases fluid/fluid+air. When nipple is tightened, ball cannot move . Another method I've used is a tight fitting tube on the nipple ,with a tyre valve or similar at th other end of the pipe.

Gravity bleed always works fine for me when installing a caliper.

+1

Wullie