bleeding brakes the one man version

[muppetsport]

i need to bleed the brakes on my golf as the back calipers have been changed and hevent bled them up yet.

i usually do this with another person. i open bleed nipple, they press pedal down i shut bleed nipple they let off pedal etc. usually do about 10 times a side then again if needed.

whats the way to do it on my own?? run a length of vacuum hose from the bleed nipple into a tub of brake fluid and pump the pedal up and down?

or another way as i cant get anyone to help tomorrow with it being a school day n all

[Helios_Blue_Valver]

You can buy a brake bleed kit for cheap usually. I bought one a couple years ago for a few quid at halfords. It is basically like you are saying though a tube into a bottle of brake fluid. I have seen people make them from a jar with a hole in the lid and a tube running into it. looks ghetto but works great. One thing to remember when bleeding brakes, not sure if you know but here it is anyway, put a block of wood under the brake pedal when bleeding them. this way the pedal won't go all the way to the floor. The reason I say this is after a while crud and rust builds up on the shaft of the master cylinder from the wiper cleaning the shaft when the pedal is depressed. if you push the pedal farther than normal this ridge of grud will more than likely tear up the seals in the master cylinder. Ruins your day. Where are you at. if you are close to bury st. edmonds give me a call and I'll loan you my brake bleed kit.

[golfvr6]

Buy a pressure bleed kit from Halfords, about 15 bar. Much easier to use than the manual kits, all you got to do is connect it to the spare tyre and the master cylinder reservoir and then open each bleed nipple.

[muppetsport]

pressure bleed kit might invest like the sound of it.

8916vgti, much appreciated indeed, but i wouldnt exactly call carlisle close to bury st edmonds. cheers all the same was a quality gesture.also never knew about that block of wood trick and wouldnt have ever guessed at something like that. ive been bleeding brakes for years (not on the same car obviously lol) and yeah i have noticed rust on the master cylinder piston on a few of the nova's ive ripped to bits and put bigger brakes on them

[Grovit]

Yep - that block of wood tip is a sound idea - Bleeding the brakes on my project Fiesta - Top tip to be used. Nice one

[muppetsport]

i used a 3/4 inch piece of random wood i found in the garage.

liked the a lot and now subscribe to its news letter

[Helios_Blue_Valver]

pressure bleed kit might invest like the sound of it.

8916vgti, much appreciated indeed, but i wouldnt exactly call carlisle close to bury st edmonds. cheers all the same was a quality gesture.also never knew about that block of wood trick and wouldnt have ever guessed at something like that. ive been bleeding brakes for years (not on the same car obviously lol) and yeah i have noticed rust on the master cylinder piston on a few of the nova's ive ripped to bits and put bigger brakes on them

No problems mate. Yes Carlise isn't just right down the road huh. I had an old farmer pass that trick on to me as a kid working on my cars. works pretty good. lol.

[muppetsport]

carlisle isnt even really near to anywhere. every major town or city is about an hour and a half away. newcastle probably the closest.

farmers, theyre always useful. one pulled my old works van out of a ditch after id let some daft blonde girl have a drive of it. doh.