Correct Order to Bleed Brakes on '77

[kiwidog]

bleeding brakes

Years ago when I had just finished high school a friend of mine had left year earlier and started a mechanic apprenticeship. He said a mechanic he was working with used this method.
Start where ever you want. Pump the pedal up until it has a hard on. Open one of the bleed nipples an let the pedal go down until it nearly hits the floor and close the bleeder. Repeat as often if necessary with the other nipples until you have pedal on one press.

I have been using that method for the last 40 years with no problems.
Only problem it needs two people.

Thanks jb

 

[Howard705]

That's my preferred method when another person is available-that can take some direction lol.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I think in reality the bleeding order is to establish filling the longest line and cylinder first , otherwise getting decent pressure to bleed would take a long time if filling from just a bench-bled master cylinder . I have tried various methods/steps and it does seem to matter slightly .
Sarge

 

[cuencanolenny]

I was taught the same thing: start with the farthest away.

Later in life my day job included questioning the veracity of things that people take for granted. Then I made the mistake of thinking about bleeding brakes and I couldn't figure out why it would matter, so I tried starting with the shortest line and ended up with the same good result.

I was on here looking simply because I have always done it as others have noted, farthest first. My MityVac says closest first unless FSM directs otherwise. The FSM says nothing about sequence. Found out something else that FJ40 Jim shared with me. My "new" '79 has power drum brakes. However, they are different from the drum brakes on my '70 (on which everything is new). The '70, which has the CCOT complete brake kit, has shoes that measure 2 1/4" wide and the '79 has 3". FJ40 Jim advises that non-USA FJ40's in '79 have brakes from the FJ45! Also, the rear brake cylinders are linked, one bleeder for both cylinders. Oh, and the MityVac wouldn't move any fluid. Drove me crazy. Dug out a jar and, without a helper, a stick and "old school" bled the brakes. That worked.

 

[honk]

How can it be important bleed the furthest vs. bleed the nearest when a system is dual?

 

[cuencanolenny]

Thanks to WIP77FJ & Coolerman (item #3). This morning I followed Coolerman's instructions, pretty much to the letter. The only difference was that after pumping slowly I put my stick against the pedal and to the floor above the gas tank to hold it compressed. Then after bleeding I adjusted the brakes and test drove. Great pedal now. I didn't have a spongy pedal, just long travel. Now it is "proper" and I'm a happy camper. For what it is worth, I used RR, LR (my rears have one bleeder for both cylinders), RF, LF.

I have used a MityVac for many years in the USA on motorcycles mostly with great success. Not sure why it was such a failure this time. Brand new unit and this one has the gauge on it. I liked that feature as you can readily tell whether or not you have the bleeder closed tight and is holding pressure. Regardless, the old school hose in a jar was fine. And what I really liked about Coolerman's idea was that I didn't have to pump the pedal, install stick, crawl under car and crack the bleeder, and repeat, repeat, repeat. Thanks again. Off to the jungle tomorrow, really looking forward to it.

 

[cuencanolenny]

Thanks to WIP77FJ & Coolerman (item #3). This morning I followed Coolerman's instructions, pretty much to the letter. The only difference was that after pumping slowly I put my stick against the pedal and to the floor above the gas tank to hold it compressed. Then after bleeding I adjusted the brakes and test drove. Great pedal now. I didn't have a spongy pedal, just long travel. Now it is "proper" and I'm a happy camper. For what it is worth, I used RR, LR (my rears have one bleeder for both cylinders), RF, LF.

I have used a MityVac for many years in the USA on motorcycles mostly with great success. Not sure why it was such a failure this time. Brand new unit and this one has the gauge on it. I liked that feature as you can readily tell whether or not you have the bleeder closed tight and is holding pressure. Regardless, the old school hose in a jar was fine. And what I really liked about Coolerman's idea was that I didn't have to pump the pedal, install stick, crawl under car and crack the bleeder, and repeat, repeat, repeat. Thanks again. Off to the jungle tomorrow, really looking forward to it.

 

[cuencanolenny]

By going to the jungle I mean traveling to Macas, Ecuador which is on the edge of the Amazon. A friend (bought my Nissan X-Trail three plus years ago) has traveled the routes and advised this one was better than the other due to road conditions. I like it as it will keep me in the mountains longer. This map only shows getting over to Mendez where I will go North to Macas, out of the mountains but not all the way down to the "Orient" so it will (fingers crossed) not be too outrageously hot and humid like it is down on the coast right now. I don't care for that. After Macas we will travel North to Puyo and then over to Bano's which is famous for their volcano heated springs before heading back home on Sunday. Don't much care for the new All Star game format.