Stupid Brake Question #463

[SaintPanzer]

All the pats are here (thanks Zack!) and I'm ready to replace the broken pipe on my caliper.

I have my new Motive Products power bleeder, ready to go. I'm doing this alone today, so I don't have a "partner" to pump the brakes. But I can follow up with that later if this doesn't do the job.

I have two liters of DOT 4 ready to go. Might as well change the fluid while I'm at it, right.

And then, breaking the "Guy Rule", I decided to read the manual first, instead of doing it and then checking the instructions.

Step 1 is "Disconnect the Battery". Fair enough.
Step 2 is "Bleed front calipers, driver's side first..."

Now, I'm certainly not a brake system expert or pro, but I was taught that everywhere outside of Bedlam, you bleed the caliper FARTHEST from the master cylinder first, then second farthest, etc. But the manual is instructing the caliper CLOSEST to the master cylinder.

Why?

Follow on: Does that mean bleed Driver's side front, Passenger side front, Passenger side rear, then Driver's side rear? Manual is unclear on that point. I was going to do the complete opposite.

What am I missing here?

 

[Mirrajumper]

Crack the bleeder screws and let it rip. No pedal pumper with the motive. How much pressure did you see on the motive guage?

 

[SaintPanzer]

Thanks. I "followed" the instructions, so all good.

I had two liters in hand, but ended up using less than one.

One issue I did have: Rear drivers side has a clog. Only a small bit of fluid came out, opened it up enough that it was actually leaking at the bleeder. Don't think I let any air in, but that's going to have to wait until I get some new bleeder screws. Actually, it will help if it's a little warmer and not raining too... Now that I actually have brakes, I can pull it in the garage and not worry about driving through the back wall.

Other than using more fluid, I still don't understand why the manual says to do it the complete opposite of every other manual I've seen.

 

[Mirrajumper]

I always prefer to have the motive pressure clear the lines vs having a pedal party. Don’t be afraid to run a bit of new fluid through. The junk will come out!

 

[SaintPanzer]

Does the version motive you bought have a guage on it. You’ll be relieved when you get the clog out.

Yes, it's the "black label" version with the gauge and the aluminum cap for the master cylinder.

 

[MountainD]

The more I think about it….. particularly with power bleeder which I also have…. You want to keep a bubble from propagating…so remove the first bubble at the first caliper (drivers side front for LHD) and work back seems to make sense to me. more sense than if you pump the brakes….