(OT) Car Hydraulic Service

Pretty slick. I remember using a huge, heavy steel cannister pressurizer way back. 'Twas a beeyatch.

Do that next time.

Ouch! But it sure makes it a 1-man job, doesn't it?

LOL

-- Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. -- Plutarch

Leaks?

Yes sir. In addition, I should build adapters thusly to fit the brake master cylinder for the truck and both cars as well.

Yup. It was bordering on magic the way I could bleed the system from underneath the truck quickly and easily, without having to jump up and pump the pedal. I'm totally spoiled now.

:)

--Winston

Yeah, never the right shape for the seal, old and hard seal, heavy and woven metal pressure line to keep away from paint on the vehicle, etc.

Si! Cost ya a buck from the salvage yard.

No comment. :^)

-- Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. -- Plutarch

(...)

OIC

Te comprendo perfectamente.

(...)

(Snork)

--Winston

That looks like a nice tool. I have a Mityvac, like this:

Your bleeder has the advantage in that you don't have to carry it around to each brake cylinder.

(...)

Yup.

And the Motive Products tool keeps the master cylinder topped up with fluid, automagically. It eliminates the cursing necessary when I discover I'm pulling air *into* the lines from an empty master cylinder. :)

It's the proper tool for the job.

--Winston

Wish I'd had the chance to learn from your mistake. Instead, I also did it the hard way and gave up. then spent the $60 bucks on this unit and finished in a few minutes. FWIW, bet you didn't know front brakes on a one ton ford are considered almost impossible to bleed.

Karl

Let me guess.

There is a perfect air pocket formed in the caliper that finds it's way out of the bleeder only in the form of tiny little bubbles?

What is the standard procedure, pick up the truck and place it on it's side before bleeding the 'upper' caliper? :)

Arrgh!

--Winston

You can either lift the back five feet higher than the front, or remove the caliper assembly and hold them at an angle. So, I drove the truck in a deep ditch and used the brake bleeding unit. i got into all this just installing a trailer brake controller.

Karl

Nope, pop the caliper off, bleed it, and pop it back on (without disconnecting the hose)

Maaaan. That is painful.

--Winston

Sounds like you get to rotate the caliper to get the bubbles out as well. Not a particularly good design from a maintenance standpoint.

--Winston

It DOES say FORD on the grille, doesn't it????? They make some pretty decent stuff, but easy to work on is not a priority.

ALL makes these days are pretty short on "serviceability". I think it's a plot to get you to spend more time and money at the dealers' shops, there's usually at least one special tool involved that's only let out to dealerships. I've had several older Fords that were easy to work on for most things. I can remember one 400 V8 that took longer to jack up than to remove the starter, two bolts and it was in my hands and was on the bottom. I think they're going for cost savings on initial build and no thought as to how you get the part out when it needs servicing. You're supposed to be buying a new car by then anyway.

Stan

That, I believe, is their main plot. If it is too expensive to repair off warranty you will buy another one (but they forget a pissed off customer goes elsewhere)