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GOOSE_Ej
11-04-2006, 11:31 PM
The Evo is a little unusual when it comes to bleeding the brakes.Â* Thanks to others on the board for pointing these items out.Â* I combined that info with some pics to create this how-to.Â* Â*:D

http://www.joe250.com/cars/evo/brakebleed.htm

Joe
www.joe250.com (http://www.joe250.com)

Got this from evolutionM

Brake Bleeding

Â* Precautions
1. Brake fluid will eat through paint.Â* If you spill any on the bodywork, wipe it off immediately with a wet rag.

2. When you jack the car up, be careful.Â*

3. Test the brakes before you put the wheels back on and drive off.Â* The brake pedal should be firm.Â* If it isn't, don't even bother driving it.Â* There is a leak or air in the system.Â* Go back and recheck everything.Â* When you finally do go for a drive, take it easy until you are certain the brakes work.Â* Keep one hand on Mr. Parking Brake, just to be sure...

Brake System Hydraulics for (and by) Dummies

Your brake system works via hydraulics.Â* You press the brake pedal and that exerts force on brake fluid in the master cylinder.Â* This multiplies the force and sends it out to all 4 brake calipers, where the brake pads are pushed against the rotors, creating friction, and slowing your car down.Â* The brake fluid is uncompressible, so any movement of your foot on the brake should immediately be transmitted out to the brakes.Â* However, if there is any air in the system, you are going to have a soft, mushy feel when you press the brake pedal.Â* Why?Â* Because unlike fluid, air is easily compressed.Â* Bleeding the brakes will replace old fluid with new, uncontaminated fluid and remove any air within the system.

There are 2 ways to bleed brakes and either will achieve the same thing.Â* In either case, you need to put fresh brake fluid into the reservoir and then force it out to the bleeder nipples on the brake calipers.Â* You can force fluid through the system by pumping the brakes.Â* This is the most commonly-used method and will require two people working together.Â* The second method is to buy a tool that does the pumping.Â* You can do the work a little quicker and by yourself.Â*

1-Man Bleeding: If you try the latter method and buy a 1-man brake bleeder, I do not recommend the MightyVac for this.Â* It is a lot of work to use as you have to pump the thing by hand constantly and you have to stop often to ensure the reservoir is topped with fresh brake fluid.Â* Instead spend just a little more and get one from Motive Products or Snap-On.Â* These system are small plastic drums that you fill with brake fluid, attach to your car's brake fluid reservoir (see pic below), and then pressurize.Â* This will force new fluid through the system without you having to continue to pump and without having to top up the reservoir every few minutes.

2-Man Bleeding: If you bleed the brakes manually, start by gathering the tools you'll need.

11mm for brake bleeder nipples
Paper towels
Some DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid
Also you'll need somewhere for the old fluid to go.Â* You can make a tool for this very easily.Â* Buy 2 to 3 feet of 3/16" ID clear vinyl tubing.Â* This is available at auto parts stores, hardware stores, and pet stores (used for aquariums).Â* Get a plastic cola botttle with a plastic lid.Â* Cut a hole in the lid just big enough that the tubing will fit through it. Fill the bottom 1/2" of the bottle with fresh brake fluid.Â* Seal the bottle and push the tubing into the bottle until it reaches the bottom and is immersed in fluid.Â* Also, cut a small vent hole in the cap.Â* If your car is on a lift, you can wrap a wire coat hanger around the neck of the bottle and hang it from the suspension.Â* If your car is on jackstands, you can just set the bottle on the ground while you're using it.Â*

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02325.JPG

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02366.JPG

Two-Man Bleeding Procedure
One of you will be the brake pumper (the brawn) and one will be the bleeder (the brains).Â* The pumper will sit in the driver's seat with the car turned off.Â* The bleeder will go to the first nipple, place a 11mm wrench on it, then slide the clear tubing as far down onto the nipple as possible.Â* The bleeder will say 'pump'.Â* The pumper will reply back 'pumping' and begin pumping the brake pedal.Â* He will continue to do so until the bleeder says 'hold', usually after 3 or 4 pumps.Â* The pumper will reply back 'holding' and push the pedal down as far as he can and continue holding.Â* The bleeder should loosen the nipple just enough to get fluid flowing out of the caliper and down the tube.Â* After just a second or 2, tighten the nipple again and say 'pump'.Â*

Repeat this procedure until you don't see any more bubbles, usually about 3-5 times per nipple.Â* When done with that nipple, say 'release'.Â* The pumper can now let go of the brakes.Â* Before you move to the next nipple, top off the reservoir.Â* If you let it run dry, you'll suck air into the system and you'll have to start from scratch.Â* You should quickly develop an idea of how often you'll need to top-up the reservoir based upon how much fluid is being pumped out at each caliper.

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02377.jpg

The brake and clutch fluid reservoir.

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02370.JPG

Now why all this formality?Â* Because you are trying to coordinate the actions of 2 people who won't be able to see what the other is doing.Â* Most of all, if the bleeder nipple is open when the brake pedal is released, it will suck old fluid and air back into the system, undoing all the progress you've made.

Now that you've got the procedure down, start bleeding the calipers in the following order.Â* Note that the Evo does not follow the usual pattern.Â* The order is unusual and there are 2, yes 2 bleed nipples on every caliper.Â*

Bleed order

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/evobrakebleedingorder1.jpg
Â* Â* Â*
Â* So to summarize:Â* Â*

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02326.JPG
Â* Â* Â*
Â* Jack the car up - you'll need access to all 4 brake calipers
Â* Â*
Â* Top-up the brake reservoir.
Begin bleeding at the passenger side rear corner, outside bleeder nipple.
Â* Â*
http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02368.JPG
Â* Â* Â*
Â* Place the closed end of an 11mm wrench over the bleeder nipple.Â* Slide the clear tubing over the nipple.Â* Begin bleeding the brake (see procedure above).
Â* Â*
Â* Tighten the bleeder down.
Move to the inside bleeder nipple and repeat.

Continue bleeding each nipple in order.

When done, start the car and test the brakes.Â* They should feel firm and the pedal should immediately return to the top after you let off.Â* If it doesn't feel right, re-bleed each caliper again, in order.

When the brakes feel right, double-check that all the bleeder nipples are tight and not leaking.Â* Top up the reservoir if necessary and replace the cap.Â* Put the wheels back on, torque them down to 72ft-lbs and take the car for a slow, cautious test drive.

For best results, bleed your brakes once a year, or after seeing extremely hard use (trackdays, etc.).

Enjoy.Â*
Â* Â*
http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02369.JPG
Â* Â* Â*
Â* Bleeder catch-can.Â* Â*

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02371.JPG
Â* Â* Â*
Â* Front caliper - note the bleed nipple on both the inside and outsideÂ* Â*

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02373.JPG

Â* Top-down view of the front caliper.Â* Â*

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC02375.JPG

Â* Rear caliper.

trinydex
11-05-2006, 12:39 AM
sorry i must have missed this back when i was doin' all these... i distinctly remember that people woul probably rely on 500whp's brake line thread but this deserves its own thread for sure.

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/evobrakebleedingorder1.jpg



there are many ways to cut this pie, but i'm just puttin' the idea out there cuz it's useful.

this type of catch can allows you to bleed both sides of the calipers at once. what you want to do is use two box end wrenches, one on each side of hte caliper, then slip the hose on, loosen, pump and then tighten. you can prefill the catch bottle a little bit so you don't resuck up air if you don't have speed bleeding screws. if you have speed bleeding screws, there's just that much more security. this should theoretically cut yer bleeding time in half, which means you can do it more often!

things you'll need:

big gatorade type bottle, i used vitamin water bottle. you need that neck so you can make a hanger.

lots of zip ties or a metal clothes hanger

some vac hose, i used 5/32" internal diameter (this fits snug over the bleed screws). the drill bit i had to use was 11/32"

a t fitting, altho i wouldn't use a T fitting, i'd use either a Y fitting or a y fitting. i used 1/8" id. outter diameter was 3/16" and as you can see it's a tight fit for 5/32" id hose.

more smaller sized zip ties.

here's the pics.

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC00890.jpg

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC00891.jpg

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/DSC00892.jpg

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/DSC00893.jpg

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC00894.jpg

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/DSC00895.jpg

hopefully all the closeups show you how to make the hanger. the hanger is used so you can hang the bottle from one of the lug studs, this keeps the bottle from toppling (especially if you hold it on there with a lug nut) and spilling fluid all over.

couple notes, if you use zip ties to make the hanger, you'll need to "lock" of the ties at the end, i used elmers glue, dries hard and wedges up the zip tie so it won't tighten and shorten your hanger.

also depending on whta size vac line you get you'll need the appropriate sized drill bit. use the exact size, the hose is a tight fit even with a lil extra boring! don't forget the breather hole!!! i drilled mine tiny in case it does topple... won't leak very much, but will let excess pressure out and in.

also make sure you make the joining tube more than long enough to reach the bottom of the bottle and depending on wehre you like to hang the bottle, long enough to reach the bleed screws.

if you are struggling with the t fitting and the vac hose, use water as lube, if that fails bad... use brake fluid. i swear i almost ripped a finger nail off.




if you plan on doing all this... get one of these too

http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10991/normal_DSC00956.jpg

(ford 3 prong)
http://www.apexperformance.net/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=950&cid=8 for free shipping

and one of these to go with it

http://www.socalevo.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=19992.0

this is the best invention ever. better than speed bleeders by far. all you do it put your favorite fluid in. screw it in. pump it up. crack each bleed screw once. and then turn it to the side and bleed out fluid until your resevoir is sitting at the right level. unscrew, put res cap back on. done.




here you go: http://www.socalevo.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=36&topic=5569.0

just get the M10 x 1.0 x 31.35 Stainless Steel Speed Bleeder size at the local motorcycle shop if your in a hurry:

http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/product/SB1010SSS

stainless is optional- size is the same though...


everything you need to know about maintaining brakes

http://www.socalevo.net/forum/index.php?topic=26152.0

NatesEvoVIII
12-10-2010, 11:58 PM
not sure if we are allowed to post in here since no one has, but in the diagram it shows the inside nipple being bled first on all calipers but in the pictures it starts with the outside nipple and he says "Begin bleeding at the passenger side rear corner, OUTSIDE BLEEDER NIPPLE."
...which one is it? thanks!

Azian
12-11-2010, 12:17 AM
It's outside then inside or you can both at the same time^^^

NatesEvoVIII
12-11-2010, 12:38 AM
thanks man, im doin this tomorrow lol