Hi guys,
Today I did my first brake bleed (full flush) and encountered some problems.

For info: before I started, my brakes worked fine, the pedal had some travel but was solid when it engaged.

First I replaced the front brake pads with Ferodo DS2500.

Than I started the bleed proces:

Full flush with almost 1 liter for all calipers. I used a vacuum pump system because I had no helper and it looked like easy to work with.

However I encountered 2 problems

1. BLEED SCREW PROBLEM
It seemed as if I could suck out fluid from the front driveside caliper (left) even when I had the bleeder screw closed! It seemed that under vacuum it sucked out fluid even though I closed the bleeder screw. All 3 other brakes didnt show this effect. After closing it, no fluid came out by itself. I put the rubber capa back onnas well.

Could it be that this bleeder screw is not working properly? It looked to me like that. Should I replace it? Can I just spin it out and screw a new one in? Will much brake fluid rush out while I do this?

Odly the brakes have worked normally for many years on this car.

2. HOW FAR OPEN?
Perhaps I opened the bleeder screws too far and it can suck in false air? I opened them about half a turn with my wrench. I read somewhere now that 1/4 should be enough?

3. HOW TIGHT?
Should I buy a small torque wrench for the bleed screws? How tight should I close them by hand? I felt tightening them up felt like almost overspinning or brake something.

4. SOFT PEDAL
After I completed all 4 brakes and made a testdrive, the pedal was a soft sponge. I had to do some brake in procedure for the new pads, and after repeated brake intervals the car got good stopping power, a good ammount of rubber squeel (from the tires) but the pedal was still rather soft.

While bleeding I always topped up the main reservoir when it was at least half full.

After bleed with the vacuum pumping I always closed the bleeder screws while vacuum was still sucking on the line.

The clear hose from the set was quite large in diameter to me, and when the fluid came out of the caliper, first after all the old dark fluid came out it became light but not truly clear. When going thrue the hose where it come out of the caliper screw it never completely filled the hose so I couldnt see if there were any bubbels of air. Because the vacuum was making it gush thrue the line but like i said the line was never full with liquid. Always mix of vacuum/air and fluid.

Perhaps I should buy a hose with smaller inner diameter and try to attach it to the pumps reservoir and the caliper so the hose gets filled completely when the fluid is sucked out?

Any advice on both points is welcome.

Ps. I dont have anyone at the mo that can help me so advice to use pedal pump method with 2 people cant do.

Thanks!!!!

 

To close the bleed screws, you don't need hardly any torque- just snug, not ham fisted Arnold torque- you will strip threads if you do. To open, if you open the bleed screw too far you may get some air thru the threads- I put a small amount of thick grease around the bleed screw threads to help seal- maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 turn at most to open.

I just gravity bleed, you don't need a vacuum pump.

you can use a small torque wrench to cinch down the bleed screw after you finish.

darcy

 

No fluid should be coming out if the bleed screw is closed. Check that particular caliper and make sure it doesn't have fluid all over it.

Doesn't need to be all that open for fluid to start flowing. 1/4 turn maybe.

Hand tight should be plenty to close it.

Stop driving and re-check everything.

As for the vacuum pump what you described is normal. If you want to get rid of the little bubbles, a little grease around the edges to seal off any air and it should be good.

As for fluid color, unless you have the Honda tool to open up the ABS, you'll never be able to completely flush the brakes since the ABS module is never completely opened and there's still old fluid in all those ABS nooks and crannies. Someone here may know how to activate the ABS but usually you need a dealer scanner. If you REALLY want to get it clear, once your brakes are bled properly, come to a hard stop, hard enough to activate the ABS. Come back and bleed again.

Check that funky sounding one.