S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

Gravity brake bleed - crap?

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Old 07-16-2018, 05:57 AM
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Default Gravity brake bleed - crap?

Hi All,

I changed my brake fluid last week and decided to use the 'gravity' method that I read on here so much about and everyone raves on about... and now my brakes are spongy and crap?

What gives? I used almost a whole litre of brake fluid, followed the correct order, but still spongy.

Did some reading on here and found the "leave brake pedal depressed over night" tip - so will try that and see if it works.

Anyone had good luck with pressure bleeders on the s2k?
Old 07-16-2018, 06:53 AM
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I have never used the gravity method on any car, so I cant speak to it. Did not want to wait a day to do a simple brake bleed. Have always used the two person or a pressure bleeder on all my cars.
Old 07-16-2018, 07:08 AM
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I always gravity bleed my S2000, and I have never had a better feeling brake pedal on any car.
Old 07-16-2018, 07:13 AM
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Gravity bleed will take 20 minutes on a car with warmed up brakes.

If the pedal is now spongy, the MC fluid level got low enough to pull in air.
Old 07-16-2018, 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Billman250
Gravity bleed will take 20 minutes on a car with warmed up brakes.

If the pedal is now spongy, the MC fluid level got low enough to pull in air.
^^I agree with Billman.

I use the gravity bleed method and works perfectly.
Old 07-16-2018, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by unclebobby
I always gravity bleed my S2000, and I have never had a better feeling brake pedal on any car.
This

While time consuming(I had done mine cold while on jack stands over the winter doing a bunch of other things), it was totally worth it. Best feeling brake pedal of any car Ive had
Old 07-16-2018, 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by engifineer
I have never used the gravity method on any car, so I cant speak to it. Did not want to wait a day to do a simple brake bleed. Have always used the two person or a pressure bleeder on all my cars.
Silly comment.

Doesn't take "a day". Can be done while doing other work on the car. Doesn't take a second person which isn't always available and doubles your man hours.
Old 07-16-2018, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by freq
Silly comment.

Doesn't take "a day". Can be done while doing other work on the car. Doesn't take a second person which isn't always available and doubles your man hours.
It takes longer than doing it without pressure on the line, so its not "silly". I was not being literal so obviously it does not take all day.

I use a pressure bleeder, no second person needed, comes out perfect every time and I dont accidentally walk away and let the reservoir get too low and pull air in Pressure bleeder cost me less than $100 and I have used it on all my cars.
Old 07-16-2018, 10:09 AM
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I'm just wondering if gravity method will work for other cars that are using DOT3/DOT4 fluid?
Old 07-16-2018, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Billman250
Gravity bleed will take 20 minutes on a car with warmed up brakes.

If the pedal is now spongy, the MC fluid level got low enough to pull in air.
perhaps I should have warmed the brakes up then?

fluid level didn’t get any lower than 3/4 or 4/5 full
in the MC. I was watching it like a hawk and constantly topping it up!

Is it literally just a plain open ended hose used for
gravity bleed and not one with a 1 way valve or anything in it?


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