Brake System Bleeding ???

[Pentastar Pete]

My 74 Challenger. Power Disc front / Drum rear. 
This is a all new system. Lines, prop. valve, master, calipers and wheel cyl..
I bench bled the master. everything is set to go. 

Is there some special I have to do because I have a new prop. valve??
Can I gravity bleed the system??? starting from the right rear...

Someone said gravity bleeding won't work because of the new prop. valve.
Thanks
Pete

[moparmaniac59]

Go to Harbor Freight or some other tool outlet and get ya a vacuum brake bleeder. It will probably cost 20 bucks or less. It is WELL worth the money and save you a ton of pumping. It also makes it easy when you don't have someone else to pump the pedal!! It is very effective!!

                                                                 Matt B.

[Chryco Psycho]

gravity bleeding will get you 90% but you need a second person to do it right , make sure you pump the pedal & release it slowly or you will airate the fluid & it will never be right

[Pentastar Pete]

CP, When you gravity bleed an empty system, should I start with one line open or should I have all 4 lines open?
Never knew about the airate of the fluid, thanks for the tip....

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I gravity bleed my system. I replaced the m/c, hard-lines, calipers, rubber lines and wheel cylinders. No issues, i did do it more than a couple times though to be sure.

I cracked one line at a time until i got fluid, starting from the back, it takes some time. Went all around a couple times until i had a good enough pedal to drive. Got things hot, nailed the brakes some, brought it back and bled them all again. been fine ever since

[Chryco Psycho]

the problem with gravity bleeding is in the coils under the master & some other places where the lines go up air bubbles can get trapped as the gravity bleed is slow enough that the bubbles can rise through the fluid & not get pushed through the system , so I generally recommend using 2 people just to be sure alll the air is out

[422STROKER]

Yup, got brake fluid all over myself today.  I use a 1 man brake bleeder it has a check valve to keep the fluid in the hoses when you release the pedal.  Works pretty good for me.  Like 10 bucks at the parts store.

Tom

[Pentastar Pete]

72, I did mine too today. The gravity bleed worked out good.
The pedal was kind a soft. I recruited my wife to pump the pedal, went around once and came out great!!!. 
Thanks for all the help!!!!!!!!

[Chryco Psycho]

 

[422STROKER]

72, I did mine too today. The gravity bleed worked out good.
The pedal was kind a soft. I recruited my wife to pump the pedal, went around once and came out great!!!. 
Thanks for all the help!!!!!!!!

YeaH, my wife helped me too for a bit.  I usually use a sponge mop so I don't have to get in and out of the car.LOL  I had a slight leak at the prop valve and needed Her to push while I figured out where it was coming from.
You can see the mop in the pic, works good and fits right up against the seat when you need to prop the brakes down to check the lights and stuff.LOL

Tom

[Aussie Challenger]

  Good to hear that you got the desired pedal.
  If you are on your own you can gravity bleed the brakes, however as said above a lot of air remains in the system. I have then open one bleeder at a time, the furtherest from the master cylinder, placed a tube over the bleeder going down into a bottle or jar with brake fluid in it. The other end must be below the fluid level, slowely push the brake pedal down holding for a second, then allow the brake pedal back. Repeat several times, close off the bleeder then move onto the next closest, make sure that the master cylinder doesn't go dry and that the free end of the pipe stays below the fluid level. This will give you a good pedal if you cannot find any willing helpers, but tends to use more fluid.