When bleeding the brakes out, how do you bleed the proportioning valve? I see a button, what what exactly do you do? Keep pushing it? Does it stay pushed in? And while bleeding, keep master cylinder cover off or on? Thanks
You will want to keep the cover on while its on the car after you bench bleed it before you put it in. I have never had to bleed a prop valve but had to tap on a few with a hammer to help re-center it after a total loss of rear brake fluid. Bill
Pretty sure it doesnt matter. I leave it off to(or have someone else) watch and add to the level of fluid while gently pumping the brakes. Sorry, I dont have anything to offer on the proportioning valve question.
If you're worried about bleeding the prop valve, crack the lines coming out of the valve like you would a bleeder screw. Then work your way down to each cylinder/ caliper. Start with the rears, them move forward. -Josh
Sit the cover on it to keep any dirt from finding it's way in. Be sure you lift the cover off after every bleed to make sure you don't run it dry (if you do, you will have to start over.) How are you going to bleed the air out?
On the '84 Lesabre the book said to press in the button on the front of the valve while bleeding the rear brakes to prevent the brake light from staying on after the repairs. If yours is a stock setup with the brake sensor mounted in the distribution box then it's probably a similar proceedure. I never could push the button in since it was rotted into a single piece of iron, and my light never did go off.
I have gravity bled my system. Fill the master and open all liines at the wheels. I run tubes on them to small jars on the floor. Just make sure the master stays full. The last time I bled a new system I used a pressure bleeder
I don't think it really matters, but what car and how are the brakes configured? (drum and drum, disk and drum, or disk and disk). What method are you going to use to bleed the brakes? There are three ways. The easiest way (and not to messy) is with a vacume pump that draws the fluid out the bleeder. I have found on many cars that it is better to start as far away from the master cylinder and work towards it.
My wife is my brake bleeding buddy. Whoever you have help you just make sure they understand pump it up and hold it down. Tell them to pump easy and to try not to slam the pedal all the way to the floor.If you replaced wheel cylinders or calipers crack the bleeders and let gravity get some fluid in the new parts until you see it weeping out the bleeders. Then close them up and start at the passenger side rear first. Do not forget on a drum disc car your rear brake adjustment gives you that high pedal and a good bleeding will give you that firm pedal. Bill
