Hey all...

just bought Earls brake lines and solo bleeders and hawk pads.

Don't want to end up bench bleeding my MC. Is there a 'smart' way to hook up the brake lines w/o introducing any air into the system via the MC?

 

Yeah, just don't let the m/c run dry as you swap out the old brake hoses for the new Earls brake hoses.

Just remember that the REARMOST m/c reservoir is for the FRONT brakes!!

I've done that a few times; I'm working on the front brakes so I keep my eye on the front reservoir- which never drains, of course, because it's for the rear brakes. But it's something I don't think about when I'm running from the bleeder screw to the m/c and back to the bleeder screw.

You could also minimize brake fluid loss by clamping vise grips in the middle of your OLD hoses. The grips will ruin the hoses, of course, but they'll stop fluid from going thru 'em. Then you can disconnect the hose at the calipers while taking your time. Install the new Earls hose to the caliper first. THEN undo the old hose from the brake line, and quickly connect the new hose.

You might want to keep a buddy nearby with a big bottle 'o brake fluid, and have him watch the correct reservoir.

If you want to speed up the bleeding process, you could also do this trick. Caliper off the car, dump out all the old fluid. Attach new Earls hose. Remove old bleeder screw. Hold caliper so the free end of the hose is pointing upwards. Pour new brake fluid into the bleeder screw hole until the caliper is full.. then put the new bleeder screw in. This'll cut down on the time to bleed the system since the piston area of the caliper will have fluid in it, and not air- just like doing an oil filter change, and pre-filling the oil filter.

Good luck! Start spraying the brake-line-to-brake-hose fittings down with some penetrant so you're not wasting time battling a rusty tube nut...

 

Perfect...thanks TOM..

actually hoped you'd be here to answer my question since I noticed you had some prob in the past before you got your V12.

Right on.

Thanks,
matt

 

Hey no problem; the more I can help people out with brakes, that means that we all spend less time cursing and more time driving. Let us know how it goes! I'm going to be changing my front hoses this summer (last changed in '96), and I'm thinking of going with the Earls set instead of OEM-style rubber.