Matt's RV-8 Project



Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date:  4-5-2010
Number of Hours:  2.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Bleeding The Brakes - Part 2

For reference, once the brakes are properly bled, you shouldn't hardly be able to move the brake peddle by hand. Maybe only 1/4" or less. You can probably get a little more play using your feet, but they should be really hard and solid. If you've still got air in the system, you will have more travel on brake peddle or even possibly different amounts of available movement left to right. They should be exactly the same left and right.

To bleed the brakes, here's what I did:

1) Close the ballcock on the ATS Bleeder.

2) Attach the nipple fitting on the ATS Bleeder to the Brake nipple.

3) Hand-tighten, the large black nut on the nipple fitting. Maybe
even give it a 1/4" turn with a wrench.

4) Use a 1/4" end wrench to loosen the brake nipple about 1/2 a turn,
no more.

5) Put a BUNCH of paper towels around the brake reservoir on the firewall.

6) Put some MORE paper towels around the brake reservoir.

7) Fill the ATS Bleeder with about 1/2 gal of fluid.

8) Give the pump about 3-4 full pumps until you feel pressure on the handle.

9) Remove the plug from the top of the reservoir.

10) Open the ballcock on the ATS Bleeder fitting.

11) Pump the brake peddle by hand a few times.

12) Check the reservoir to see if the fluid has spilled over the top yet.

13) You should see some fluid but also air bubbles coming up in the reservoir.

14) Once the bubbles stop and only fluid seems to be coming out of the
reservoir, tighten the 1/4" brake nipple.

15) Now turn off the ATS Bleeder ballcock. Be sure to do it in the order!
If you turn the ballcock off before you tighten the nipple, you'll
probably end up with air in the line.

16) Repeat process on the other side.

That's what worked for me. Your mileage may very...
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Reservoir With Paper Towles

Reservoir With Paper Towles

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Attached To Right Brake

Attached To Right Brake

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Attached To Left Brake

Attached To Left Brake

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