Bleeding drum brakes! Need advice!

[Afflyer]

I'm certain this topic thread has already come up- I just don't want to thumb through all 39 pages to find it!

My question is rather simple;

What is the proper procedures for bleeding all drum brakes on my '69 Charger?  I'm about to reinstall the master cylinder, but I don't have the "bleeding tubes" as described on page 5-12 of the 1969 Dodge Service Manual.  Can any of you guys recommend a suitable sub for such a thing?

Lastly, I'm sure I'll have to have my wife sit in the drivers seat and apply the brake to bleed the air out of the lines, but how much should she pump- just one long steady brake application- or several short ones to bleed the air out of the lines?

Also, what is the correct order to bleed?  Right rear first, then left rear? 

Thanks in advance fellers,

Bradley

[Ghoste]

I would make a set of those "bench tubes" up because if you don't bench bleed the mc, you are only going to give yourself a LOT of headaches.  You have the order correct, start with the furthest from the mc and work your way up to the closest.  Have your wife step on the pedal and apply steady pressure, then crack the bleeder screw and as soon as the initial spurt gets to a dribble, close the screw and start over.  Check the mc frequently and you two will quickly work out a rhythm.

[Afflyer]

Has anyone here ever made a set of those bench tubes?

[terrible one]

http://www.misterfixit.com/brakbld1.htm

Some helpful info on bench bleeding the MC.

[Ghoste]

Has anyone here ever made a set of those bench tubes?

I made a set with a couple of flare nuts, some scrap steel tubing, a tube bender and a flaring tool.

[Plumcrazy]

Also, what is the correct order to bleed?  Right rear first, then left rear? 

Thanks in advance fellers,

Bradley

Start at the wheel furthest away from the master cylinder and work your way towards it like this.

Right rear
Left rear
Right front
Left front.

[Steve P.]

http://www.misterfixit.com/brakbld1.htm

Some helpful info on bench bleeding the MC.

There is a very good tip that mrfixit provides here and most people never think of. When bench bleeding, make the tubes so that the fluid flows into something OTHER than back to your new master. If any impurities were left in the master or in your home made or store bought lines, you won't be putting it into the new master..

Part of bleeding is FLUSHING................   

For those that have not flushed/bleed their brakes in so long you cannot remember, do it.. Flushing is part of maintenance. Brake fluid loves to suck up moisture.. Moisture is the worst thing in the world for your hydraulic system outside of sand...

[Afflyer]

After reading this, I must confess something to you guys.  In the 11 years that I've had my '96 Ram, I've NEVER changed the brake fluid.



YIKES!!!

Better go buy a few more big containers of DOT 3 fluid at Wal-Mart and crack open those bleeder valves on the truck.

Bradley 

[Steve P.]

Hahahahahahaha,,,,  you are far from alone.. NOBODY ever thinks to do it till a line is rusted out or a cylinder is leaking..

[Afflyer]

Well then!  Come join me on the  ! There is plenty of seats available!

BTW- Steve- where is NPR Florida?  I'm just outside of Pensacola myself- at least for the next six months, then we pick up and move to a God-forsaken "high-plains drifter" sort of town, called Clovis, New Mexico.

Here's what I think about that- 

Bradley 

[Steve P.]

Hey Brad,   NPR is short for New Port Richey. We are 4 miles off the Gulf of Mexico about mid way or center of the state. Just about 20 miles North of Tampa Bay/Clearwater.

I have been through New Mexico a number of times and camped there for a few nights many years ago.. Nothing of interest there for me..   

Enjoy it here while you can.. 

Steve

[69XP383]

Oh dear god!

Why in the world are you going to Clovis NM??

I was there to visit an ex-girlfriend for just two days and I thought I was gonna kill myself. Hope you like seas of vast desert plains/plateaus although the Chicory Oak can break up the landscape boredom quite nicely. The temperature is OK I'll admit, not like the humid stuff here in Michigan or Florida. Don't worry though, if your car overheats, you can get water from one of the many cattle troughs which dot the landscape...just remember to keep an empty jug in your ride...look for the windmills... !

You have to at least try to get to Santa Fe...

[Afflyer]

Oh dear god!

Why in the world are you going to Clovis NM??

I was there to visit an ex-girlfriend for just two days and I thought I was gonna kill myself. Hope you like seas of vast desert plains/plateaus although the Chicory Oak can break up the landscape boredom quite nicely. The temperature is OK I'll admit, not like the humid stuff here in Michigan or Florida. Don't worry though, if your car overheats, you can get water from one of the many cattle troughs which dot the landscape...just remember to keep an empty jug in your ride...look for the windmills... !

You have to at least try to get to Santa Fe...

I have NO choice BUT to go to Clovis.  My whole squadron is doing a unit move from Florida to New Mexico.  AFSOC took over the mission at Cannon AFB outside of Clovis, and we will officially take possession of the base on October 1st.  We'll be the only squadron from AFSOC out there for a long time, which has its good points and bad points.  At least we'll be a loooooong way away from the  here at Hurlburt, and thats a good thing. 

On the downside, instead of my Charger having that "old car" smell, it'll soon have the waff of "ewe de cow dung" that lingers in the Clovis air all around.

Just like being back home in the hog and cattle barns in Indiana! 

Seriously though, my overnighter in Clovis earlier this summer, had me thinking it was very reminiscent of my time spent in Kansas when I was stationed at McConnell AFB for four years.  Of course Wichita has over 300,000 people, compared to the 30,000 that Clovis has, but I'm still reminded of all the fun I had in the towns outside of Wichita.

I gotta find the bright side to this last and final assignment in my career. 

Bradley 

[69XP383]

Ahhhhhh!

That makes sense now, I was trying to figure out what kind of jobs were in Clovis.

That was probably the one cool thing I didn't get to see was the air show out of Cannon. Well good luck, stay safe, and at least try to have a good time!!! Go see Carlsbad Caverns, if your into that sort of thing, I actually liked it, and plan the trip to co-inside with a night time missile launch test at White Sands National monument. If you have kids, they will probably get a kick out of it...well if it doesn't go out of control 

Bright side...little rain, more time to drive your car, and a chance to visit the west/southwest  This coming from a person who thinks he constanly has a black cloud over his head....holly cow!

[TeeWJay426]

Back to the original Tech topic.....I just did the change over on my car to a 67 style MC, had to replace the rear line over the axle, got everything back together, and have no pedal pressure at all.... but I didn't bench bleed the cylinder, either. Could this be the cause of my problem? I got the proportioning valve off a 69 Coronet...didn't pay attention to whether it was power or front discs or not. Now I'm wondering if it's the one I want or not as well.... mine is manual drums all around. This is about the last hurdle I have before mine is roadworthy again.....