Need to bleed brakes

[Dr_Snooz]

I don't know much about it, but if it's simply a matter of getting your own yard cleared, could you use the e-brake?

If you replaced the soft line to the caliper, I don't think there would be a way of getting the air out without the bleeder. Simply cracking a fitting higher up the line won't get the air out of the caliper, which is where it all is right now.

This is super hillbilly, but if it were mine, I'd top off the MC, then disconnect the soft line from the caliper and remove the caliper from the truck. I'd let the line gravity bleed until all the air was out. In the meantime, I'd try to fill the caliper by hand with fluid in a way that got all the air bubbles out that I could see. I'd use a needle to dislodge any visible air bubbles from inside the caliper and would bump and shake the caliper to bring all the bubbles to the surface as much as possible. You're basically trying to bench bleed the caliper. Then with the caliper filled up to brimming, I'd reattach the dribbling line and then remount the caliper. I'd say you have a snowball's chance of having some kind of useful braking that way. It's far from ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

For the rear, if you crack the hard line at the wheel cylinder, you may be successful there. If you could find someone to pump the brakes while you crack lines, that would be much better.

[thirsty]

I've been in that same situation many many times. If you are careful you can heat it up with a torch and get it out. Be careful not to boil the fluid or burn anything rubber on the caliper. If it works then put a new bleeder screw in. If it doesn't work and breaks the bleeder off put the caliper on the bench and try to get it out. I all that fails napaonline has them listed for $27 for your truck.

Good luck with it before the noreaster hits.

[VTK5Mudder]

I don't know much about it, but if it's simply a matter of getting your own yard cleared, could you use the e-brake?

If you replaced the soft line to the caliper, I don't think there would be a way of getting the air out without the bleeder. Simply cracking a fitting higher up the line won't get the air out of the caliper, which is where it all is right now.

This is super hillbilly, but if it were mine, I'd top off the MC, then disconnect the soft line from the caliper and remove the caliper from the truck. I'd let the line gravity bleed until all the air was out. In the meantime, I'd try to fill the caliper by hand with fluid in a way that got all the air bubbles out that I could see. I'd use a needle to dislodge any visible air bubbles from inside the caliper and would bump and shake the caliper to bring all the bubbles to the surface as much as possible. You're basically trying to bench bleed the caliper. Then with the caliper filled up to brimming, I'd reattach the dribbling line and then remount the caliper. I'd say you have a snowball's chance of having some kind of useful braking that way. It's far from ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

For the rear, if you crack the hard line at the wheel cylinder, you may be successful there. If you could find someone to pump the brakes while you crack lines, that would be much better.

the bad thing is I have had luck just cracking the lines front and rear at the fittings where they go into the rear brakes and where they go into the calibers and not using the bleeders just because they were so rotted { just to use in the yard} but for some reason this time and on this truck it doesn't want to work . e-brake is shot I haven't had the truck on the road for like 7yrs its been a yard/pulling mud trucks out of are pit truck I have started to do a little work on it to get it road worth again .

[VTK5Mudder]

I've been in that same situation many many times. If you are careful you can heat it up with a torch and get it out. Be careful not to boil the fluid or burn anything rubber on the caliper. If it works then put a new bleeder screw in. If it doesn't work and breaks the bleeder off put the caliper on the bench and try to get it out. I all that fails napaonline has them listed for $27 for your truck.

Good luck with it before the noreaster hits.

yea I need the luck so far we have been lucky with the snow its been rain and snow so far but afraid we will get hit soon its about time ! I thought of having my son come down with his torches and we have talked about it but he has had a 50/50 luck on that . if I just had the money and a garage to put it in that would be helpful . when you get a high of 20 its a heat wave ! lol

[roundhouse]

New calipers are $17 each

I wouldn't spent much time messing With the bleeder screws at that price


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[VTK5Mudder]

New calipers are $17 each

I wouldn't spent much time messing With the bleeder screws at that price


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if I was still working it would by new ones along with replacing the right front line . but money is just way to tight I just lost my job do to a injury to my right hand . so money isn't there I know there only $20 bucks each but $40 plus another 20 for the line I cant do right now.

[1979cheyenne]

Late reply, but mine were stuck good. I thought they were going to break off even soaked with wd40 but I used vise grips. I'm not sure if it's the right way but I jacked the front of my truck pretty high and had someone pump the brakes until there was pressure then I'd bleed it until the fluid had no little bubbles and went to the other side and only did front and pedal is very stiff now. It was a gamble if you didn't brake early at stop lights before haha. 

[Irish_Alley]

whats wrong with the line?

[Irish_Alley]

also figure out what brakes you have
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=28592.0

[VTK5Mudder]

the right front line buy the look would need to be replaced if I change the caliber . the left front blew out last winter and got that replaced . I just don't have the cash to get both rear wheel cyl. and both calibers and the new line right now . the truck is the heavy duty 3/4 79 GMC its not driven on the road . I do plan on redoing the rest of the lines along with all new rear brake hardwear and calibers this summer . I just need to get some kind of a brake on it just to plow with now. I did try and gravity bleed the brakes and that seemed to help Im hoping the next warm day to try it some more and see what happens and go from there but its just been to cold got a high of 10 deg. today and not going to be much higher all week . I want spring now !