V70XC rear brake bleed questiion
 

Hi Folks,

I've got a soft brake pedal and while not certain, I'm thinking some air has got into the system after recent rear brake overhaul work.

In any case, I think bleeding the brakes is a worthwhile thing to do and can't hurt.

Might sound daft but I've not bled rears before with 2 nipples per side - is there any order (eg top then bottom or v/versa?)

Cheers,
Nick

If the nipples are one at the top and one at the bottom, you only need to do the top one. The bubbles will make their way to the top anyway and so any air will exit by the top nipple. One less to seize and shear off as well!

These cars can be a pig to bleed. I read somewhere that bleeding these cars is better achieved with the front elevated on ramps, and this helped in my case.

Another old-sweat's trick: Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't... pump rapidly on the pedal for 10 secs to atomise air into thousands of minute bubbles, these bleed more easily than one or two stubborn air-pockets. It can take 5 minutes for air to return to contiguous pockets.

Rinse & Repeat.

Pressure-bleeders are best for most jobs, but if it's really stubborn follow with vacuum, using a MityVac or similar. If that fails, feed-up using the Mityvac's reverse funtion. ie put fluid in at the nipple end, and push the air up - the way it wants to go naturally - into the reservoir.

But make sure there's no cr*p in the nipples or you'll soon be cryin' in your beer.

I found when using a pressure bleeding system that a low pressure and go round all wheels and do it again a couple of times did it best.

Seconded. I use my Gunson Ezibleed and it's a totally straightforward job, no dramas.

Agreed, they're a long way from the hardest vehicles to bleed, many other makes are far worse.

After swapping an ABS unit I was struggling with mine. My pressure-bleeder got there, but not quite. Nothing really worked.

Read about the 'ramp thing'. With nothing to lose, I parked nose-up on a very steep incline. Rapid-prodded the pedal - and finally got a solid pedal.

I'm not fan of the Gunson Eezibleed, but when they work, they work well. . Seem to leak after 3-4 uses, and the pricier alternatives are not much better, I wound-up making a home-brew with a garden-sprayer, and the remnants of my various presure-bleeders.

I've used the Sealey VS820 for 6 years and it's never failed me on any car or van. It also fits my cooling system for quick and easy pressure testing.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UN8AA...tZm/s-l640.jpg

Thanks for all the advice folks. Got to say I'm not looking forward to the job as the nipples on the rear offside have had no dust covers on for what seems a long time - really poor condition. Maybe the smart move is to order some spares before I start...

I know all about that! Having spares handy won't do any harm, or at least give the rusted bleed nipples a generous coating of penetrating fluid a good few hours before you plan on tackling the work.

The Gunson failed me, on my V70, although no air was coming out of the rears, the (a little from the fronts) its still soft pedal :/