Who talks during a two-person brake bleed?

"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
03/13/2018 at 18:00 • Filed to: wrenching, brakes

You talk first? I talk first?

Say you got a buddy helping you bleed brakes. Who does the talking? Is it the guy in the driver’s seat, telling when he’s pressing, holding, and releasing the brake pedal? Or should it be the guy at the caliper/wheel cylinder saying when to press, hold, release?

I’ve done it both ways, but I’m usually the one to dictate the process, whether I’m in the seat or at the bleeder. I haven’t quite figured out what’s the ideal method. What’s your preferred technique?

DISCUSSION (30)

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:04

Both?

When I’ve done in the person in car says when the pedal is being held down, and the person doing the caliper says when to pump the pedal again. Usually just ends up being “floor” “ok” “floor” “ok” when I’ve worked with a friend.

Maxima Speed > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:05

Boots on the ground always makes the call. In my family the bleeder is the leader.

Ash78, voting early and often > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:07

I do all the talking — to my Motive.

“Screw on, dammit, no don’t twist up! Why are you so yellow, you’re only 3 years old. Seriously? You’re just gonna snap off. Piece of crap, guess I’ll cut you off and get a new hose clamp. You’re lucky I don’t have a MityVac or your ass would be in the trash.”

lone_liberal > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:07

For me it’s the person opening and closing the bleeder valve.

Die-Trying > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:08

it doesnt matter so much. just so long as you are on the same page. the guy under the car yells that they have the valve shut, and the guy in the car yells once he has pumped up the brakes and is holding it.the guy under the car opens the valve, and lets the guy know if anything is coming out. the guy inside yells again when the pedal is on the floor. when the pedal is on the floor, the guy under shuts the valve, and yells when he is ready for the guy inside to pump it up again.

then after a few bleeds when there is fluid, the guy inside lets the guy under know that he is going to fill up the reservoir......

WRXforScience > lone_liberal
03/13/2018 at 18:09

^This, the most important action is the bleeder valve, so that person should be in charge and talking. I like the brake stamper to call out as well, it is hard to have too much communication.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:12

The guy at the bleeder valve. Jayhawk Jake and I did two cars pretty quickly this past weekend.

Nibby > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:12

Usually when it comes to bleeding out bodies, I do it all myself. Then make a gourmet meal

lone_liberal > WRXforScience
03/13/2018 at 18:12

The person at the valve is the one that can see the fluid and whether it still has bubbles in it as well as if the valve is open or closed so they are the ones that call the action.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:16

The person on the ground is the master and the ass in the seat is the slave.

Wacko > Maxima Speed
03/13/2018 at 18:19

Sounds like that in my house, she who bleeds leads!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:19

The person on the bleeder valve calls the shots and does the talking. The person in the seat has only one job: to do as they’re told. They have nothing to say unless something has gone wrong.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:19

I always end up being the pedal guy somehow and in that case, I just take orders

Maxima Speed > Wacko
03/13/2018 at 18:25

Oh boy, stepped in it with that one.

XJDano > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:28

I had my wife try & help me. Last I said was go back in the house.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:30

Ideally it’s:

Pressure on

(opens)

Closed

Pressure off

Ready

(Repeat)

WilliamsSW > Nibby
03/13/2018 at 18:32

As long as you save it for Czarnina

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 18:36

The one with the wrench. Not only that, the brake stamper often has, as their only qualification, a foot.

Wacko > Maxima Speed
03/13/2018 at 19:22

Watch where you step

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 19:24

The person at the valve calls the shots, but the stomper should respond verbally.

James > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 20:08

Neither. MightyVac, boi

Urambo Tauro > shop-teacher
03/13/2018 at 20:50

I like this. Good to confirm that the bleeder is being heard.

Urambo Tauro > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/13/2018 at 20:51

Master at the slave cylinder, and the slave at the master cylinder. It’s simple!

Urambo Tauro > lone_liberal
03/13/2018 at 20:53

I think that’s the key, right there. The fact that the bleeder can look out for air bubbles and say whether or not to give it another round is reason enough to be calling the shots.

tromoly > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 20:56

Goes in an order like this.

Person at valve: Pump!

Person at pedal: *pumps a few times* Hold!

Valve: *opens valve, then closes* Pump!

Rinse/repeat until brakes are bled.

19JRC99 > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 22:10

When Dad and I bled the brakes on the Camaro, it was him telling me to hold/press, and me responding when I’d done so.

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 22:27

It really does help.

Frank Grimes > Urambo Tauro
03/13/2018 at 23:21

I usually get the helper to do the pedal work and i yell at them consistent worded directions on when to press the pedal and when to let off.

Craig Stampfli > Urambo Tauro
03/14/2018 at 06:08

Guy with spanner in his hand: “Pump 3 times then hold”

Guy on the brake: “1, 2, 3, holding”

Guy with the spanner in his hand: “Pump 3 times then hold”

Continue until clean fluid is visible, or there are no more air bubbles, or both. For most cars start at the wheel farthest from the Master Cylinder, keep an eye on the fluid level, and don’t get any brake fluid on the paint.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Urambo Tauro
03/14/2018 at 08:51

I always call the shots from the bleeder valve. The person working the pedal is responsible for keeping an eye on the fluid levels in the reservoir and verbally responding to the “up” and “down” commands.