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Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8469
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Hi, me again with another question (I know it's a bit like "mechanics 101" )
I am taking off my brake calipers to clean them up and paint them. I won't be replacing pads yet, but just wondered if I should bleed the brakes when I put them back?
I can't see any reason to but then I'm no mechanic!!
I am taking off my brake calipers to clean them up and paint them. I won't be replacing pads yet, but just wondered if I should bleed the brakes when I put them back?
I can't see any reason to but then I'm no mechanic!!
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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Onlinejabber
- Lifer
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:23 am
- Location: Hampshire
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
As long as you aren’t taking the brake hose off there is no need too
Z less again
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14700
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
As in, unbolting the calliper but leaving it hanging with the hose still connected.
But if you disconnect the hose from the calliper then yes, you do need to bleed it afterwards.
Be aware that fluid will drain out of both the hose and the calliper. You need to blank both ends and can also put cling-film under the reservoir cap which will create a vacuum and minimise drain down from the hose.
- Rockhopper
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
- Location: Mansfield
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
As said try and cap the flexi some how to stop the fluid draining out. Hose clamps are good but i wouldn't use them long term or you risk damaging the hose.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8469
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Thanks.
I am cleaning and painting them in situ, I just have to use a very small brush. The wife is going to struggle to put her make-up on as I've nicked all her brushes.
I am cleaning and painting them in situ, I just have to use a very small brush. The wife is going to struggle to put her make-up on as I've nicked all her brushes.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- Rockhopper
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
- Location: Mansfield
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Don't let the calipers hang on the flexi's tie them up with a bungy cord or similar.
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14700
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
But if they are hanging loose in the wheel arch then it is almost easier to leave them bolted on as they won't move around when you try to apply the paint.Rockhopper wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:40 pm Don't let the calipers hang on the flexi's tie them up with a bungy cord or similar.
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
- Posts: 4294
- Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:16 am
- Location: north wales
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Probably needs to remove them to paint the hub properlyenuff_zed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:45 pmBut if they are hanging loose in the wheel arch then it is almost easier to leave them bolted on as they won't move around when you try to apply the paint.Rockhopper wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:40 pm Don't let the calipers hang on the flexi's tie them up with a bungy cord or similar.
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14700
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Did mine in situ and just stuck a bolt back in the hub so I could turn it to reach it all.mr.tourette wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:49 pmProbably needs to remove them to paint the hub properlyenuff_zed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:45 pmBut if they are hanging loose in the wheel arch then it is almost easier to leave them bolted on as they won't move around when you try to apply the paint.Rockhopper wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:40 pm Don't let the calipers hang on the flexi's tie them up with a bungy cord or similar.
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
A bolt in time saves nineenuff_zed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:58 pmDid mine in situ and just stuck a bolt back in the hub so I could turn it to reach it all.mr.tourette wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:49 pmProbably needs to remove them to paint the hub properly
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
- Posts: 4294
- Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:16 am
- Location: north wales
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Was your handbrake not on when jacked up? Obviously not such an issue rotating the front but I assumed for the rears whipping the calipers off would be easier?enuff_zed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:58 pmDid mine in situ and just stuck a bolt back in the hub so I could turn it to reach it all.mr.tourette wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:49 pmProbably needs to remove them to paint the hub properly
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14700
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Nope.mr.tourette wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:36 pmWas your handbrake not on when jacked up? Obviously not such an issue rotating the front but I assumed for the rears whipping the calipers off would be easier?enuff_zed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:58 pmDid mine in situ and just stuck a bolt back in the hub so I could turn it to reach it all.mr.tourette wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:49 pm
Probably needs to remove them to paint the hub properly
I did one side at a time in my garage and turned the car round to have enough room to do the other side.
Handbrake off and opposite side wheels chocked.
Of course, with the fronts you can also turn the steering to give better access.
I managed to get my head inside the wheel arch to see what I was doing.
First attempt was a disaster, but after my eye stopped watering, I found a paintbrush with a shorter handle and it all went well.
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
- Posts: 4294
- Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:16 am
- Location: north wales
Removing brake calipers, should I bleed brakes?
Good to know I'll be doing mine soon and had wondered if I would get away with chocking it to save removing the caliper
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble