Replacing brake master cylinder, fluid reservoir and flexible brake pipes - order?

[fishyboy]

Hi All,
This week I am going to replace the brake master cylinder, fluid reservoir and flexible brake pipes on my BT7. What is the best order to do these three steps?

Reservoir, flexible brake pipes, master cylinder is the route I was going to take.

Will I need to bench bleed the MC?
Do I need to make any adjustments to the brakes before the bleeding step?
Should I drain all the fluid out of the system before replacing the reservoir?
Any advice welcome.
Phil

 

[HealeyRick]

Since you're replacing most of the fluid anyway, you might as well bleed it all out and start with completely fresh fluid. I'd start with the master cylinder first, then connect up the reservoir and its feed pipes. Flexible lines can come last. You want to adjust your rear brakes to get the best pedal possible. I've been able to bleed the master cylinder by using a short piece of piping on the outlet with a rubber tube placed into a jar of brake fluid. Fill the reservoir and you can use the foot pedal to bleed the m/c.

 

[fishyboy]

Rick
Thanks for the swift reply.
So my procedure is to drain the brake fluid as a first step. The replace the three flexible brake pipes, MC and reservoir. Connect the reservoir to the brake MC (and clutch MC), without connecting the output brake pipe. Bleed the brake MC as you describe above. Then connect the output brake pipes (which will have no fluid in) and then bleed the whole brake system.

Have I got this steps correct?

Phil

 

[HealeyRick]

Phil,

That should work. Don't forget to adjust the rear shoes first. Good luck!

 

[steveg]

I'd use a turkey baster to remove the fluid from the old reservoir, then remove it along with its supply pipe. Then install the MC; then install the new reservoir to the supply pipe; install the MC in the car; install the supply pipe and reservoir. Install the flex hoses. Wrap all 4 bleeder screws with teflon tape and tighten up the rear drums. Then bleed.

I've used this syringe several times to pull air out of the system and clean fluid through. It completely removes the need for bench bleeding. Keep hyping it because it makes bleeding really easy.