[E92fanboy]

While attempting to bleed my brakes with a pressure bleeder today, it led to pretty much all of the fluid leaking out the front drivers side wheel well. Anybody know why this happened?

[SpartaEvolution]

Sounds like you might be using too much pressure causing the fluid to leak out of the top of the reservoir from under the pressure bleeder cap. What's the reason for the bleed? You may need to 'bench bleed' if you're replacing lines or a caliper. If you're just bleeding to flush the fluid, try using as little pressure as necessary to see if you can get the bleed started, then slowly increase the pressure from there as you hit each corner.

In our experience, nothing works as well as a good ol' fashion 2 person bleed.

[E92fanboy]

I replaced my lines with stainless steel ones, I am not familiar with "bench" bleeding.

[feuer]

Bench bleeding is for master cylinders. Basically you want to make sure there is brake fluid in there or pumping the pedal might damage the seals. It won't mater either way as chances of that happening are super slim. Using vacuum to pull the brake fluid is easier and less messy. Not needed for lines or caliper replacement.

[GRUESOM3]

Maybe you cracked the brake fluid reservoir from too much pressure

[feuer]

Reservoir is pressed into the master cylinder with rubber gumets. Pressure would cause a leak there fist rather than cracking the reservoir. The reservoir has a safety nipple, plastic pipe on the side that was melted shut. Check that.

[E92fanboy]

K I will check that as soon as I can. The fluid came out near the cap first then started coming out the bottom, I didn't have it at more than 10psi though didn't think that would do this.

[PhaseP]

Maybe the cap didn't seal well and leaked?

Had you put brake fluid to the pressure bleeder also? If so, had you tried pressurizing and checking if there was any air leak before adding brake fluid to the bleeder (with brake fluid in the brake reservoir)?

After once one of the tubes of the bleeder had cracked and sprayed brake fluid all over the engine, I stopped adding fluid to the bleeder. Instead I top the fluid reservoir and watch that it never runs dry during bleeding. I have to stop and disconnect the bleeder and refill reservoir a few times during a full brake fluid replacement, but I rather do that than clean up brake fluid every where.

The flexible tubes that come with the bleeder are prone to developing cracks initially on the inside that propagate slowly outside, and then they open up under pressure unexpectedly. Mine is more than 10 years old, maybe newer models have different tube material, but after 3 years or so tubes need to be inspected and replaced. I think this is even written on the bleeder instructions.

Sorry for the rant, I don't always get good seal on the cap of the brake reservoir with the bleeder, that is the relevant part of my post.

[E92fanboy]

Good to know, the bleeder i'm using is a brand new Schwaben unit. So upon further inspection the bleeder screw on the driver front caliper had opened slightly under pressure and was spraying fluid on the fender liner so it may not be as bad as I thought. I will get after it tomorrow, thanks for all the feedback so far!

[E92fanboy]

So it turns out if you tighten everything properly the pressure bleeder works as it should. Thanks again for all the quick responses!

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by E92fanboy

So it turns out if you tighten everything properly the pressure bleeder works as it should. Thanks again for all the quick responses!

Funny...

[montr]

Originally Posted by E92fanboy

Good to know, the bleeder i'm using is a brand new Schwaben unit. So upon further inspection the bleeder screw on the driver front caliper had opened slightly under pressure and was spraying fluid on the fender liner so it may not be as bad as I thought. I will get after it tomorrow, thanks for all the feedback so far!

It is better to find this now in your garage than on the road at high speed!