Now I don't know how many of you have ever redone the brake system in your dub but let me tell you that it can be a right royal paint in the backside to blead the system after rebuilding the master cylinder. Anyway after ringing Brad for advice as my my power bleader (compressor driven sucker) was not able to draw the fluid through. Anyway in the end I'm sure the problem was to do with the primary chamber and the adjustment of the pedal, however I was that irritated I spent a day making a kick ass bleader that can suck the chrome off a tow ball I guess I could call it the monica lol it pulls 30inch of mercury vacume and made short work of the dubs brakes ON a side note I think that everyone should redo there brakes as the thing stops better than many new cars now.

So how does you "Monica" work?

And yes the job is a pure pain in the backside (specially if you have to ask the wife to help). Mine was twice as frustrating because I ended up filling the system with power steering fluid by mistake

Yes, I know how hard it can be to bleed brakes on an air cooled VW. After renewing All brake hoses, rear brake cylinders and master cylinder.... I used Bottles and bottles of brake fluid..... Its one of the MOST frustrating jobs on an air cooled Volkswagen. My Son was having trouble with one front wheel dragging (disc brakes) all the time.. He pulled the caliper apart, honed it etc, as the piston wasn't going back off the disc. Now the car pulls to that side when He brakes hard, so He has to do the other caliper... I may do mine after that also. I bought new kits to do the front calipers but haven't done them yet..(kits are expensive too for what they are)
Lee
:tree:rudolf

I would assume that "MONICA" works by sucking very hard on the LITTLE:o:P hose,just as the name suggests!:o

A mechanic told My Son recently, what He does when He has problems with bleeding brakes.... He cracks open the bleed nipples... has a smoke... and He reckens when He returns,, all the air has come to the top of the bleed screw and dispersed, and no more air in the system..
I have One problem with this system....
I DON'T Smoke....LOL...

Lee
:tree:rudolf:party:beer COKE...not beer!!

yeah that works for me. Fill reservoir, crack nipples open really slightly and leave them overnight!

just for those that are interested the ingredants to making the Monica are: one fridge motor, one transformer (12v), one micro switch, one car distributor, two decent switches, one light, one vacume guage and some fuel line and clamps. The box is optional but makes it look pretty (thanx Brad). I actually made it so I could install airconditioners and do some composite work but I think it will always be the monica to me :bounce

Quite SIMPLE really ... no matter what car you have when fitting a new master cyclinder YOU HAVE TO BLEED IT FIRST BEFORE YOU DO ANY THING ELSE.

hook up the rear line and one to the front lines... with fuel tank removed or you can do it if the car is on a hoist


leave one on the steel lines off.... fill the reserviour with fluid and get someone to pump the pedal.

While there doing this PUT YOUR finger over the outlet and allow the AIR to bleed out only a small amount of fluid.


I DONT KNOW HOW MANY TIME I HAVE EXPLAINED THIS METHOD ...... F ME ...

WHEN THE FLUID IF PUMPING FREELY AND YOUR NOT GETTING IT ALL OVER YOU KEEP THE BRAKE LEVER DEPRESSED AND FIT THE OTHER LINE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND DO UP TIGHT

then release the brake pedal.

start at the furthest away from the master cylcinder and start your bleeding process... then moove next closer to the cylinder until you have bleed each of the 4 wheels or 6 in case you have some weird army mobile.


Dave

I have done a number of brakes on new'ish cars (1990+) but was having some stress with the 71 bug as I mentioned however the problem worked out to be the location of the plunger. Obviously I had adjusted it so that it was not releasing fully and therefore fluid was unable rnter the chamber. Anyway I made the box as I really hate stuffing around. Using this I simply hook everything up, fill with fluid and turn it on. 10 Miniutes later the complete system has been flushed and It been done by just me on my creaper without pulling the tank etc... Sure I wasted a day building a new tool but I'll be selling my power bleader and I'll never have to get the wife to pump the pedal again

Sounds like you might be able to hire-out the Monica, for birthday parties, bucks nights, or whenever the better half goes on holidays!

Does she come with a chaperone?

I'm interested in hearing more about Monica.... such as what was the distributor for? :o

when I rebuilt my entire braking system I just set my air compressor regulator low and blew compressed air in the vent hole of the fluid reservior. works great. :thumb

Although my friend tried the same trick but didn't reset the regulator and blew the top off his reservior :o

Hi

I just use a broom handle to pump the pedal from outside car, then hold tension on while I crack the bleed nipples, but you will need long arms.

Ive fitted many completly new systems (as in dry) and have always started at furthest wheel away from the MC and done a quick bleed, then gone around again for a proper bleed.

1302Steve

Kol, the vacuum advance unit is lifted from a dizzy as it offers a nice easy way to adjust the vacuum to your desired level i.e. when the vacuum reaches say 10inch then the unit triggers the micro switch which shuts down the pump. I did this so that when I glass some wings (model planes ) I flick the primary switch and 30hours later the wings are ready. This is necessary for two reasons 1) any more vacuum and the foam would collapse 2) the pump would probably shut down after that time frame (thermal overload). Monica on 10inch will empty the entire system in around 2~3min COOL sorry to keep rambling but I'm chuffed with her

Steve, any chance you could bring Monica to Valla with ya.

I'm doing my brakes at the moment, all lines appear free of air, new master cylinder, no leaks that I can see - can't keep pressure :cussing

Aaaagggghhhhh

What's going wrong?

if i'm there i'll throw it in the honda, call my mobile 0411400342 and you can grab it then

Great.

Thanks Steve

I'll try and get the work done on it over the weekend and have it back to ya before ya head home.