Correct Brake bleeding procedure?

[97gsxturbo97]

I just went to bleed the brakes on my car and I want to make sure I did this right. Many told me that the correct bleeding procedure was with engine running, RR, FL, LR, FR. The haynes manual also states this is the procedure. The problem was that as soon as I went from the FL to the RL the pedal went to the floor and there was air in the line. Continuing the sequence was useless and did nothing. So after doing that 10 times and no luck I decided to do it the old fashion way. With the engine running, I did RR, LR, FR, LR. I believe I got all air out of the line and the pedal is hard but I'm not satisfied because I though I was doing the first procedure for a specific reason. I heard there is some sort of X in the system which was why the first procedure has you crossing over. Also you are supposed to have the master cylinder cap on while you do this right? I checked the fluid in between each caliper and every time I took the cap off it made an air whoosh noise. Is that normal? Let me know If I did this right because I wont be driving the car for a while and I don't want to die if I decide to take it out one day. Thanks for your help.

 

[97gsxturbo97]

I assumed the engine had to be running since my car is a 2g with abs. When I bleed brakes on non abs cars I never have the car running. I dont know if it was necessary or not but the haynes manual states the car has to be running while bleeding.

 

[Drubble]

I just bled my brakes over the weekend, and thought the manual said the car had to be turned "on", not specifically running.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

I've got abs in my 1g and didn't have the car running or the key in the on position. The way I think about it is, you're just trying to get the air out of the system which means you need to push fluid to the calipers. I don't think that the engineers at Mitsu would design a car that wouldn't allow fluid to the calipers if the car were turned off. That would mean if you lost power in your car you could potentially not be able to stop. You might as a precaution leave the key in the ON position but I don't see why the car would need to be running.

 

[Defiant]

Leave the cap off, do the RR, FL, LR, FR sequence. Leave the engine off. You don't want power brakes while bleeding.

You've found why it's a bargain to have a shop do it for you.

 

[97gsxturbo97]

well I went out for a drive and everythings feels good. I was told not to leave the cap off while bleedding because you will be sucking air into the system? Im probably just gonna leave it alone.

 

[1992awdlaser]

The only way you would suck air in is if you let the fluid level get low.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

I was just about to say that, just like you would if you were bleeding your clutch system. I never thought bleeding a brake system was so terrible. If you buy that one-man system with the magnet, bleeding the brakes is a breeze. It's just a PITA to keep getting in and out of the car to check the line.