I'm just curious as to what the warning signs are if you get air into your brake system. Also, what damage can it cause?

 

soft pedal feel
longer travel
it doesn't take long to bled the brakes...
Yuri

 

Hitting a big tree or the car in front of you.

 

Just go ahead and do an full brake fluid flush. You will eliminate any air in the lines when you bleed it out, plus you will have nice new fluid in the lines.

 

That's just the concern. I flushed the brakes yesterday and now I'm concerned that some air may have gotten into the system. In order to flush most of the old fluid out, my friend pumped the brakes repeatedly while I opened one of the valves. I'm just wondering if repeatedly pumping the brakes with the valve open can let any air in. My brake pedal feels the same as it did before and my car stops so I doubt anything is wrong but I'm just concerned.

 

Procedure:

Pump the brake a few times. Have friend hold it to the floor.
Turn the bleeder to let out old fluid while still having the brake pedal depressed.
Tighten the bleeder back.
Repeat.




[Modified by EE_Chris, 7:38 PM 8/2/2002]

 

Make sure the valve is closed before the brake is released or even before it hits the floor. Lifting off while the screw is open WILL let air in.

 

that confused me a little, here.
1) press pedal
2) release pedal
2) open bleeder
3) press pedal
4) close bleeder
5) release pedal.

 

Yea no doubt. I hope you were not pumping the brakes while the bleeder screw was open the whole time. If you have speed-bleeders then your OK, but with regular bleeder screws you are letting air in as the pedal raises.

 

When I first started, I had my friend pump the brakes repeatedly while the bleeder screw was open to flush most of the old fluid (I didn't notice any air being sucked back through the screw). Then when the new fluid began saturating the system I had him press the pedal while I unscrewed the bleeder. Once the pedal hit the floor I tightened it up and repeated this on all 4 wheels.

My brakes feel fine. I'm just wondering if any damage can be caused to the brake system if air does get in.

 

No worries about damage to the system if air is in the lines.

You'll just want to make sure you get a good bleed on them because air in the lines is a lot more evident when the brakes heat up. Sounds like you did a fine job.

Justin