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Bleeding Master Cylinder

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• READ THE MANUAL FIRST!

• You will need a FLAT surface to complete this repair for your safety.

• READ ALL OF  THIS PROCEDURE SEVERAL TIMES SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT.  DO NOT PERFORM THE PROCEDURE OUT OF ORDER.  THIS WILL RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.

• Read our Safety page too.

• CLEAN THE WORK AREA AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER!! (THE POWER WASHER AT THE CAR WASH DOES A GOOD JOB BUT TAKE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL OFF SO YOU CAN DO A GOOD JOB)

We have available for download the complete procedure on our DOWNLOADS page

TOOLS NEEDED:

1. 11mm line wrench

2. 13mm socket 6 point preferably

3. 3 or 4  - 3 inch extensions or 13mm "wiggler" 6 point; 3/8 drive

4. (2)15mm open end wrenches

5. 1 quart DOT 3 brake fluid (if this is a complete over-hall NOW! is the time to use a synthetic brake fluid)

6. approximately a 6 inch prince driver (you do not mind banging on)

7. a clean, flat surface

8. (2) jack stands

9. (2) wheel chocks

10. and one word of WARNING start all the brake lines by hand in order to overt cross threading. Oh yeah, take your time, be precise and methodical: They just have to work EVERY time. Your life, occupants and the Volkswagen are depending on you to do the job to perfection.

Parts needed:

1. dual master cylinder

2. some lintless shop towels or paper towels

3. clean hands

4. (not being disturbed)

5. a little lithium base grease (Mystic JT-6 is what I use)

6. a willing partner to push brake peddle

7. about a hour and do not forget while you are under their look around for other problems that might be brewing. In example RUST or rusting, damage, clogging fuel filter, fuel leaks, tie rod end wear, ball joint wear, condition of shocks and towers, weather or not the steering box is leaking: Look around while you are under their because you are not under the bottom all that often. Problems can go for years before they reveal themselves as a road side brake down and usually when you are in a hurry. 

Procedure for Bleeding

1. It takes 2 people to do this procedure.

2. After installing the master cylinder finger tight and hooking up ALL the lines then tighten all the brake lines: Their is a bolt head in the middle top of the cylinder; that is the bleeder for the master cylinder.

3. Loosen to the left (counter clock wise), as if you were looking down on top of the master cylinder.

4. Push down on the brake peddle and hold it their until the other person has a chance to turn the valve to the right (clockwise) until it stops, closing the valve.

5. Let up on the brake peddle.

6. Press down on the brake peddle as far as it will go.

7. Turn valve on the master cylinder open and let fluid and air out.

8. Close valve then let brake peddle up.

9. Repeat steps 3 through 8 until nothing but brake fluid, WITH NO BUBBLES, comes out of the valve.

10. Proceed with bleeding the wheel cylinders until no bubbles, just brake fluid comes out of them. Hint start with the passenger rear, then the driver rear, then the passenger front and finally the driver front wheel cylinders.

11. If their is any discoloration in the brake fluid keep pumping it out until it is clear. You have to do this every 60,000 miles or 2 years according to maintenance curve anyway because brake fluid brakes down in water and or moister over time exposed to the elements, especially if you do not have the convince of a garage.

12. Most important of all; be one with the air-cooled Volkswagen. You will venture through many things together forming a bond not even the Borg could understand.

13. Enjoy the fruits of your labors and know you are in touch with all 5,115 parts of your air -cooled Volkswagen (give or take a part or two from year to year).

14. New Beetles are really Golf 3's. So stick that in your wasser boxer formally known as CONCEPT 1. I guess I will always be a first generation VW appreciation of simplicity and ergonomic engineering. It can be hard to keep things simple yet precise. In memory of Gene Berg. A man that carried on the cutting edges of new technology just to perfect something that always had room to be tinkered with in new ways and still keep it simple. Thank you Dee for staying in business.

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