Instead of pinching a brake line hose with vice grips, just press the brake pedal half way down with a stick to keep the brake fluid in the system? That'll work?... Replacing a brake caliper...
Posted by Different_Fly2025@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Briggs281707@reddit
Yep, I always depress the pedal. Other than the initial pressure still in the line, no more fluid will leak
Elitepikachu@reddit
Takes like 10 minutes and $20 to flush an entire brake system. If you have the wheels off you did 80% of the work already.
Reddit_reader_2206@reddit
Unless an inexperienced person rounds off a bleeder with a 12 point, 3/8" socket on a 10mm screw...
Elitepikachu@reddit
Always love it when you install a master/booster then when you think youre done you drop the wheels and find 2 of the bleeders snapped off and the other 2 rusted to shit. And ofc the customer can't wait more than 20 minutes and doesnt wanna spend more than $5 on the job.
673moto@reddit
Who the eff pinches brake lines with vice grips?! That's just dumb.
Different_Fly2025@reddit (OP)
Lmao I saw it somewhere else... Yeah I don't think that could be done without damage
ruddy3499@reddit
That’s my go to for replacing abs hydraulic control units on ram trucks. Stops the master cylinder from draining. I still have do a fluid flush after. I just prefer not to have a big mess
Poil336@reddit
I mean, if you do it quickly enough, you don't really lose a ton of fluid from the line. Get the new caliper bolted to the spindle before you take the hose off the new one, zip the bolt out, throw your new crush washers on, and install. Leave the cap on the resevoir, you're not going to lose enough to have to bleed anything but the caliper you replaced
dajohnnyboy@reddit
There are some brake line plugs clips you can get to do this instead.
juwyro@reddit
It works. I do it not for saving fluid, but just so that everything doesn't get covered in brake fluid. That stuff likes to drip forever and is very corrosive.
Different_Fly2025@reddit (OP)
Pistonenvy2@reddit
that will work if the fluid in your lines is good.
personally unless i literally just did brake work within the last 6 months or so im just gonna run all the fluid out and replace it with new clean fluid anyway. its really not worth it to leave old cruddy fluid in every time. get a better bleeder tool and take the headache out that way.
if i was doing brake jobs on cars on a daily basis still and the fluid looked good in the reservior? yeah i would be doing this on customer cars too. just gonna be honest lol if the fluid is trashed then its getting changed.
Siege9929@reddit
It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity to flush out some old fluid and replace it.