I'd like to make some observations here on a couple of topics going around:
1) Master cylinders: My experience with brake bleeding on a variety of cars
has been that the master cylinder often fails within a short time after
a pedal-pumping bleed session following some brake service. My opinion
would be that the pumping tends to scrub up the piston seals with a lot
of travel down to unworn (e.g. somewhat less than polished) ends of the
master cylinder, occurring during those first few pedal-to-the-floor pumps
to get the air out of the lines. I submit that the EZ-Bleed approach prob-
ably saves a lot of wear on the master cylinder. (Disclaimer: I don't even
own an EZ-Bleed, although I bought one for a friend!)
2) Spring compressors: For Heaven's sake, have a grudging respect for the
pent-up power of a compressed spring, and use the proper tool for the job.
A breakaway spring can have the same explosive power as that of an engine
dropping off a cheap engine hoist, but without the split second chance for
you to get out of the way. I don't mean to insult the people who've had
good results with improvised wood blocks or nylon straps, but I respectfully
suggest that this advice is going out to others who may not have your level
of expertise in fabricating tools. I haven't had any accidents myself,
though I have vivid memories of a little Monza going over railroad tracks
as I walked by. The old lower ball joint broke on the tracks, and the coil
spring fired the lower A-arm into the pavement with such explosive force
that it dug in and spun the car around.
Just my two pence...
Andrew C. Green
Datalogics, Inc. Internet: acg@dlogics.com
441 W. Huron UUCP: ..!uunet!dlogics!acg
Chicago, IL 60610 FAX: (312) 266-4473
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