Last winter, I rebuilt the front drum brakes on my F100. This winter, I rebuilt the back axle, including the rear brake system. Now that I've done the [drum] brakes on all four wheels, I'm going to replace the master cylinder. The rear brakes have not been bled, as I thought it might be easier to bleed everything at once, after the new master cylinder is installed. Can someone walk me through the procedure for bleeding the entire system, including a new master cylinder and new rear wheel cylinders? Looking for the simplest procedure, which may be a gravity bleed? Thanks for the help.

 

This is where a Ford Shop manual is nice. It really helps to go through a procedure from start to finish ahead of time even if one is experienced, unless you do it all the time.

Bench bleed the master cylinder before install. This ensures that no foam or air bubbles lurk inside permanently. Run the self-adjusters on the starwheel all the way out as far as they will go, to open up the wheel cylinders internally prior to bleeding. Sometimes it helps to lightly bang or tap on the brake lines with a screwdriver handle to persuade bubbles to move especially when gravity bleeding. You have replaced the rubber brake hose already? Old hose causes a lot of problems.

 

2X on replacing the rubber hoses. The old ones may not fail by bursting. But they will bleed off rubber bits into the entire system, clogging up only the important things. Get a set (of four) Speed-Bleeders from your auto parts store. They will make your life so much easier!! Also if you can buy synthetic brake fluid, you metal brake lines will thank you (by not rusting on the inside), and it's a higher quality fluid.

 

Use a might vac hand pump , leave the cap off the M/C I start with farthest from MC , pump out fluid (refill as needed) till clean . then move to next farthest wheel and so on .

 

Everyone has their favorite way. Since I am almost always alone, I just gravity bleed and have about 98% success doing that. Bench bleed the master, open a 4 bleeders and very lightly, bu hand pump the pedal a few times, then look under the car. Repeat until you see fluid coming from a wheel, close that one and continue until all 4 are done.