Bleeding the clutch hydraulic system

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:11 pm

Anybody know where I can find a reasonably priced flex line? $75 seems too much for what it is. I may just make one up with a brake SS line and a little hooked hard line.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:17 pm

After a weekend away, I came home to a puddle of brake fluid under the car. The brake master cylinder decided that it was time to kick the bucket. I ordered a new one.

Now all of the hydraulic parts will be rebuilt or new.

Falkenberg · Post by **Falkenberg** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:00 am

Maybe you should clean the brake booster as well, might be full of brake fluid.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:26 am

Yes, I did. It had some fluid in it. Thanks for pointing it out

Luis A. · Post by **Luis A.** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:05 pm

Blaise wrote:Anybody know where I can find a reasonably priced flex line? $75 seems too much for what it is. I may just make one up with a brake SS line and a little hooked hard line.

You try rockauto or autohausaz? usually find OEM suppliers at a huge discount.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:13 pm

Luis A. wrote:
Blaise wrote:Anybody know where I can find a reasonably priced flex line? $75 seems too much for what it is. I may just make one up with a brake SS line and a little hooked hard line.
You try rockauto or autohausaz? usually find OEM suppliers at a huge discount.

They don't list it. Maximillian lists it for about $70.

Luis A. · Post by **Luis A.** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:28 pm

I don't see a flex line on the parts diagram for the 530i... My 1800 has a similar flex hose connecting to a hard line from clutch master to slave and I just used a brake flex hose of similar length. Would this not work with your 530?

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:16 pm

Luis A. wrote:I don't see a flex line on the parts diagram for the 530i... My 1800 has a similar flex hose connecting to a hard line from clutch master to slave and I just used a brake flex hose of similar length. Would this not work with your 530?

That is what I had in mind. I will have to make a little rigid elbow to connect to the master. I am not sure if I can make the flare that they use.

Luis A. · Post by **Luis A.** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:34 pm

I don't recall for the clutch circuit but if it's a bubble flare as in every other brake line in the car, that tool can be picked up for around $20.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:21 pm

Yes, that's it. I have a double flare tool, but the die inverts it the other way. Sounds like I need to find the right die.

I have this one:

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/prod ... category=1

Thanks,

Blaise

Luis A. · Post by **Luis A.** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:39 pm

Yep, the double flare is similar but not the same. IIRC I've seen a video of someone making a bubble flare with a double flare tool, but they are so cheap, there's no reason to improvise. You strike as a tool snob (that's a compliment!

) so you should definitely add this to your arsenal...

Related to this, and it may old news to those of you who frequent NAPA stores, but this week I was floored to see a prominent floor retail display rack right by the counter of many lengths of bubble flare brake lines. They must be far more common than just BMW...

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:55 am

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nl1E ... _00211.jpg" height="478" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vT1d ... _00212.jpg" height="478" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

Luis A. · Post by **Luis A.** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:42 am

Nice! Which bubble flare tool did you end up using?

1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:35 am

I'm impressed.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:50 pm

Luis A. wrote:Nice! Which bubble flare tool did you end up using?

I used a Napa tool that was not particular cheap or well made.

I already had an few SAE kits, but thought the metric version would be a good addition.

As it turns out, the tube holder in the Napa kit did not work as well as the holder from one of my old kits. It took a little practice, but it eventually made great flares.

In hindsight, I would not be afraid to improvise with an SAE double flare kit, as the final shaping of the bubble flare is really made when the joint is assembled. Drilling out the end of the flare to restore the original inner diameter is a nice touch too.

If you have a flare tool, some spare rigid brake line and an extra braided flex line....then this is a good alternative. If you have to buy all of this, then you might as well by the BMW clutch line.