Can I drive with air in my brake lines?

[Tuckman1941]

Hi, all.

Background:
I've lost all my brake fluid through a bad cylinder in the right rear drum. I've never touched brake fluid before, so bear with me.

I imagine I will need to bleed the master cylinder because there is probably air in it now. However, I will have to mail order the kit to bleed it.

It is my understanding that I will also need to take a trip to the dealership after I bleed the brakes so they can plug in a DRB computer to cycle the ABS system to get the air out of it. So, I'm going to the dealer anyway.

My questions:

1. If I only vacuum bleed the brakes for now, can I make it to the dealer to have them do the computer thing and bleed the whole system? Will I survive the 30 minute trip, or will the brakes be useless with air in them?

• There isn't any chance I can get the air out of the master cylinder without a bench bleeding kit, is there?

Thank you all.

PS It's a 2000 XJ

 

[kastein]

You can make your own bench bleeding kit simply by cutting up some hard lines with the appropriate fittings and adding vinyl aquarium tubing, it's not hard. You can also eliminate your ABS if you want to by simply unplugging the relays and fuses for it, which I believe should make it bleed like a normal braking system... not entirely sure on that. Check first.

You *can* drive with air in the brakes, but it's quite a risk. If you are going to do it, do it during the lightest traffic period you can, with your emergency flashers on, keep your eyes peeled for people pulling out in front of you, go very slow (like, 20mph slower than speed of traffic at the very least), and stay as far behind people as you can. A hand on the e-brake wouldn't hurt either. I've limped home this way, it was probably the most worrying, stressful drive of my life, I carry basic brake repair stuff in the trail kit now.

 

[old_man]

Can...yes.
Good Idea.....NO

 

[Matthew Currie]

If you vacuum bleed the rears you may not have to bench bleed the MC. I've recovered from such failures in the past without a full bench bleed, though it depends a little on how completely your system got emptied. Try it, anyway, and see if you can get a firm pedal. You shouldn't be too badly off, since the fronts should not have taken in air. Try a good long vacuum bleed, making sure, of course, to top up the fluid as you go, and then do some test stops in the driveway or somewhere safe before taking off. You'll know quickly enough how your brakes are behaving, and you should be able to get to the dealership without harm if you're careful.

 

[mfascuba]

I've got a 97 with ABS, redid the brake lines when I got it. Just put it together, bled one wheel at a time from the passenger rear, drivers rear, passenger front then drivers front. I bled mine like the ABS wasn't there, no problems at all. My cousin told me to gravity bleed them - I had a hand with another person on the brake pedal though.

Bleed the system before you put it on the road with other people.