PDA

View Full Version : How to Make Your Own Clutch Bleeder Line



Steve M
12-23-2018, 10:21 PM
Bleeding the clutch hydraulics on a Gen 3/4 Viper is a large PITA - there is very little room to work in the tunnel, and it always ends up being a messy endeavor. If you ever have to have your transmission out for any reason (e.g. a clutch swap), it is well worth your time and money to install a remote bleeder line to replace the factory POS.

Below is a detailed description (with pictures, of course) of how I did it on mine during my Nth Moto Clutch install. There are many different ways to skin this cat, so keep that in mind.

Here's what you'll need:

https://i.ibb.co/XZyCPLK/Remote-Bleeder-1.jpg

- 48" of -3 brake line (you can use -4 line if you so desire)
- Heat wrap since you'll be running this by the exhaust back into the engine bay
- 10mm copper crush washer
- 10mm x 1.5 to -3AN brake line adapter (you'd need a -4AN adapter if you use a -4 line)
- Brake bleeder (I used a 10mm x 1.0)

I actually had a spare line laying around from a previous project. It was a -3AN female on one end, and a 10mm x 1.0 metric concave seat on the other end. The line included a speed bleeder, but I opted not to use it since I use a pressure bleeder for bleeding the clutch hydraulics. If you don't already have a spare line laying around like I did, here's what you can use for the list above:

- 48" of -3 brake line (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3) - you'll want part number 3-48-S-S
- 10mm x 1.0 female concave seat to -3AN adapter (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=4193) - this will be used for the bleeder end
- DEI 48" Titanium Protect-A-Sleeve (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/DEI-010475)
- Copper crush washers (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ear-177101erl) - I keep a ton of these on hand since it is a very common size for most cars
- 10mm x 1.5 to -3AN brake line adapter (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/AER-FBM2966) - you can get cheaper versions of this part, but Aeroquip is known for making high quality stuff
- 10mm x 1.0 brake bleeder (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIL-220-6069)

Here's a closeup of the Aeroquip adapter fitting with crush washer compared to the factory slave bleeder:

https://i.ibb.co/3cZs3jz/Remote-Bleeder-2.jpg

And one of the Wilwood bleeder, which is actually two parts:

https://i.ibb.co/cFHZgQD/Remote-Bleeder-3.jpg

Putting everything together is pretty straightforward. Anything that goes into the bell housing I used red loctite on - the last thing you want is any of those fittings coming loose, because that will mean you'll be pulling the transmission all over again to fix it (not to mention that it will probably be a ride home on a trailer). Here's the line ready to install:

https://i.ibb.co/GdMcZvs/Remote-Bleeder-4.jpg

And actually installed on the slave cylinder:

https://i.ibb.co/QJgLzn5/Remote-Bleeder-5.jpg

Here's a close up shot of the line going into the slave cylinder with the crush washer:

https://i.ibb.co/RQKXvLH/Remote-Bleeder-6.jpg

And with the slave cylinder installed on the transmission:

https://i.ibb.co/C6y1NwX/Remote-Bleeder-7.jpg

The line from the master cylinder connects to the bottom, the bleeder goes out the top.

I still need to grab a picture of where the bleeder ended up in the engine bay, but the 48" of line gives you enough length to put the bleeder right next to the clutch master cylinder reservoir. It is extremely convenient to get to in this spot.

This mod has been around for a long time, so this clearly isn't breaking any new ground, but I just wanted to provide some pics I took to give you an idea of how everything installs, along with a basic parts list if you want to put one together yourself. The important parts to note are that you need 48" of brake hose to do this, and that the threads going into the slave cylinder are 10mm x 1.5 so you can source the appropriate adapter fitting.

ViperGarageElite
12-23-2018, 10:42 PM
well done looks like a nice solution .

J TNT
12-23-2018, 10:52 PM
Great post Steve and Thanks for sharing .
And yes it is a pita.......lol ! Have heard of some bleeding from the top by pulling vacuum for 30 minutes ........
Have you had any experience with that ???

Jay

Steve M
12-23-2018, 10:59 PM
Great post Steve and Thanks for sharing .
And yes it is a pita.......lol ! Have heard of some bleeding from the top by pulling vacuum for 30 minutes ........
Have you had any experience with that ???

Jay

I've done that method when I had my old Camaro. Basically, it looks like this:


https://youtu.be/bPcM3nkoq0c

Pull a little fluid into the line with a MityVac, insert the fitting in the hole in the reservoir, pull a vacuum, and watch the bubbles come out. Release the vacuum when you don't see anymore bubbles coming out, pull the fitting, replace the rubber diaphragm and lid. It seemed to work okay, but I've never tried it on my Viper since I have a pressure bleeder I use instead these days.

Some people swore by it...others, not so much. There were always rumors of the seals not liking a vacuum, but I could never verify if there were actually any issues with doing it this way. I'm not sure how the factory filled them, but I'd guess pulling a vacuum was involved.

Steve M
12-23-2018, 11:16 PM
Found a good picture of what the factory setup looks like:

https://i.ibb.co/6HJjhys/Remote-Bleeder-8.jpg

That might help someone that's fishing around trying to find the damn thing with about an inch of space between the transmission and the tunnel. If memory serves, it takes an 11mm wrench.

Viper vince
12-23-2018, 11:18 PM
3587435874
Great post Steve and Thanks for sharing .
And yes it is a pita.......lol ! Have heard of some bleeding from the top by pulling vacuum for 30 minutes ........
Have you had any experience with that ???

Jay

Steve M
12-23-2018, 11:21 PM
Bleeder I made an adapter that hooks to a Mity Vac and it suck the old fluid out

Just to be clear, what he was asking about what doing this from the clutch hydraulic fluid reservoir in the engine bay with a MityVac. The fitting you are showing would go at the problem from below at the slave cylinder.

Redx
12-23-2018, 11:49 PM
Great post Steve and Thanks for sharing .
And yes it is a pita.......lol ! Have heard of some bleeding from the top by pulling vacuum for 30 minutes ........
Have you had any experience with that ???

Jay

I have done this mod but used a setup from dan dragin, easily one of the best maintenance mods for a G4. I use a snap on air powered bleeder, maybe 20-30 seconds of sucking. I mounted my bleeder between the two big bulkhead connectors by the master cylinder with a rubber p clamp, one handed job now. I’ll have a pic when I get the car back.

LATAMUD
12-24-2018, 05:44 AM
I do this to all my Vipers too. I run a little longer line, and have a gravity feed to bleed all the air out.

A2008
12-24-2018, 08:51 AM
I've used Viper Vince's adapter many times. Less than a 10 minute job, no fuss, no mess, perfect results and very reasonably priced.

J TNT
12-24-2018, 09:54 AM
I've done that method when I had my old Camaro. Basically, it looks like this:


https://youtu.be/bPcM3nkoq0c

Pull a little fluid into the line with a MityVac, insert the fitting in the hole in the reservoir, pull a vacuum, and watch the bubbles come out. Release the vacuum when you don't see anymore bubbles coming out, pull the fitting, replace the rubber diaphragm and lid. It seemed to work okay, but I've never tried it on my Viper since I have a pressure bleeder I use instead these days.

Some people swore by it...others, not so much. There were always rumors of the seals not liking a vacuum, but I could never verify if there were actually any issues with doing it this way. I'm not sure how the factory filled them, but I'd guess pulling a vacuum was involved.

Thanks Steve , that's the set up I was thinking of . Good to have options .

J TNT
12-24-2018, 09:56 AM
I have done this mod but used a setup from dan dragin, easily one of the best maintenance mods for a G4. I use a snap on air powered bleeder, maybe 20-30 seconds of sucking. I mounted my bleeder between the two big bulkhead connectors by the master cylinder with a rubber p clamp, one handed job now. I’ll have a pic when I get the car back.

Thanks Redx . look forward to seeing your pic . Dan is a wealth of experience and knowledge !

TopGun66
12-31-2018, 06:37 PM
Thanks Steve

Viper Vince > I am not familiar with the o-ringed male piece. Can you just add a bit more? Would this go on the end where the bleeder goes on Steve setup?
Thanks JR

Steve M
12-31-2018, 06:39 PM
Thanks Steve

Viper Vince > I am not familiar with the o-ringed male piece. Can you just add a bit more? Would this go on the end where the bleeder goes on Steve setup?
Thanks JR

That's designed to fit in the hole in the stock bleeder screw.