In a message dated 12/8/00 7:26:13 AM, ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

<< I don't think I need to have the car running to bleed power brakes, but I
though I might as well ask......Does it make any difference if the Van is
running or not? >>

Mark,

Bleeding the brakes should be done with the engine turned off.  If nothing
else, not having the power assist allows you to better sense the firm pedal
of a brake system which is purged of air.  Are you aware that you should
place a block of some sort beneath the brake pedal in order to keep the
master cylinder piston within its normal range of travel?  By not doing this
you risk damaging the piston cups or contaminating the brake system with some
of that ca-ca which settles in the bottom of a used master cylinder bore.

I have found that applying a slight positive pressure to the reservoir is a
much easier method to bleed the brakes than the old pump-pump-pump-hold
method.  Ideally, a pressure bleeder should be staight hydraulic, but since
there are only so many hours in a lifetime, I have not gone beyond a simple
air-over-oil hook up.

Rich

Rich