Do you need to bleed the brakes if you bleed the clutch?

[Chrissyt]

I'm in the process of replacing my clutch slave cylinder. Is it correct that the clutch & brake system uses different master cylinders but the same resevoir so guess I don't need to bleed the brakes as well?

Chris

[kevtherev]

your new clutch slave cylinder will bleed itself.

just open the bleed and close it when the air stops bubbling out.
No need to press anything or bleed anything else as long as the reservoirs remain full

[Chrissyt]

Cheers:)

Thats cool, it says in the haynes you need to do the same as you do with the brakes, i.e. pump and hold while youclose the nipple?

Chris

[Red Westie]

See how you go...gravity might be enough but as you say a few pumps will help force all the air out, opening and closing also stops the air being sucked back in to the system.
It is worth remembering that brake fluid needs changing at least every two years anyway as it has a very unfortunate property (called; hygroscopic) which means that it absorbs water from the surrounding air. This can have dramatic consequences because water contamination lowers the brake fluids boiling point which makes it much more likely to get vapour lock and subsequent brake failure.
Martin

[Chrissyt]

Cheers! I'll give it a go tomorrow.

I'm very tempted to change it anyway, but as the van is on the road out side my digs until xmas I don't want to risk nipples rounding of etc.

Chris