when you bleed the MC (using the pumping of the pedal way) do you close off the lines like you would for bleeding the brakes at the wheels? (the car is a 88 RX so no bleeder screw on the MC like on my hatch)

Yes. Use the brake line fittings just like bleeder fittings on the calipers/wheel cylinders.

but I don't see how that stops the fluid from going back in, I mean it flows thru the fittings. or did you mean the use bleeders from the calipers?

1. Connect lines and tighten down fittings.

2. Crack one fitting at a time open.

3. Push down pedal.

4. Close fitting.

5. Release pedal.

6. Open fitting.....

 

Edit: Make sure that all the bleeder screws in the entire system are tight prior to this, then bleed the whole system afterward.

That wont necesarily get all the air out of a master cylinder if it went dry or air got up in the wrong places. I've tried it like described above several times and it simply didn't get all the air out. That's why I suggested bench bleeding it.

 

How to bench bleed the master cylinder:

Go to parts store and buy a short segement of the proper metric fitting hardline.

 

Cut it in half so you now have 2 segements with a screw-in fitting at the end of each one.

 

Slip over some rubber line on the end you cut and put on a clamp if it's not tight enough.

 

Pop the cap off your resivour and make sure its full.

 

Completly undo the hardlines from the master cylinder and move them slightly to the side.

 

Screw in your new custom bleeder lines you just made and run the rubber hose end up into the resivour.

 

Now get in the cabin and pump that pedal! All the way to the floor. If you used clear rubber line you can watch the air bubbles come and go. Eventually they will all be gone and youll be pumping pure fluid. If you didnt use clear line just pump it like 30 times

 

It's really more easy than it sounds by description. Now it's possible to introduce air into the lines since you undid them from the MC. Simply bleed them in the normal cross directional pattern at the brake cylinders and you should be good to go! I HIGHLY recomend using Speed Bleeders for this part as they are the TRUE one man bleeding kit

plan on getting some soon, I'm going to try my bleeder kit and see if that works.