Combination/prop valve centering tool

[az chip]

Has anyone found a centering pin bleeder tool locally? Like Autozone or oreillys?

[will e]

What does it do?

[Curly]

I have bled the brakes on hundreds of cars and trucks, using Gravity, Vacuum, Pressure and just plain old pump -the -pedal method and I have never had to depress the pin on a proportioning valve. Have you tried just bleeding the brakes with out the tool?


Curly

[sonoraed]

I have one, purchased from Power Brake Sales in Sacramento, Ca. also I saw one for sale from one of the outfits that supply 4 wheel disc brake kits (can't member their name) usually if the valve is not centered you can stomp on the brakes ( providing there are no defects in system) and pin will center, and like Curly said almost never needed the tool , Cheers

[tgreese]

What does it do?

I believe it's meant to center the piston in the combo valve. If the piston isn't centered, the brake light on the dash will be on, signaling brake failure.

Has nothing to do with holding the pin in for bleeding, as I understand it.

[az chip]

The book says it has to be in there to bleed the rears. I have spongy brakes right now. Going to try and do it the right way. I did the rear adjusters and other stuff. Changed out the lines.

[sonoraed]

it's to keep the "piston" centered WHILE bleeding the brakes,it won't center the piston,mine is only plastic and there's no way it could do anything but keep the piston from moving while bleeding.

[sonoraed]

http://www.powerbrakes.com/index.html
call this place tomorrow and ask for Sandy he's been around since mechanical brakes!!

[az chip]

I can send away for one. Summit has them. Just wanted to find one at a local supply.

[sonoraed]

if you can find an old switch just make the plunger not depress, ie glue it, solder it, etc would work just as well

[Cheap Hobby]

You can also get the factory tool on the Kent tool Web site and other vendors. It is still in current use and fits a huge # of vehicles.

[az chip]

Just to update this. I have been bleeding brakes on the Cherokee for some time. Doesn't matter where the prop valve is. As long as I use a mityvac pump it takes 20 seconds and about 10 pumps to start the flow on the right rear brake bleeder. After that just bleed normally all the way around.