Has anyone ever bled their hydraulic top system? Mine sounds kind of gurrgly and the passenger side wont lower all the way on the windshield. also looks like drivers side piston or fitting has been leaking. Is the "T" fitting on the pump where I would fill and bleed the system? There is no vinyl on it now so nows the time for maintenance!

Sean
68 327/stock std.convt.white on blk

There is a rubber plug on the side of the tank and this is where you add fluid to the system. Do not overfill. The level should not exceed the hole height with the pump parallel to the ground.

Suggest you take apart the pump and clean it first. I've had to clean mine a few times over the years, especially after letting it sit for a long time.

The service manual suggests fabricating another rubber plug with a hose through the center. The other end of the hose should be submerged in a container of brake fluid. The top should then be run up and down until all the air is out of the system. I've never actually done it this way and I'm curious to see if it works.

I usually just run the top up and down, removing the plug and filling the tank every couple times. I have had mixed results.

Check to make sure you have no kinks in the hoses. Doing it with the interior out is a good idea as it is a messy job.



------------------
Mark M.
Red 67 Convertible
Red Deluxe Interior
383/Tremec 5 Speed
4 Wheel Disk

Sean and Mark, I have done the procedure with the tube in the can of fluid and putting the top up and down on a 66 Pontiac and I can attest that it works great! Just can be a little messy, take the rear seat out and cover the floor well. The container is easy to knock over while your in the car working the switch back and forth, while keeping the fluid level above the tube.

The local parts store should have an assortment of rubber plugs to drill the hole through and I used a brass tube in the plug then a rubber tube from the brass tube to the can.

I'm glad I save all that stuff cause I have to do it on my orange car. kevin


------------------
69' SS-350 ragtop, M20, 3.55 posi. Totally Disassembled & in boxes (I'm working on it!)
69' Hugger Orange Z-21 ragtop 327/PG, Driver

Mark and Kevin, thanks for the help.

Sean

When I had to bleed the system on 2 of my prior cars, I would run the pump until it started to struggle and then stop and crack the line open at the top or bottom of the piston and run it again to let the air out. Then add a little fluid to the pump and go back and forth again letting air out on the way up and then again on the way down. Just remember to retighten the fitting each time so you don't pull air back in. It's tedious, but it works.

------------------
Jeff H - 93 Indy 500 Pace Car(supercharged), Hugger Orange 69 Z28 with JL8 brakes & crossram

Good question and good answers- thanks guys! I have to do the top in my 69 Firebird and this info helps. Pete