Folks, Any hints on bleeding the rear brakes (inboard discs) on my car. It looks like I can just get in there with a 7/16" or 11 mm ring spanner which should barely allow 1/12 of a turn at a time, but getting a clear tube onto the nipple looks very challenging. I'm hoping to do it with the benefit of full length ramps which raise the car 8 - 9" or 200 - 225 mm. I really don't want to have to remove the front spring/shock absorber assembly on the relevant half axle.

 

You need to remove the front shock from the IRS to get at the nipple.
Sounds scary but only takes about 5 mins a side.
Jack the rear up under the diff and put jackstands under the chassis rails about an inch from the end.
Some people get extension pipes made up which replace the bleed nipple and bolt down to the front of the IRS.

 

Thanks, A,

I've done it with shocks in place using a ratchet ring spanner and very flexible neoprene hose. And I did it alone just by gravity bleeding which worked a treat once I dislodged the ball under the nipple with some pedal pressure.

I've since gone on to do the two front wheels too, but without even removing the wheels. I was able to put this same neoprene tube through the spokes and onto the nipple after placing the new ratchet ring spanner on the nipple again through the spokes. I did both wheels this morning again by gravity bleeding, checking intermittently while weeding in the garden.

Very pleased.

 

Good work. I simply couldn't get my massive passion fingers in there

 

Graham,

Ive done it both ways:

1) Front shock off and it was a B****** to get back on, may have just been my car or me...

2) Recently did it with the rear shocks in place as a reservoir fractioned, unscrewed the bleed nipple got the hose on it and screwed it back on with pipe attached then did the deed.

The best way to do it is connect a set of bleed pipe extensions.