Inspecting Rolls-Royce and Bentley hydraulic systems

How to test and inspect the brake and hydraulic systems in Shadow and Spirit/Spur era Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars.
Disclaimer: This article describes a process whereby a knowledgeable owner can get a good approximation of a car’s hydraulic system condition in the field without specialized test tools. It is not meant to replace the procedures described in the factory workshop manuals. Rather, it recognizes that the workshop manual procedure relies on specialized hydraulic gauges which are unavailable to most owners around the world, and the need to test brakes is more widespread than the proper tools to do it.