Brake Bleeder

[N PRGRES]

I want to flush my system and really get a good bleed on my brakes this year.  Anyone have a good brake bleeder recommendation short of the pump the pedel way?

[Warren Seale]

I always used the brake pedel pump method in the past but sometimes there isn't a second person around that can help.  So now I always use a MightVac to draw the fluid out.  It is pretty inexpensive and does a good job.  Plus it also works as a vacuum gauge when needed and can be used to start the siphoning of fluids.

https://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-vacuum-pump-39522.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=117789256238&adsetid=117789256238&product=39522&store=133&gclid=Cj0KCQjwldKmBhCCARIsAP-0rfxwZZVA7GoJ9zPunipcthYlY8SINI4BVMAWmk5GMYxS2GwJsgViRcYaAsFEEALw_wcB

[N PRGRES]

I always used the brake pedel pump method in the past but sometimes there isn't a second person around that can help.  So now I always use a MightVac to draw the fluid out.  It is pretty inexpensive and does a good job.  Plus it also works as a vacuum gauge when needed and can be used to start the siphoning of fluids.

https://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-vacuum-pump-39522.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=117789256238&adsetid=117789256238&product=39522&store=133&gclid=Cj0KCQjwldKmBhCCARIsAP-0rfxwZZVA7GoJ9zPunipcthYlY8SINI4BVMAWmk5GMYxS2GwJsgViRcYaAsFEEALw_wcB

Yah I have used that in the past and have never been impressed with it

[5th T/A]

Many years ago when I worked on cars for a living we had a commercial grade power bleeder system. It held a couple gallons of brake fluid, a rubber bladder separated the air tank side, you never had to worry about injecting air or refilling the master cylinder while bleeding. One man could bleed a complete system in a few minutes. I have no idea as to who made the system of if anything like it is available today. Something tells me it would be hard to adapt to modern master cylinders that use screw on reservoir covers.

I guess it still exists, you could probably find a used one reasonably priced.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=936fbffa9c868ef6JmltdHM9MTY5MTYyNTYwMCZpZ3VpZD0zNDMwM2JmNS1mYjBkLTYwNGYtMGQyZi0zNzlmZmFhNTYxOGMmaW5zaWQ9NTIzMA&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=34303bf5-fb0d-604f-0d2f-379ffaa5618c&psq=branick+g300&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJhbmljay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdC9nMzAwLXByZXNzdXJlLWJyYWtlLWJsZWVkZXIv&ntb=1

Honestly I have found on older cars without antilock brakes, having a helper pump the pedal works great once you establish a rhythm and good communication.

[b_hill_86]

I almost never have a helper when I work on the car so when I bled mine I put a long clear vinyl tube on the bleeder screw and into a pop bottle with a bit of fluid at the bottom. I routed the tube up from the bleeder then down to the bottle. Almost the reverse of a drain trap. Then with the bleeder screw open I pumped the brakes slowly. Fluid and bubbles will enter the tube and the air will rise to the top and not get sucked back into the system. You still need to keep the reservoir full of course but I suppose with enough tubing you could route it to deposit fluid into the reservoir. I also didn’t have a ton of tubing so I used my iPhone and Apple Watch to monitor fluid since you can view the camera screen on the watch. I know not everyone has that option but just saying that’s what I did to monitor the air in the tube. It worked great

[N PRGRES]

I almost never have a helper when I work on the car so when I bled mine I put a long clear vinyl tube on the bleeder screw and into a pop bottle with a bit of fluid at the bottom. I routed the tube up from the bleeder then down to the bottle. Almost the reverse of a drain trap. Then with the bleeder screw open I pumped the brakes slowly. Fluid and bubbles will enter the tube and the air will rise to the top and not get sucked back into the system. You still need to keep the reservoir full of course but I suppose with enough tubing you could route it to deposit fluid into the reservoir. I also didn’t have a ton of tubing so I used my iPhone and Apple Watch to monitor fluid since you can view the camera screen on the watch. I know not everyone has that option but just saying that’s what I did to monitor the air in the tube. It worked great

I suppose I could combine your idea and 5th TAs idea and get it done that way.  I just hate doing the open, close, open close, thing

[scarebird]

This is what I recommended to our customers:

https://www.harborfreight.com/brake-fluid-bleeder-92924.html?_br_psugg_q=brake+bleeding+tools

Get an extra bleed screw and drill it out and use when bleeding - prevents air getting by thread.

Mity-Vac hand pump? 

[5th T/A]

As seen in this thread, there are multiple options for bleeding brakes, I found this link describing them.
http://www.nbsbrakesupplies.com.au/technical-information/bleeding-brake-systems.html

Somewhere I read that when new cars are built in the factory they use a pressure system, but I could not find any details. For about the last twenty years, US cars have come standard with ABS. I am pretty sure shops and dealers are using a factory SCAN tool or aftermarket ODBII tool using the ABS pump to pressure bleed the systems.

A suggestion to someone doing brakes on a 40-50 year old car. If not replacing the calipers and wheel cylinders, make sure you can open the bleeder screws without breaking them off, before replacing pads and shoes. If not replacing the wheel cylinders and calipers, consider buying rebuild kits, they are cheap and easy to install. Replace all rubber brake hoses and seriously consider replacing all steel brake lines, they can rust from the inside out.

[N PRGRES]

As seen in this thread, there are multiple options for bleeding brakes, I found this link describing them.
http://www.nbsbrakesupplies.com.au/technical-information/bleeding-brake-systems.html

Somewhere I read that when new cars are built in the factory they use a pressure system, but I could not find any details. For about the last twenty years, US cars have come standard with ABS. I am pretty sure shops and dealers are using a factory SCAN tool or aftermarket ODBII tool using the ABS pump to pressure bleed the systems.

A suggestion to someone doing brakes on a 40-50 year old car. If not replacing the calipers and wheel cylinders, make sure you can open the bleeder screws without breaking them off, before replacing pads and shoes. If not replacing the wheel cylinders and calipers, consider buying rebuild kits, they are cheap and easy to install. Replace all rubber brake hoses and seriously consider replacing all steel brake lines, they can rust from the inside out.

Thanks, the calipers on the car are new Wilwood dual pistons.