Brake bleeders

L

LordNilesStandish

Joined
Jun 19, 2024
Messages
147
Now I have got bitten by the 'regular brake fluid flush' bug, I'm looking at a new bleeder.
I currently have the little hand held vacuum pump which is great for sucking out reservoirs but get a bit fatiguing bleeding brakes.
What are other people using?
I don't have a shop compressor but I can hook to a 12v tyre compressor with standard fittings.
 
I've used a large hand-pump vacuum oil changer, but with a second reservoir to collect the brake fluid, a large mason jar w/ 2 holes and grommets with one hose attached to the bleeder and the other to the oil changer. Motive pressure bleeders also work well.
 
I have the Motive hand pressurized bleeder with adapters for a 2008 Chevy Tuck and a 2005 Ford Taurus. Just to be sure, I attached a plastic line from the bleeder to a plastic bottle and used a zip tie to make it tight on the bleeder. I could see the old fluid come out and then the new fluid show up.
 
Nothing better than motive pressure bleeder.

Some have success with the speed bleeders too, but they need to not suck air.

I wouldn’t bleed by vacuum personally. Too many stories of soft pedal after due to a bit of air getting sucked in by the valve.
 
I also use a Motive brake bleeder, along with a catch bottle.

I use a large syringe, with a short length of hose attached, to empty the old fluid out of the reservoir, then fill it with fresh fluid, attach the Motive to the reservoir, and start bleeding brakes. It works quite well, and makes for a mess free brake fluid change.

The disadvantage to the pressure tank style brake fluid flush systems, of which the Motive is one of them, is you have to have an adapter for each different type of brake reservoir cap you have in your fleet. Fortunately, they are becoming more common. For example, most all European cars now use the same brake reservoir cap threads.
 
For me it is positive pressure bleeder only. The ones that strap to the brake fluid res. 100% the best option unless you got some weird exotic system. (My personal definitely not professional opinion)
 
doitmyself said:
I use the one person method without any special tools as shown in this Chris Fix video. I dab a small amount of silicone grease around the bleeder threads to prevent any air leakage:
Click to expand...

He didn't demonstrate the one person method in this video. He had someone pushing the pedal.
 
On the difficult-to-bleed Corvette C3 calipers, the Motive Bleeder, on low pressure, was the only way I was able to get a pedal.
You have to have the right master cylinder adapter.

The Speedi Bleed kit that runs off tire pressure looks interesting as well.
 
Elkins45 said:
He didn't demonstrate the one person method in this video. He had someone pushing the pedal.
Click to expand...
The first half of the video is with 2 people. The second half is one person. I linked the video at the start of the second half showing the one person method. Chris stated "I'm going to loosen the bleeder........ now I'm going to go push the peddle" = one person in my book.
 
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Motive looks best, I've had some positive results with a vacuum bleeder (which is good to have around in general) but I might just start using the 2 person method going forward, less tools in the shop, rather than get the Motive. Too many one time use things hanging around.
 
doitmyself said:
The first half of the video is with 2 people. The second half is one person. I linked the video at the start of the second half showing the one person method. Chris stated "I'm going to loosen the bleeder........ now I'm going to go push the peddle" = one person in my book.
Click to expand...
I don’t think you linked the video that you think you did, or the link was messed up. The one I watched after clicking was about replacing all the fluids not just brakes, and I watched the whole section on breaks. He had his mom pushing the pedal.
 
I use clear tubing from the bleeder to a jar of brake fluid. I kneel outside the car and pump the pedal with my right hand. Faster than a gravity bleed. :cool:
 
LordNilesStandish said:
Now I have got bitten by the 'regular brake fluid flush' bug, I'm looking at a new bleeder.
I currently have the little hand held vacuum pump which is great for sucking out reservoirs but get a bit fatiguing bleeding brakes.
What are other people using?
I don't have a shop compressor but I can hook to a 12v tyre compressor with standard fittings.
Click to expand...

I have an electric pump for oil changes. Does brake fluid aswell. but just a tube into a flask of fluid works too.
 
Been using a Motive for years. In fact, just did both my son's car and the wife's (both VWs) in the same afternoon. Up on the Quick Jack, zip off all 4 wheels, fill the Motive and pressurize the M/C. Crack each bleed nipple and let about a pint out. Clean up wheel/hub interfaces and rotate tires around before slapping them back on. Each car took about an hour and 2 beers. Had to put the beers down to open the bleeders 😁.
 
Elkins45 said:
I don’t think you linked the video that you think you did, or the link was messed up. The one I watched after clicking was about replacing all the fluids not just brakes, and I watched the whole section on breaks. He had his mom pushing the pedal.
Click to expand...
Link must be messed up. My computer still shows "How to do a complete brake flush and bleed", with the second half showing the one man method with no special tools.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1NvtUwfRJc&pp=ygUVY2hyaXMgZml4IGJyYWtlIGJsZWVk

Oh well. :unsure:
 
I have been using Speed Bleeders and a Motive pressure bleeder for probably close to 20 years.

 
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