Did my first brake flush!

[Klutch9]

Nothing really that exciting. Just wanted to let those who have never done it know how easy it can be. My Sedona is just shy of 95K miles and is over 8 years old, with the original brake fluid. The van spent most of its life in Kentucky, and has been in Michigan (rust belt) the last 3 years. As you'd expect, the underside of this vehicle is still pretty clean and mostly rust free. The bleeders all loosened easily with some PB Blaster used as a precaution. I got out .5 quarts of fluid, with a total system capacity of .7 quarts, and used the one-person method to bleed; no special tools other than some clear hose and an empty bottle of Canada Dry tonic water

So I got most of it out, and the fluid looked clean.

The original fluid wasn't actually that dark, but was very "muddy" looking. There was also a fair amount of sediment in the drain bottle at the end. Took me just over an hour with hand tools and a scissor jack. Go bleed your brakes!

 

[69GTX]

I did my first one last year. As I recall, it was so slow by myself via gravity drain that I enlisted my wife's help on the brake pedal for the majority of the job. That still took an hour or more, with the hardest part getting the wheels on and off. How did you do yours so fast by yourself? Did you cycle the caliper piston instead?

 

[Bgallagher]

nice work! Speaking of that I am overdue for a fluid change. Might be my weekend project.

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: 69GTX
I did my first one last year. As I recall, it was so slow by myself via gravity drain that I enlisted my wife's help on the brake pedal for the majority of the job. That still took an hour or more, with the hardest part getting the wheels on and off. How did you do yours so fast by yourself? Did you cycle the caliper piston instead?


Mine was faster because I didn't gravity bleed. I stuck the end of the hose into several inches of brake fluid, cracked the bleeder, and pumped the brake 10-12 times per corner. This method does allow a small amount of fluid to draw back up into the caliper at the end, but by the time you're done flushing a corner, the fluid in the hose is quite clean. Then snug up the bleeder and move on to the next corner.

 

[mrsilv04]

SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.



I have put them on all my cars. I usually use my Mity-Vac hand pump to get most of the fluid out, then finish up with pumping the pedal with the Speed Bleeders.

 

[dlundblad]

The old to clean fluid transition is very satisfying.

I replaced the brakes on my brother's Blazer and went ahead and helped him do a fluid flush.

We ended up using some clearance Brembo's from Rock Auto. $30 for all 4 wheels minus the rotors. That thing stops way better than it should. The only issue is getting it up to speed to require such stopping power.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.

I have put them on all my cars. I usually use my Mity-Vac hand pump to get most of the fluid out, then finish up with pumping the pedal with the Speed Bleeders.

With a right tool no Speed Bleeder is needed.

I used Mityvac 7201(the 8 liters fluid extractor), I can bleed all 4 corners in less than 10 minutes without any air in the system. The longest time was raise the car, put jack stands under the car, remove the wheels, reinstall the wheel, remove jack stands and lower the car. These works were about 1 hour.

The advantage of 7201 was I bought it to do oil change for E430, I then use it to do ATF and brake.

One tool to do several things rather than each tool for specific job.

How much for 4-5 sets of Speed Bleeders ? Mityvac 7201 is about $100-120 now, it was $60-70 when I bought it in 2000-2001.

 

[Olas]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
The old to clean fluid transition is very satisfying.

I replaced the brakes on my brother's Blazer and went ahead and helped him do a fluid flush.

We ended up using some clearance Brembo's from Rock Auto. $30 for all 4 wheels minus the rotors. That thing stops way better than it should. The only issue is getting it up to speed to require such stopping power.


+1 on Brembo, they make some quality gear

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.

I have put them on all my cars. I usually use my Mity-Vac hand pump to get most of the fluid out, then finish up with pumping the pedal with the Speed Bleeders.

With a right tool no Speed Bleeder is needed.

I used Mityvac 7201(the 8 liters fluid extractor), I can bleed all 4 corners in less than 10 minutes without any air in the system. The longest time was raise the car, put jack stands under the car, remove the wheels, reinstall the wheel, remove jack stands and lower the car. These works were about 1 hour.

The advantage of 7201 was I bought it to do oil change for E430, I then use it to do ATF and brake.

One tool to do several things rather than each tool for specific job.

How much for 4-5 sets of Speed Bleeders ? Mityvac 7201 is about $100-120 now, it was $60-70 when I bought it in 2000-2001.


I need to look into some sort of bleeder tool. I recently read here it was bad on the brake booster (?) to push the pedal completely to the floor during a bleed.

I guess once could push it down 3/4 of the way or so, but I think I'd rather use a tool.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.

I have put them on all my cars. I usually use my Mity-Vac hand pump to get most of the fluid out, then finish up with pumping the pedal with the Speed Bleeders.

With a right tool no Speed Bleeder is needed.

I used Mityvac 7201(the 8 liters fluid extractor), I can bleed all 4 corners in less than 10 minutes without any air in the system. The longest time was raise the car, put jack stands under the car, remove the wheels, reinstall the wheel, remove jack stands and lower the car. These works were about 1 hour.

The advantage of 7201 was I bought it to do oil change for E430, I then use it to do ATF and brake.

One tool to do several things rather than each tool for specific job.

How much for 4-5 sets of Speed Bleeders ? Mityvac 7201 is about $100-120 now, it was $60-70 when I bought it in 2000-2001.


It was your posting about the Miti-Vac that prompted me to buy one. It was a great investment, and has saved me a lot of time and money! If this one ever dies I'll be getting another one fast. Thanks again!

 

[greasegunn]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
SpeedBleeders.

I didn't even consider bleeding my own brakes, until I installed these.

I have put them on all my cars. I usually use my Mity-Vac hand pump to get most of the fluid out, then finish up with pumping the pedal with the Speed Bleeders.

With a right tool no Speed Bleeder is needed.

I used Mityvac 7201(the 8 liters fluid extractor), I can bleed all 4 corners in less than 10 minutes without any air in the system. The longest time was raise the car, put jack stands under the car, remove the wheels, reinstall the wheel, remove jack stands and lower the car. These works were about 1 hour.

The advantage of 7201 was I bought it to do oil change for E430, I then use it to do ATF and brake.

One tool to do several things rather than each tool for specific job.

How much for 4-5 sets of Speed Bleeders ? Mityvac 7201 is about $100-120 now, it was $60-70 when I bought it in 2000-2001.


Or you could buy a check valve that is meant for bleeding brakes. Works like the Speedbleeders but you can move it from wheel to wheel. Fluid can flow out when the pedal is depressed and wont flow back when released. Costs about 10 bucks and works great based on my experience.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: greasegunn
Or you could buy a check valve that is meant for bleeding brakes. Works like the Speedbleeders but you can move it from wheel to wheel. Fluid can flow out when the pedal is depressed and wont flow back when released. Costs about 10 bucks and works great based on my experience.

For someone who doesn't want to spend $80-$100 for a good fluid extractor, the check-valve may be a good tool to bleed the brake.

I already had Mityvac 7201, it bleeds the brake so well I sold the Motive power bleeder on Craigslist.

 

[jhellwig]

I have the mighty vac hand put and have not been able to get it to bleed brakes. The pedal pump method works for me if I can find help.

 

[ryan2022]

Great job bud! Yes, that's a pretty rewarding job because of the immediate rewards in brake feel. It usually makes a bit difference if its been a while.