Here is my $0.40 one-man (single technician to be pc) brake bleeder. It's really simple and it just works. No adapters needed and no significant investment. You don't have to order anything and you won't find it on a tool truck. Parts are available from any hardware store, parts store, maybe even the oil heaven (to some) known as Wal-Mart.
All you need is a container and a couple of feet of appropriately sized clear tubing. I used 3 feet of tubing. Really... that's it!
Instructions for use:
Make sure there is 1" or 2" of brake fluid in your container and that the end of the tubing is always submerged in that fluid. The key is the end of the tubing is submerged. The initial fill of your container could be the old fluid you have sucked out of the MC i.e. "turkey baster" method.
Connect the tubing and loosen the bleeder screw 1/8 to 1/4 turn, just enough to let the fluid flow out.
Now pump the brake pedal smoothly and push out all of the old fluid. Make sure to keep an eye on the MC so it doesn't go empty. You can yell "pump!" and "hold!" for nostalgia but it's not necessary because nobody is there helping you; remember this is a "one-man" setup.
You can pump 10 times or so for each caliper until you need to check for clean fluid in the tubing.
The tubing submerged in the fluid in the container will create enough resistance to act as a check valve. The fluid will only flow out. In 15 years of using this setup I have not had fluid or air back up into the system.
Close the bleeder and move to the next caliper
When you empty the container remember to leave a couple of inches of fluid for the next caliper.
I like the quart sized brake fluid bottle because I can flush the whole system before emptying it and it doesn't spill much if I knock it over. You could also use a gallon carboy, Mason jar, small bucket, beer bottle, soda can, Erlenmeyer flask...anything as long as the end of the tube is submerged.
This is my setup
Taken apart
Assembled
But it could also be setup like this (red cap not needed)
All you need is a container and a couple of feet of appropriately sized clear tubing. I used 3 feet of tubing. Really... that's it!
Instructions for use:
Make sure there is 1" or 2" of brake fluid in your container and that the end of the tubing is always submerged in that fluid. The key is the end of the tubing is submerged. The initial fill of your container could be the old fluid you have sucked out of the MC i.e. "turkey baster" method.
Connect the tubing and loosen the bleeder screw 1/8 to 1/4 turn, just enough to let the fluid flow out.
Now pump the brake pedal smoothly and push out all of the old fluid. Make sure to keep an eye on the MC so it doesn't go empty. You can yell "pump!" and "hold!" for nostalgia but it's not necessary because nobody is there helping you; remember this is a "one-man" setup.
You can pump 10 times or so for each caliper until you need to check for clean fluid in the tubing.
The tubing submerged in the fluid in the container will create enough resistance to act as a check valve. The fluid will only flow out. In 15 years of using this setup I have not had fluid or air back up into the system.
Close the bleeder and move to the next caliper
When you empty the container remember to leave a couple of inches of fluid for the next caliper.
I like the quart sized brake fluid bottle because I can flush the whole system before emptying it and it doesn't spill much if I knock it over. You could also use a gallon carboy, Mason jar, small bucket, beer bottle, soda can, Erlenmeyer flask...anything as long as the end of the tube is submerged.
This is my setup
Taken apart
Assembled
But it could also be setup like this (red cap not needed)
