Brake Fluid Change
Brake Fluid Change
More Turbo
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 8
From: BC, Canada
All I need is a new jar of brake fluid, a short length of clear vinyl tubing, a old glass jar to catch old fluid, a flare-wrench and a helper to press the brake pedal. Keep the master cylinder topped up so it never runs dry and keep pumping at each wheel cylinder until the fluid comes out clean.
...Terry
...Terry
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 103
From: Staten Island, NY
Several suppliers sell a vacuum bleeder - looks a little like a garden sprayer with a pump handle on top, etc. It has a hose with a ball valve in it and a plastic adapter that goes over the bleeder screw. Pump up a vacuum, put the adapter over the bleeder, crack the bleeder open and open the ball valve. It sucks the fluid out. It also comes with a plastic bottle that you fill with new brake fluid and upend in the master cylinder to keep it full. You can do all four wheels in under 30 minutes. It works great and I've been using it for years. Makes brake bleeding a one man job.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by PupnDuck
Several suppliers sell a vacuum bleeder - looks a little like a garden sprayer with a pump handle on top, etc. It has a hose with a ball valve in it and a plastic adapter that goes over the bleeder screw. Pump up a vacuum, put the adapter over the bleeder, crack the bleeder open and open the ball valve. It sucks the fluid out. It also comes with a plastic bottle that you fill with new brake fluid and upend in the master cylinder to keep it full. You can do all four wheels in under 30 minutes. It works great and I've been using it for years. Makes brake bleeding a one man job.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
I use the mity vac pump and first I pull the fluid out of the resovoir, Refill it with fresh
fluid, then use the mity vac at the wheels to pull the fluid out. It is better than having
a mix of old and new with the fresh fluid all the way through the system it is like a
brand new brake system.
fluid, then use the mity vac at the wheels to pull the fluid out. It is better than having
a mix of old and new with the fresh fluid all the way through the system it is like a
brand new brake system.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Good idea blue beast.
I like to use a large clear plastic bottle. Attach the hose to the bleeder and put it right to the bottom of the bottle. Then you can pump the pedal yourself, no helper needed because as long as the hose is submerged you don't have to close the bleeder.
Just be sure you never let the reservoir go dry.
I like to use a large clear plastic bottle. Attach the hose to the bleeder and put it right to the bottom of the bottle. Then you can pump the pedal yourself, no helper needed because as long as the hose is submerged you don't have to close the bleeder.
Just be sure you never let the reservoir go dry.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 749
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From: Phoenix, Az
There is also a pressure bleeder available for a reasonable price. Universal or specific to your car/truck.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 642
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From: Olathe, KS
Small caution. I have someteimes had trouble with air entering around the threads of the bleeder when using a vacuum effort. it would allow air to enter the system. But the bleeders where pretty loose threaded.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Chicagoland
If I'm not in a hurry my preferred method is to gravity bleed the brakes. I got a 10' length of clear tubing from Home Depot that I cut down to 4 sections. I open each bleeder until fluid starts to flow, slip the tubing piece over it and put the other end in a container. For the container I try to find four 20oz plastic soda bottles and I put a few pebbles or some sand or kitty litter in the bottom for balance.
Once you have each wheel setup then you can leave it sit and check on it every 10 minutes or so. Once the fluid in the top of the tubing is running clear close the bleeder and remove the tubing. I usually half fill one of those little bottles of brake fluid and turn it upside down into the reservoir to keep it full as the fluid falls through the system. With this method you don't need to worry about crap cutting up your master cylinder seals, needing a helper or getting air into the calipers like a vacuum can.
Calvin
Once you have each wheel setup then you can leave it sit and check on it every 10 minutes or so. Once the fluid in the top of the tubing is running clear close the bleeder and remove the tubing. I usually half fill one of those little bottles of brake fluid and turn it upside down into the reservoir to keep it full as the fluid falls through the system. With this method you don't need to worry about crap cutting up your master cylinder seals, needing a helper or getting air into the calipers like a vacuum can.
Calvin
