I've heard the praises sung here for speedbleeders. I'm trying to understand the true benefits. It's still a two man ("person" if she's willing to pump) job, right? I mean you have to still be down by the wheel cylinder to see that there is no more air coming from the bleeder. Still have to keep the master cylinder topped off, still need someone stomping the whoa pedal........ I know I'm missing something here. For those of you that have, use, and love them, please describe the how to and what makes them so much more convenient. Sorry if this is elementary, but I need to know. Thanks.
I don't like speedbleeders. I much prefer using a pressure bleeder. It's a true one man operation. Make your own for $20. http://www.bmw-m.net/TechProc/bleeder.htm
I used speedbleeders on my model A, and I was really impressed with them---and it is a one man job. Fill up the master cylinder, start with the wheel farthest away from the master cylinder---crack the speedbleeder screw open half a turn, push a peice of rubber tubing (I used windshield washer tubing) over the head of the bleed screw, and set a Coke bottle on the floor with the other end of the hose running into it. Get in the car and push the brake pedal to the floor slowly, then let it up---this is the part where the speedbleeder works its magic---there is a spring loaded ball valve in the speedbleeder that lets the brakefluid and air out, but pops shut when you let your foot off the pedal, and won't let it suck air back into the system. I used 5 pedal pumps per wheel, then tightened up that bleedscrew and move to the "next farthest away from the master cylinder wheel". Each time I finished one wheel I filled up the master cylinder). They worked great---no spongy pedal, no pissed off wife, no screaming "Pump it up and hold it God damn it!!! Don't let the pedal off the floor till I tell you"---
Pressure bleeders are nice, but a touch wasteful with brake fluid. In a one person garage/shop it's probably a long time between bleeding brakes and the fluid goes bad over a period of time. Due to, it's hygroscopic which means it attracts moisture. I made up a couple of different clamp-on adapters out of flat 1/2" aluminum plate. One for the typical Ford/Mustang dual reservoir M/C and the other for a single M/C. Thick vellumoid paper was glued on and it seals fine, but a rubber gasket could be better. They were drilled and tapped for Schrader tank valves.* Make sure the M/C is full. Clamp the adapter onto the M/C. Set up your air pressure regulator, 30# is about right. Use a tire chuck that clamps onto the Schrader valve. Crack a bleeder screw open until fluid only comes out. You gotta use your head a touch, you don't have a lot of fluid capacity and the first time around with an empty brake system you may want to check and refill the M/C before the fluid runs out which will re-introduce air into the system. Sounds clumsy and perhaps time consuming, but it really doesn't take long. *Schrader tank valves have a typical tire filler stem on one end and 1/8" NPT threads on the other. Usually available at real parts houses.
C9---I agree with everything your sayin, brother.---Thing is, after spending a year and a half building the car, the pressure bleeder is just one more damn thing to have to build. The speedbleeders cost $10 each and took a trip to my carquest, up the street. If I was going to be bleeding brakes a lot, on a bunch of different cars, I would probably build one. For a one car deal, the logistics are a bit different.---Brian
I install them every chance I get. They do waste a bit of fluid if you don't use a bottle to catch it, but you don't have to. Just pump the hell out of it then close it and move on to the next. With the check valve you don't have to keep opening and closing it.
I hear you. I did the adapter bit before Speedbleeders were available. Still got em and they still work fine. The adapters are nothing more than a square in one case and rectangular in the other pieces of sawn to size 1/2" aluminum drilled and tapped for the Schrader tank valves. Less than one hour's work in both.
another alternative to speedbleeders or the pressure setup is using a Mity-vac, i picked one up a year ago and it's great for bleeding brakes, also has other shop uses, you can test your vacuum advance dizzy or other vacuum operated components. they can also be setup as a pressure pump. they cost about $30. cheap.
Because I'm a loser with no friends I am a solo-act in the garage. I spent 7 bucks on an Ampro Bleeder kit to bleed the new brake system in my Ford. The only drawbacks were having to run back and forth filling the MC reservoir, and emptying the bleeding kit bottle. I was skeptical, but the monster brake pedal speaks for itself. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3378&mfrcode=APO&mfrpartnumber=T71658
I had problems with a mity-vac. When I loosened the bleed screws and tried to use the mity-vac, it sucked air around the threads on the bleed screw, and was not really that effective on sucking the brake fluid through the system. I tried some vaseline to seal the threads while they were loose, but it still didn't work correctly. I returned it for a credit, and bought the speedbleeders.
At last years HAMB drags I was having some wierd front brake problems when we went to the Springfield swap meet. Got back to Joplin and picked up a pair of speed bleeders for the front calipers and a big bottle of brake fluid. The bleeders worked great and I had front system flushed out in no time.
Go to the farm store and buy a big syringe without a needle and with an end on it about the size of the nipple on the wheel cylinder (about 3 bucks). Put a hose from the syringe to the bleeder, crack the bleeder open and suck the brake fluid threw the the system with the syringe. Close the bleeder, remove the hose from the bleeder and squirt the fluid back in the master cylinder. Repeat until all the air is gone and then move on to the next wheel. This is a one man operation, it is cheap and is the best and easiest way I have ever bled brakes.
I've got a great wife---but----everytime I get her to help me bleed brakes----I end up with a lot of space on my side of the bed for the next two weeks. Speedbleeders save marriages!!!
I take a piece of clear tubing w/ a "T" in it. Put one end on the brakes and the other (lower "T") with a hose into a baggie. Suck on it and the watch the line. Before it gets to the "T", you exhale and the fluid drains into the baggie for viewing. No air!!! Plus you see if you get the air bubbles out. You get a double whammy....head rush and a bled brake.
Yup. Had the same problem with the mity-poor vac. Sucked air around the threads. Started to pull all the bleeder screws out and wrap them with teflon tape. Thought the hell with it and took the mityvac back.
Isn't life strange---Of all the things that you run across in a lifetime that really suck----and then the one thing you want to suck----ah, nevermind.
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