one-man brake bleeder

[3Q Jay]

just bought one of these. pumps up like a pesticide sprayer after you put dot 3 inside. had to fuss with it a bit [universal adapter with chain hold-down] to make it leak tite, but then it worked great. clear tubing/construction allows you to see the fluid being replaced as you go.a nice add to your garage. I just wish there was a screw-on nissan master cyl cap adapter instead of the universal mount.

[keepingthe240]

I have a one man bleeder <--good only if you have no help. Nothing better then a second man to finish the job

[Jesda]

How do you properly bleed brakes?

[Jeff Williams]

If you buy the speed bleeders, and only pump 2 or 3 times, you can do it without help. But even the 8-year-old next door can pump the brakes, since it won't suck back air. Then you can concentrate on keeping the resevoir full.

The clear hose, and clear jar is great, so you can tell when all the dirty fluid is gone, and the new fluid is in.

I used ATE Super Blue DOT4 fluid in my car, and it is really easy to tell when all the old fluid is gone, the fluid coming out of the caliper turns blue!

I did a flush with cheap DOT4 fluid, then flushed it to the Blue, just to make sure all the 10 year old fluid was gone.

I have never seen the one-man bleeder contraption.

[Jesda]

Heh, last weekend I tried bleeding brakes on an 82 Tercel by myself. Now I know why I couldnt get air out of the system -- I kept sucking it back in!

-Jesda

[Jeff Williams]

2-man process:

Always start at furthermost wheel from the master cylinder.

It is nice to have a small jar, with about 1 cup of fluid in the bottom. Then use a hose (preferrably clear). attach one end to the bleeder, and put the other end under the level of the fluid, in the jar.Alsways use jackstands!Make sure the reservoir is full before starting, even over the max fill level, since you will be draining out some.The following directions use the term "Man" for simplicity reasons, but could easily be replaced with the term "Woman" - Please no sexist remarks.

Man 1 (at wheel) pump brakes and hold pressure.Man 2 (at caliper) easily loosen bleeder, then close, after fluid has drained.Man 1 release pressure, and re-pump.

Repeat process several times, per wheel, until the fluid is free of bubbles, foam, or dirty fluid.

Usually, a 1 litre bottle will easily replace al lthe fluid in your system.

[elwesso]

I thinkthe speedbleeder systems work better. I saw a cheapo one at harbor freight and it was like $30. Even if it only works one time its worth while... Im gonna have to do that next year, when I get new brakes!!

[Jeff Williams]

They run about $12 for a pair, from Russell

Buy them from Greg, when you get the SS brake lines.

[elwesso]

Jeff, i wsa talking about something different, they are a vacuum pump that is handheld that you attach to the bleeder valve on the caliper.....

[carlos_knology]

Jeff, i wsa talking about something different, they are a vacuum pump that is handheld that you attach to the bleeder valve on the caliper.....

Yup. That's what I use. A vacuum pump hooked up to the bleeder valve. There's an airtight container inline between the hand vacuum pump and the bleeder valve.

Works great, it just sucks the old fluid out (except for the stuff inside the ABS system). In any case, the fluid in my reservoir is crystal clear (synthetic).

Here's a link.

http://www.handsontools.com/st...=3194

[maxnix]

Yup. That's what I use. A vacuum pump hooked up to the bleeder valve. There's an airtight container inline between the hand vacuum pump and the bleeder valve.

Works great, it just sucks the old fluid out (except for the stuff inside the ABS system). In any case, the fluid in my reservoir is crystal clear (synthetic).

Here's a link.

http://www.handsontools.com/st...=3194

Well old, acidic brake fluid is what kills ABS pumps.

[carlos_knology]

Well old, acidic brake fluid is what kills ABS pumps.

Do you know of a way to EASILY replace the fluid inside the ABS pump?

Carlos

[maxnix]

No, but Dennis has mentioned that bleeding the pump is necessary. It is done after the brake lines are bled.

[qship96]

the early q had bleeders on the ABS unit,my 96 has none! I think the ABS ultimately uses the same lines as the ones that are bled when changing the fluid,so the abs should get new fluid when doing the job without any added procedure?

[maxnix]

And of course Dennis has the first year the G50 was made.

[elwesso]

There should be a way to open up the ABS actuator..... Maybe something with the consult???