One Man Brake Bleeders

[Jim H]

Hi folks,

The question is: to pressure or vacuum? Following a recent calliper change on my daily, I realised my faithful Gunson Easy Bleed is now coming to the end of its life (it’s leaking a lot etc. I’m more than happy to replace it with the same item. I must have had over a decade of excellent use out of the Gunson. Despite cleaning all after use, brake fluid is obviously corrosive stuff.

However, I’m thinking are there better alternatives now? Like these that attach to the nipple and draw the fluid through. The Gunson is fine but can be a bit of a faff letting a tyre down, or using a spare wheel.

Have you folks any recommendations, not too expensive, rarely used..

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks Jim.

[Joe M]

Eazibleed is fine, though for a bit more cash there is a pump bottle type now available that takes away the need for using a spare wheel.
Also has a larger reservoir so no need to keep topping up, and much less leak prone.

[thebraketester]

The sealey pressure bleeders are great.

[E-bmw]

I have used an eazibleed for over 20 years myself but I use it slightly differently.

I don't fill up the bottle, I just fill up the reservoir, basically, I had the same thought, is it going to stand up to long term usage of brake fluid?

It is a bit finicky but much less messy.

[paul_c123]

I used to use an Easibleed, but recently I bought this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177611763828



Its just so much easier! The kit was only £17.99 and includes the catch bottle too (which is very handy to have). The advantage over the traditional Easibleed kit is, it can hold 3l of brake fluid; you can pump it up to whatever pressure you like, not just whatever the tyre is; the reservoir can be disconnected from the master cylinder reservoir bottle with a quick connector. Also in my "brake fluid change" toolkit is a saucepan for catching drips/fluid as needed (can empty the catch bottle during bleeding, and see the colour of the fluid currently coming out easier), and a little syringe to remove excess brake fluid from the MC reservoir at the start and/or end of the job.

Just done 3 cars and its much easier.

[LunarOne]

i have a vacuum bleeder and think I would've been much better off with a pressure bleeder. I don't have evidence for this, but when I slightly loosen the bleeding nipples it feels like air is being sucked through the threads and so I never get to a steady flow of brake fluid. I gave up using it. A pressure bleeder couldn't have the same issue but might have others! The only benefit I can think of for a vacuum bleeder is not having to find an adaptor for the top of your fluid reservoir which is presumably needed for a pressure bleeder.

[paul_c123]

Forgot to add, I've tried vacuum bleeder too (in the past) and had the same issues as above. I'd not like to try it on a car with ABS these days. For example, VW workshop instructions say to bleed/refill the system normally (ie if its not been emptied), at 2 bar.

[Hondapower]

I've got a vacuum bleeder as I couldn't get a pressure bleeder cap to fit. I have to apply grease to the nipple threads to stop air from being sucked in. It's a faff, but better than the other half complaining when asked to pump the pedal!

[Belle427]

Like the look of the pressure bleeder above.
I have had mixed results with the gunson product, good when it works though.
Genuine question, I normally just bleed if i am struggling on my own by immersing the pipe in a bottle of brake fluid, making sure it stays under the fluid.
In theory no air can enter the system, I don`t really see much air entering through the nipple either to be honest.

[Jim H]

Morning Belle, I too am liking the look of the Pressure bleeder previously mentioned.

With regard to your method, I think that’s fine for say a Calliper change. What I require is something more appropriate for a full fluid change on my cars.

That Bleeder above is currently showing out of stock on eBay, however I’m sure there will be alternatives.

Many thanks to all who have contributed, and helping me discount the vacuum type.

[E-bmw]

LunarOne said:

i have a vacuum bleeder and think I would've been much better off with a pressure bleeder. I don't have evidence for this, but when I slightly loosen the bleeding nipples it feels like air is being sucked through the threads and so I never get to a steady flow of brake fluid. I gave up using it. A pressure bleeder couldn't have the same issue but might have others! The only benefit I can think of for a vacuum bleeder is not having to find an adaptor for the top of your fluid reservoir which is presumably needed for a pressure bleeder.

I too have never like vacuum bleeders for this exact reason.

Even if it isn't true I would never be able to rest until then also "traditionally" bleeding afterwards to confirm.

[Belle427]

Jim H said:

Morning Belle, I too am liking the look of the Pressure bleeder previously mentioned.

With regard to your method, I think that s fine for say a Calliper change. What I require is something more appropriate for a full fluid change on my cars.

That Bleeder above is currently showing out of stock on eBay, however I m sure there will be alternatives.

Many thanks to all who have contributed, and helping me discount the vacuum type.

I usually suck as much out of the resevoir as possible then re fill and bleed.
Makes me feel better even if a bit pointless.

[TwinKam]

Depends on the car...
Pressure bleeders are great, but don't fit all reservoirs; in particular the Ford 'bayonet' ones, the (wide) Honda ones, the Asian flip-off rubber ones etc...
The Sealey one is infinitely better quality than the Ebay special shown above. Some cars need the 90° inlet cap, on others the vertical one.is better. Sealey sell both. The 'universal' strap-on cap is, like most 'universal' things, useless.
On a reservoir that isn't suited to pressure bleeding, you have to resort to vacuum bleeding. Yes, you have to grease the nipple threads (use an 'inert' grease), so it's more of a faff, but it still achieves good results. You can do it with a 'Mitivac' type hand-pump, but a 'blown' vacuum pump using a compressed air supply is much better. They can also be used for sucking the reservoir dry (where it's possible), and sump oil extraction for you lazy types, so it's no one-trick-pony. Use an intermediate bottle to catch the fluid though, so that you can inspect it and assess the quantity drawn.
I keep meaning to look for an electric vacuum pump, as the above method is noisy and uses a lot of air.
HTH

[ffc]

thebraketester said:

The sealey pressure bleeders are great.

This!

[darreni]

Yep, the sealey VS820:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-VS820-Clutch-Bleed...


Plus the bleed bottle,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-VS0212-500ml-Bleed...

I've used both for years on a variety of cars for both brakes & clutches. Well worth the money.

[21TonyK]

Just the thread... new calipers arrived a couple of days ago, removed the old hangers, acid dipped, brushed and UHT laquered. Ordered new sliders and rubbers, red grease etc and got it all nice and clean and reassembled. New wheel bearings, discs all in place ready. 3l of new fluid delivered yesterday.



Sunny day today.... my 30 year old brake bleeder is knackered...

ebay special...? twice the price on Amazon but roll on Wednesday!!

[Jim H]

Tony, I have one motto in life: ‘Pay cheap, pay twice’.

However, if it’s something I’m only going to use, a few times, I’ll take the gamble on going cheap.

If I was a professional mechanic relying on my tools every day. I’d have ordered the Sealey.

I ordered a cheaper one, it should arrive tomorrow. I’ll report back.

[21TonyK]

Jim H said:

Tony, I have one motto in life: Pay cheap, pay twice .

However, if it s something I m only going to use, a few times, I ll take the gamble on going cheap.

If I was a professional mechanic relying on my tools every day. I d have ordered the Sealey.

I ordered a cheaper one, it should arrive tomorrow. I ll report back.

Yep, this would be used 2-3 times a year at most. My old one got used once a month for a couple of years with fluid changes etc on track days but noit been touched for a long time. Hence its knackered!