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The best method for one person to bleed brakes?

Posted By: QuickDodge

The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 09:26 PM

I've done a bit of research on the net regarding tools which allow an individual to bleed brakes without any help. There are several different methods available.

1. Pressure bleeding: A few pounds of air pressure is applied to the fluid in the master cylinder.

2. Vacuun bleeding: A vacuum is applied to the wheel cylinders to pull brake fluid through the lines.

3. Check valves: These allow fluid and air to leave the wheel cylinder when the brake pedal is depressed, but don't allow air back into the brake system when the pedal is released.

The check valves are only a few dollars, while the pressure and vacuum systems are more expensive. This tool will not see a lot of use in my garage, but decent quality tools are the only kind of tool worth buying.

So, how do the various systems compare and what would you folks recommend?
Posted By: wings471

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 09:35 PM

I use a qt. jar and a appropriate length of tubing that fits over the bleeder nipple. Fill the jar about 1/2 full of fluid, open the bleeder, make sure the tubing is down at the bootom of the jar connect the tubing to the bleeder and start pumping the pedal. RR..LR..RF..LF. Close the bleeder valve before you disconnect the tubing and move to the next one. Remember to keep the mc full. Waaay better than asking the wife for assistance.
Posted By: stumpy

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 09:39 PM

Take the cap off the master and open all the bleeders. Let them bleed with gravity until no air comes from the bleeder then close it. Keep the MS filled.
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 09:39 PM

Go out and spend $50 on a Miti-vac,....nice tool to have around, if you have no friends or your bleeding brakes at 2 O'clock in the morning


Seriously, I know sometimes you feel your better off bleeding the brakes by yourself,.....because the "helper" is just not in sync with you!.....my wife, could never get the "stroke" right

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Posted By: Anonymous

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 09:51 PM

Quote:

Go out and spend $50 on a Miti-vac,....nice tool to have around, if you have no friends or your bleeding brakes at 2 O'clock in the morning


Seriously, I know sometimes you feel your better off bleeding the brakes by yourself,.....because the "helper" is just not in sync with you!.....my wife, could never get the "stroke" right



hmmm, funny. she had it done perfect when she helped me out

jk, I havea mity vac also and the little bleeding bowl but Ive never used it. Ive always used the wife (mine, not yours)
Posted By: 72challorange

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 10:34 PM

I got one of those "1 man brake bleeder kits" cost < than 10 bucks, works great. It has a check ball in it to keep the fluid from going back in between strokes.

Tom
Posted By: hemi71x

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 10:55 PM

Do what wings440 says.
That's the "flat rate" mechanics way of doing it.
I do it that very same way, every day at work.
Other mechanics aren't going to drop what they are doing to help doing a simple thing as bleeding brakes.
Posted By: mopar346

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 11:01 PM

HAve used gravity successfully, raise the front a little more than the rear. Have a mity-vac with canister, it works great. Have used the 1/2 full jar it works great. Haven't used the check valves but that sounds interesting. Many ways to accomplish it, main thing is to becareful to keep the master cylinder full and keep brake fluid off of the fresh paint!
Posted By: 340SIX

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 11:10 PM

Quote:

Go out and spend $50 on a Miti-vac,....nice tool to have around, if you have no friends or your bleeding brakes at 2 O'clock in the morning


Seriously, I know sometimes you feel your better off bleeding the brakes by yourself,.....because the "helper" is just not in sync with you!.....my wife, could never get the "stroke" right

Thats what I did
Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 11:23 PM

Quote:




Seriously, I know sometimes you feel your better off bleeding the brakes by yourself,.....because the "helper" is just not in sync with you!.....my wife, could never get the "stroke" right



hmmm, funny. she had it done perfect when she helped me out

jk, I havea mity vac also and the little bleeding bowl but Ive never used it. Ive always used the wife (mine, not yours)




Too funny!!
I divorsed my wife and twenty years later we get back togeather and she says we can do anything together if we put our minds to it. Then she says the only thing I won't help you do is bleed brakes. We were hi school sweet hearts and before we were married she used to help some in the garage. She was tramatized by me telling her how to do it. I did not realize I was so hard on her but she never forgot.

Since then I bought a pressure bleeder that uses different adapators to fit different master cylinders. It's a for sure deal and works great.
Posted By: JonC

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 11:34 PM

I have used a 2x4 between the seat and brake pedal before. Works.
Posted By: minivan

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 08/31/08 11:36 PM

Quote:

Take the cap off the master and open all the bleeders. Let them bleed with gravity until no air comes from the bleeder then close it. Keep the MS filled.



Simplest best way I have found also....
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 12:28 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Take the cap off the master and open all the bleeders. Let them bleed with gravity until no air comes from the bleeder then close it. Keep the MS filled.



Simplest best way I have found also.... [/quote




Sometimes that works?....but usually when you need "mother nature's help"......she can dissapoint you sometimes!
Posted By: stumpy

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 12:29 AM

Far as I know they have never revoked the law of gravity.
Posted By: justinp61

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 12:35 AM

I use a small electric vacuum pump with a mason jar. The jar goes between the pump and the bleeder that way the fluid goes in the jar not the pump. There is also a pet [Edited by Moparts - Keep it clean] in line to break the vacuum when needed. My wifes not hip on helping in the shop so I do most of my work alone.
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 12:47 AM


Too funny!!
I divorsed my wife and twenty years later we get back togeather and she says we can do anything together if we put our minds to it. Then she says the only thing I won't help you do is bleed brakes. We were hi school sweet hearts and before we were married she used to help some in the garage. She was tramatized by me telling her how to do it. I did not realize I was so hard on her but she never forgot.

Since then I bought a pressure bleeder that uses different adapators to fit different master cylinders. It's a for sure deal and works great.






I hear ya Gary! ....I remember one time I called the wife in to bleed brakes in my Chally T/A....I gave her the usual you know what to do speech,...she gave me the usual, I know, I know!...let just do it! .....I'm laying on the ground, yelling "pump it"...."hold it".....and nothings happening?....again......nothing! ....so I yell out, Your not pumping the clutch are you! .....typical womens response...." what you think I'm stupid!".....again pump it! .......nothing?.....Oh yeah!....you get up, walk over to the drivers door and just ask....."show me how far the pedal goes down?"


So when she steps on the clutch, or tries too (3400 lb BorgBeck ).....you learn to just say..."thats good....honey!...we're all set!"....which is then followed by "that was easier than last time!"....(72 Cuda"...auto!)


That's why you buy a miti-vac....money well spent,....and sanity saved....and maybe marriage

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Posted By: Anonymous

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 01:04 AM

I have a mity vac pump have used it but dont have really good luck with it. I always end up calling out the wife. Sometimes just to torture her I'll just lie there and yell keep pumping the pedal nope not done yet keep going nope not yet keep doing it.Even though Ive been done for awhile and Im just lying under the car kinda daydreaming.
Its good fun and it dont cost nothin.
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 01:26 AM

And I thought I was the only one guilty of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 01:34 AM

Posted By: QuickDodge

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 01:57 AM

Wings440's method explains what I saw on Sear's website. They had a jar and some tubing for bleeding brakes. I couldn't figure out how it worked from the picture! Now the picture makes sense. Thanks!

My wife has always helped with bleeding brakes, but it's NOT her favorite activity!
Posted By: DirectSubjection

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 02:01 AM

Speed Bleeders (or another brands equivilent):

Posted By: mopargem

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 02:07 AM

Just get the one man bleeder cup, I think mine is Lisle tool brand available at a lot of auto stores. It's simple and really works, I have used mine dozens of times. Gravity doesnt always work with the small diameter of the line you can get an airlock. Never used a suction pump but dont waist your money.Trust me on this one, I have owned almost 100 cars so far and the one man bleeder cups are easy to use really do work.
Posted By: kick_the_reverb

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 09:44 PM

I had to chuckle a little bit reading the above posts, not just the ones about making the wife pump the brakes way too many times, but also about the mity vac and the one-man tube with the check valve.
A couple of years ago when I was still helping my buddy at his shop, I tried the mity-vac...always slipped off the bleeder just as vacuum was built.
Recently I was trying to bleed my A100 brakes at home, went to the parts store and happily bought the tube+check valve tool. It stayed on for two pumps and always flew off afterwards. Quite "enjoyable".
So, as usual, YMMV, but for me the helper pumping the pedal is the chosen method. I don't mind being the pedal pusher.
Ran
Posted By: IronWolf

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/01/08 10:09 PM

Another vote for "wings440" ' s method.

The "mity Vac" black fittings are universal, alright, they universally FIT NO CAR I HAVE EVER TRIED to used them on !!!

I will use clear plastic tubing that more closely approximates the correct dimensions of the bleeder valve(s).

Thanks for nothing , "Mity Crock" !!! May you sink into bankruptcy...
Posted By: 383man

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/02/08 02:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Take the cap off the master and open all the bleeders. Let them bleed with gravity until no air comes from the bleeder then close it. Keep the MS filled.



Simplest best way I have found also....



I have done this many times and it worked every time. I did both my sons Dart and my 63 like this by myself. But you have to make sure you get all the air and the MC does not get to low and suck in air. Ron
Posted By: 4BBodies

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/03/08 12:21 AM

I finally installed a usable Prop valve today, and gravity bled mine. The pedal seems fine, and the brakes are working. No volunteers, no wife, and the cat doesn't listen well, so I had to try this. May try the tube in the bottle trick next, I already had the tube which actually seems to stay on. I used rubber vacuum line.
Posted By: CJK440

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/03/08 01:44 PM

Mityvac to get everything flowing then I gravity bleed a little bit more.
Posted By: Fury Fan

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/03/08 04:24 PM

Quote:

There is also a pet [Edited by Moparts - Keep it clean] in line to break the vacuum when needed.



Ha, Ha. Apparently we need to be careful when typing 'petcock'.

As for the other, they make decisions for us, and some of them have names, but they are **not** pets!
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/03/08 06:56 PM

whosever wife you end up useing instruct her not to push the pedal past it's normal travel which moves the neoprene cups past their normal wear area & can hasten their demise. If she is instructionally impaired(& most are) put a block of wood under the pedal.
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/04/08 12:12 AM

Quote:

whosever wife you end up useing instruct her not to push the pedal past it's normal travel which moves the neoprene cups past their normal wear area & can hasten their demise. If she is instructionally impaired(& most are) put a block of wood under the pedal.









Or put the "wood" to her?
Posted By: Evil_Ways

Re: The best method for one person to bleed brakes? - 09/04/08 12:47 AM

Quote:

Speed Bleeders (or another brands equivilent):




I agree, I used these on my Challenger, very simple to do!
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