One Man Brake Bleeding

[Martin N.]

Wondering if there are any recommandations from you guys for a "one man" brake bleeding system. My brake pedal seems alittle low. It's about time to pull the wheels on my 74 and do some inspection and I'm sure, servicing. Thanks.

Marty

[Ken A.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

You need a pressure bleeder to do it right, even with 2 or 3 men.

[Christopher R.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

Look at the pressure bleeder at motiveproducts.com.

[Ken A.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

This topic has been brought up in another forum and it seems the big problem is getting the correct top/lid or it will send brake fluid all over. There were many complaints about several products. Kind a turned me off to the idea. Saw a vacumn bleeder from Groit's Garage that hooks up to your compressor. I kind of hate to buy from them because they are so expensive, but this one was only $40 and I didn't find any similar so I bought it. Blead the brakes on my Nomad last week and it seemed to work fine. Just have to keep checking the MC so that you don't run it dry, but I blead the right rear w/o adding fluid and there was still some in the MC, so it's not that big of a hassel. Two advantages, you can empty the MC before you start, and you can use it for more than just bleeding brakes.
Ken

[Donald T.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

I have performed this task many times by myself without a pressure or vacuum bleeder. Just gravity bleed the brakes. Connect a long clear hose to the bleeder and use a large cup to catch the overflow. Crack the bleeder open and let gravity work it's magic. You can push the brake pedal if you want to speed things along. Just make sure you keep the master cylinder full as you bleed. Once the fluid runs clear, raise the hose with the cup above the caliper, so that the any remaining air bubbles rise. When there are no more air bubbles rising out of the caliper, close the bleeder. Remove the hose and move on to the next bleeder. Nothing to it.

[Martin N.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

DON-
First time I've heard of this. Does it take very long to "gravity" bleed out a caliper? I believe you would start with the L.F. Then the R.F. Then L.R. and finally the R.R. caliper? Interesting input, thank-you.

Marty

[Donald T.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

It doesnt take all that long. However, I always get impatient and pump the brakes a few times to move things along. If you have a long hose and a larger cup sitting on the floor, then you don't have to worry about not watching it for a few seconds while you pump the brake pedal and top off the master cylinder. I start with the brake caliper furthest from the master cylinder which would be the right rear and work my way to the closest which would be the left front.

[Stephen P.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

I'll second the recommendation for the Motive Products bleeder. I've never had a problem with leaking. There have been previous posts on this showing that you can use a C clamp instead of the setup that comes with the unit to clamp down on top of the master cyllinder. With this unit you never worry about the level of the fluid in the master cyllinder. It's pressurized similar to a garden sprayer. Just go around to each wheel and bleed. You do need to make sure that you get the unit with the proper lid for your master cylinder.

[John H.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

The Motive Products power bleeder works like gangbusters - best sixty bucks I ever spent for a tool. Pitch the chain-and-wingnut arrangement that comes with it to seal the adapter and use a piece of tubing and a 6" C-clamp instead. Pump it up, take one trip around the car, and you're done. You won't even THINK about using any other method again.

[David D.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

The Motive Products power bleeder works like gangbusters - best sixty bucks I ever spent for a tool. Pitch the chain-and-wingnut arrangement that comes with it to seal the adapter and use a piece of tubing and a 6" C-clamp instead. Pump it up, take one trip around the car, and you're done. You won't even THINK about using any other method again.

John,
Great idea....that chain and wingnut is a hit or miss thing for sure.
David

[Raymond D.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

I bought a Mityvac and was not satisfied with the way it worked. Go to a pet store and get a one way air valve used for aquariums and some tubing. Worked great. Slip the tubing over the bleeder ,connect the valve a 5-6 inches down stream followed by another length of tubing into a container.Check the tubing for bubbles after every few pumps.

[Anthony M.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

I have had success using speed bleeders. I need to do a one man brake bleed and I have found the speed bleeders work best for me. They are clean simple have done the job for me on more than one occasion. I tried the mity vac method but it was not the best air leaked past the bleeder screws several times. Changed to speed bleeders and problem solved. Attach some surgical tubing from the bleeder to a jar and nary a drop was spilled. You monitor the tubing until all bubbles stop.

[Donald O.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

The Motive Products power bleeder works like gangbusters - best sixty bucks I ever spent for a tool. Pitch the chain-and-wingnut arrangement that comes with it to seal the adapter and use a piece of tubing and a 6" C-clamp instead. Pump it up, take one trip around the car, and you're done. You won't even THINK about using any other method again.

I couldn't agree more. I change the fluid anually by myself, no need for the "helper" from the kitchen. It now takes me more time to jack the car up and remove the wheels than it does to bleed the brakes at all 6 bleeders.

Don

[Andre R.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

The best results i've had by far is with vacuum bleeders like the one Griot's garage sells, provided you have an air compressor. Less time to set up compared with pressure bleeders. Easy one person opperation. Pour brake fluid into the M/C, bleed each wheel, topping off the M/C between eack wheel, pour the used fluid back into the empty container that the new brake fluid came in to bring to disposal/recycler and your done. I use it on my late model as well as my collector cars.
Best regards,
Andre

[Wayne K.]

Re: One Man Brake Bleeding

The Motive Products power bleeder works like gangbusters - best sixty bucks I ever spent for a tool. Pitch the chain-and-wingnut arrangement that comes with it to seal the adapter and use a piece of tubing and a 6" C-clamp instead. Pump it up, take one trip around the car, and you're done. You won't even THINK about using any other method again.

John,
I think you need one more turn on the C clap so it won't fall off.