brake bleeding - anyone use a vacuum pump ?

[frugalangler]

I'm considering setting up a vacuum pump for bleeding brakes in a one-man scenario. I've got a 1-way hydraulic valve designed to go between a bleeder valve and a collection bottle, with the bottle suctioned by a small refrigeration style vacuum pump to pull brake fluid through the system from the master cylinder.

This would make it a whole lot easier to bleed surge trailer brakes, something I'm asked to help with a lot w/ my boating friends.

The biggest issue I can foresee if sucking the master dry accidentally, but looking for experiential recommendations from someone that's been there.

 

[ericm979]

I've used a hand operated Mityvac to bleed motorcycle and car brakes and clutches. It works well. I have not felt the need for a one way valve as I bleed from the caliper or slave, below the M/C. An electric vacuum pump might pull too much too fast.

 

[George2615]

That sounds like it will work. I have a manual vacuum pump and not satisfied with the job it does. I usually wait and have my wife or a friend pump the brakes to bleed them. I do have a motor driven vacuum pump and may try that hooked up to the collection bottle next time I need to bleed brakes. Thanks for the idea, I never gave that a thought.

 

[frugalangler]

That sounds like it will work. I have a manual vacuum pump and not satisfied with the job it does. I usually wait and have my wife or a friend pump the brakes to bleed them. I do have a motor driven vacuum pump and may try that hooked up to the collection bottle next time I need to bleed brakes. Thanks for the idea, I never gave that a thought.

Yep, the idea came from my dis-satisfaction with the 'MightyVac', it just seemed to never pull enough vacuum volume to do the job on a long run on a trailer, and believe me 'pumping' a surge actuator is not fun, I actually made a job aid - long 2X4 with a hitch ball on it about 1' from the end, and a hitch coupler on the end, gave about a 8X leverage to the 'assistant', but even still it's a long painstaking process on trailers. I don't own the pump, but wouldn't mind investing if I knew beforehand it would be feasible.

 

[mrmikey]

Same as Eric above, used it on my bike and truck both with great success.....Mike

 

[Mace Canute]

A friend recently found one of these on Kijiji still in the box and never used. Best part was it only cost him $25.

Pneumatic Brake Bleeder Kit | Princess Auto

 

[dickfoster]

I'm considering setting up a vacuum pump for bleeding brakes in a one-man scenario. I've got a 1-way hydraulic valve designed to go between a bleeder valve and a collection bottle, with the bottle suctioned by a small refrigeration style vacuum pump to pull brake fluid through the system from the master cylinder.

This would make it a whole lot easier to bleed surge trailer brakes, something I'm asked to help with a lot w/ my boating friends.

The biggest issue I can foresee if sucking the master dry accidentally, but looking for experiential recommendations from someone that's been there.

In my experience the best tool for bleeding brakes with out spending a lot of money is the Motive Products at about 50 bucks for a basic setup. I did add a pressure dump valve to mine but that came from my scrap box. It really gets the job done easily on my own with excellent results. You'd have a hard time sucking the master dry as you pressure feed new fluid to the master so it stays topped up as you go. It makes changing out old brake fluid a snap too.

 

[sandman2234]

Whatever happened to pressure bleeding?
David from jax

 

[George2615]

In my experience the best tool for bleeding brakes with out spending a lot of money is the Motive Products at about 50 bucks for a basic setup. I did add a pressure dump valve to mine but that came from my scrap box. It really gets the job done easily on my own with excellent results. You'd have a hard time sucking the master dry as you pressure feed new fluid to the master so it stays topped up as you go. It makes changing out old brake fluid a snap too.

I did look at motive products but it only come with one adapter that fits many but not all master cylinders. the other adapters run about $30 each and there are quite a few listed.

 

[George2615]

Whatever happened to pressure bleeding?
David from jax

Pressure bleeding is still there as Dick just posted. The problem is having all the adapters to fit the many master cyls. that are out there. The one it comes with is great if your vehicles are on the list.