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.

 

[frugalangler]

..... one adapter that fits many but not all master cylinders......

and that is part of my problem, surge masters are buried inside the sliding coupler, and they don't have a typical threaded cap, so there's not a clean method of attaching one. The typical surge cylinder cap is a rubber plug that press fits into the hole atop the reservoir.

 

[George2615]

and that is part of my problem, surge masters are buried inside the sliding coupler, and they don't have a typical threaded cap, so there's not a clean method of attaching one. The typical surge cylinder cap is a rubber plug that press fits into the hole atop the reservoir.

For your trailer bleeding I think you'll need to stay with a suction bleeder. My trailers are all electric so my queries pertain to automotive. I like the one Mace posted. There are a few different types like that available for under $25.

 

[TractorGuy]

It won't gravity bleed?

 

[jaxs]

It won't gravity bleed?

I've heard of gravity bleed but never seen it done,can you post instructions for single and dual master cylinders?

 

[Kernopelli]

My son's Silverado can be a bugger to bleed. I have had pretty good results and longevity out of Harbor Freight's hand vacuum bleeder Brake Bleeder and Vacuum Pump Kit

 

[truckdiagnostics]

You want to pressure bleed with about 10 psi going into the master cylinder. this method keeps the master full, allows for flush of the brake system and bleeds abs module. Only way to go when doing complete brake line replacement.
Home of Motive Products
the above is what i use, pain to clean only use it when replace brake or major components.
Eastwood 3 Piece Brake Bleeding Wrench Set
use the above bleeder wrench set. keeps you from making a mess. says you can use for one man bleeding but not sold.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

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.

Been using vaccuum pumps to bleed brakes since 1988.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I built my own pressure bleeder out of a recycled propane torch tank. A piece of pipe to fill it with and then use a pipe plug to close it off. Drill a hole for a rubber tire valve and then I brazed in a piece of pipe that goes to the bottom of the bottle. A needle valve got threaded to that with a hose fitting on the other side of the valve. I use a piece of hose held onto the brake bleed screw on the slave cylinder and I can run fresh brake fluid right up to the master cylinder. I use a turkey baster to remove the excess brake fluid from the master cylinder.

I'm careful how much air pressure I put in as I have no idea when this could explode. It lets me bleed brakes by myself if I need too.

A 20 lb bottle of the same build as above is used to fill rear differentials on 3 tons and tandem trucks with 80w-90 oil. It sure beats pumping the oil. This version has a safety valve as the neighbours also use it to fill pivot gear boxes with gear oil

 

[randyswanner]

mighty bac hand pump is plenty and can be purchased for about 30$ . one side of the bottle has a dip tube, put enough fluid to cover the dip tube and that eliminates the need for a check valve( did tube has to be on the side coming from the wheel, with vacuum pulled from top of bottle) there are even cheaper generic pumps I like the mighty vac . l let one get ruined by leaving in laying out in the Texas sun and.heat distorted the housing. take care of it and it will easily pay for itself

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[randyswanner]

the mighty vac will easily pull 30 lbs vac if you had trouble pulling enough vacuum you probably got a leak in your hosing somewhere