I was pretty turned off on them due to air being sucked thru the threads of the bleed screw. Its just an OCD thing for me, I’m happy with the make your own one man bleeder bottle, and its cheap! As I recall, the kits did come with a grease to put on the threads of the bleeders, but that meant you had to remove the bleed screws, apply grease or whatever it is, to stop the threads from leaking air under vacuum.
It’s easy to develop something of a love-hate relationship with brake bleeding tools. That’s really a “You” problem as, after all, the pros use brake bleeders every day and seem to make out just fine. To get you onto that pro level and using a brake bleeder properly, we’ve dropped into the murky waters of what’s available to find our favorites and then produce a buying guide to help you find the ultimate brake bleeder for yourself.
When you press the brake pedal, the pressure forces brake fluid through the brake lines and operates the brakes at the wheel. The most common times you’d bleed air from your brakes is after replacing any parts that use brake fluid: brake calipers, hoses, brake lines, or the brake master cylinder. Knowing how to use a brake bleeder kit will save you time and frustration whenever you replace brake calipers or cables, or flush the fluid.
You’ve heard me extol the songs of brakes and brake fluid, and how its important to change it every two years. Keep all fluids, water, dirt, and oil out of the brake system. The ATE design does not work that way, with a plastic brake fluid reservoir you cannot have a large metal clamp like the US designs.
We’ve put together five different ways to get old brake fluid and air out and fresh brake fluid in. No matter the method, the prep is the same: soak the bleed screws in penetrating oil, siphon as much rotten crud out of the reservoir as possible, add fresh brake fluid, start with the bleed screw furthest away from the master cylinder, and work back to the closest one. Another type of vacuum setup uses compressed air and a venturi to draw brake fluid and air out at the bleed screw.
how to use air compressor brake bleeder Related Question:
Do you bleed brakes with cap on or off?
The master- cylinder cap should be removed during brake bleeding. The correct sequence of bleeds must be followed. Some cars require a different order than others, so you bleed the brake furthest away from the master cylinder.
Can you use a brake bleeder for a clutch?
Test the bleeder – While the clutch pedal is held to the floor, use your line wrench and open the bleeder. Observe the air bubbles and brake fluid exiting the slave cylinder. When the flow of brake fluid stops, close the bleeder and have your helper release the clutch pedal.
Why are my brakes still squishy after bleeding?
If air gets into the brake lines, it can prevent brake fluid from flowing properly, causing the brake pedal to feel spongy or soft. If the brakes are soft or spongy, this is a good time to change or flush the brake fluid. Flushing the brake fluid, commonly called bleeding the brakes, gets rid of the air.
Should the car be running when bleeding brakes?
Brakes are bled with the engine off. A running engine supplies a vacuum boost to the brake system. To properly bleed all the air from the system, there needs to be NO boost. Just pump the brake pedal until a solid pedal is felt, then bleed each caliper (if equipped) until the air is evacuated.
Why has my clutch pedal dropped?
Broken Clutch Cable: The most common reason to have a clutch pedal that goes all the way to the floor is a broken clutch cable. This is extremely common, particularly on older cars. Replacing the cable will allow you to engage the clutch and change gears once more.
Why does my brake pedal go to the floor?
One of the most common reasons for your brakes touching the floor would be an issue with your brake fluid. Your fluid being low or air reaching the brake line will prevent the fluid from flowing properly, resulting in a spongy pedal. A bad brake booster is another common cause for a malfunctioning pedal.
Why does my clutch feel spongy?
If your clutch pedal feels soft or ‘spongy’ at any point as you press it to the floor, it’s a sign your clutch fluid is low. That spongy, inconsistent feeling is due to air in the clutch line from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder.
