*TECH* Making a one-man brake bleeder that really works well!

OK, here's my take on the many different ways to bleed brakes when you're by yourself.
Buying expensive equipment sucks money.
Doing the bleeder hose into the bottle works, but sucks air in around the bleeder threads.

This setup has worked well with me over the years, and it's cheap!

Here's what you need:
Glass jar with a sealing lid. Spag sauce, pickles,...
10' piece of 3/32 clear tubing, like fishtank stuff. Ace has it.
5' section of 3/8 fuel line.
A 1/4" barb to male pipe fitting.
A 3/8 barb to male pipe fitting.
Good silicone sealer ( I use Right Stuff by Permatex.)
Stiff wire to hang this with.

 

Drill two appropriate sized holes to snugly fit the brass fittings into....

 

Make sure not to mount them too close to the edge, so the container seals tight. Use the silicone and some washers to make it airtight. I also added some brass that I found that threaded up on the backside.....

 

Assemble the jar and bend your wire hanger......

 

Attach the two hoses. The fuel hose connects to your PCV line, or if you don't have PCV, use a nearby car that runs. Start car when connected...

 

For clarity, I used this OT van. Connect to bleeder, crack bleeder open, and watch fluid flow....

 

Notice I hang this with the suction hose higher. I've NEVER had a problem with brake fluid getting sucked into the engine. Also note that whenever a bleeder is open, small bits of air sneak in around the threads. This way, however, they sneak in and go right to the jar, not stuck inside the brake system as with the bottle trick.

As you go around the car, it's easy to monitor the levels in both the master and the jar. If the fluid you suck out is new, you can add it back into the master.

Easy, cheap and functional. Took about 1/2 hour to build.

 

Don't forget the basics still apply: Start with furthest wheel first and work forward from there. Jar hangs easy from exhaust, etc.... and keep it so you can monitor how full it gets. Usually you'll empty the master before you need to empty the jar.

 

Simple but effective..........That's what Like. I'm gonna give it a try.Thanks for posting.

 

Thanks for posting, I'm gonna try that.

 

Perfect timing. The handle on my stupid plastic mityvac pump thing broke this weekend. I'll try it.

 

very nice tech. i dig it

 

That is a good system. Just be sure that if intending to pour the 'still new' fluid back into the master, you examine the fluid visually for bubbles! Tiny bubbles! (look like a 'foaming') They contain air.
Pour that bubbly fluid into another glass vessel for a couple of days, use it only when it is free from bubbles!
Or you start over with air in the lines.

 

Thanks for the Tech and pics

 

Good point, Mike. Thanks!

 

thats a great idea!

 

Remember this though, if a fitting is leaking, the suction is always pulling in air at the leak so to detect a leak you must pressurize the system by pushing on the pedal or another means. The way to stop the bubbles at the bleeder is to wrap the threads with plenty of teflon tape.

 

i'm thinking of using a fish tank pump...

 

Awesome. Truly caveman, but aswesome.

A tip to remember, if you back out your bleeder to far, it will cause this type of system to suck air as well. It does with my high priced equipment anyway.

 

dragsta, I'm not sure a fish tank pump is going to generate enough vacuum. Plus getting at the vacuum side of a fish tank pump might be tricky, since they are designed to "blow" air into the fish tank.

 

Simple and effective..sweet

 

To me, using an external vacuum pump defeats the whole simplicity thing. Those cars that either don't run, or don't have PCV are usually parked near one that does!

 

ebbsspeed: you may be right. i have to replace a slave cylinder soon though so i'm looking for an aquarium pump now. if it works, i'll post it..... previously, i've been bleeding by wedging a 2x4 between the brake peddle and the steering wheel or seat. i then go turn the bleed screw out slowly then quickly snug it before it sucks air. i repeat until no bubbles are evident and the peddle firm. this method works in a pinch when no one is around to pump the brakes.

is that simple enough, 50Chevy?

 

HAVE YOU EVER TRY USING A SPEED BLEEDER.GO to speedbleeder.com

 

How about a cheap-o $20 shop vac?

 

BRILLIANT!!! I going to try it I have had enough bleeding battles in my life this looks to simple but it will work in principal. Will try it on my 49 chevy pickup with frame mounted master cylinder. these can be a real bitch to bleed when the master is lower than the wheel cylinders.

 

I like this!

 

good tech!

 

i'm going to buy some speed bleeders asap.

 

one job I detest!

I'll be trying this trick out soon..
thanks for the tip