Best brake bleeder

[jwakil]

I’ve always preferred the vacuum type brake bleeders because I felt with our old cars it wasn’t safe to pressurize a 40year old master cylinder reservoir. However, what I’ve found when I apply vacuum to a brake bleed nipple is that I can’t tell if I’m drawing air bubbles from inside the brake system or the air is coming from the threads of the nipple that I’ve just loosened. I continuously see bubbles even though I know their is no air in the system. Would like to know what most people use and if the pressure method is ok to use on these old cars. Of course the two person method is always best but I’m looking for the one man bleed methods.

[fanaudical]

I have had the same problem with vacuum bleeders. I've tried thread sealant and "speed bleeders" and haven't found those useful either. I've not found the vacuum bleeders to work well on my 911 at all.

I had the same concerns about the old reservoir on my car; I replaced it with new and went the pressure bleed route. Even then I had to have somebody pump the pedal and few times to be absolutely sure I had the air out.

[BK911]

Used this one on MANY different cars over MANY years:
(not the reservoir, but the fitting and tubing)



Discussion thread:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/427910-5-pressure-bleeder.html

[tsuter]

All you need is a Motive power bleeder, assortment of silicone tube sizes for your calipers, a turkey baster, some nice ATE DOT4TYP200 and a brake fluid moisture tester.

Oh, and if you think your master cylinder can't handle 10-12psi, then your car is unsafe to drive...

And don't forget to unhook your brake fluid master cylinder overfill drain hose and put a nice piece of silicone tubing on that and clamp it off.

[7783911]

which model of Motive is suited for our porsches

[Cory M]

+1 for Motive. I've used mine on several different cars over many years.

[Zuffenwerker]

The motive works, Schwaben makes a copy of it as well. The best quality pressure bleeder I’ve used was made by mityvac https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-MV6840-Pressure-Bleed-System/dp/B005MVBFM4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?adgrpid=118361705265&gclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox87TP01CaD6pecqM5uDc CLUnTdBE_W4uUkF2-MkBR4q0UiLBCRrgQXUaAnCTEALw_wcB&hvadid=504206876566&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9026088&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11522961631273738004&hvtargid=kwd-428176237578&hydadcr=25553_9900452&keywords=mityvac+pressure+brake+bleeder&qid=1674847564&sr=8-2

[David Inc.]

Usually what I use is a vacuum bleeder until I get to new fluid (it will move pretty quickly once it's going) then do a final pump from the car through the speed bleeder or with an assistant. Like you said, the vacuum bleeder can be misleading with the air bubbles so it's better to finish off with a pressurized pump from the master.

I have a motive that I use for other cars but I just don't quite trust it on the 911, especially with that overflow. Plus I haven't tapped an air fitting to it yet and it takes about 9,000 pumps to get up to pressure.

[NotStock]

Originally Posted by BK911

Used this one on MANY different cars over MANY years:
(not the reservoir, but the fitting and tubing)



Discussion thread:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/427910-5-pressure-bleeder.html

I have the motive, but I'm embarrassed to say I didn't think of this as the best way to hook it up. Looking at this, there was no reason to buy the special cap, should have just hooked the damn thing to the bleeder port instead of trying to block the bleeder... this is much smarter.

[HarryD]

FWIW, I have been using the Motive on my 1973.5 for over 20 years with NO DRAMA.

I have the same bubble issue when I used a vacuum bleeder system.

[wallra]

this is the best power bleeder doen't put air into the fluid like the one's you pump up. https://www.tooldiscounter.com/product/power-probe-electric-pressure-brake-bleeder-25-gallon-pprstbbe25gal I have a shop and this is what I use and all the dealers. It's a honda factory tool

[Jeff Higgins]

The best brake bleeder I have ever used has been my wife. Going on 37 years of faultless reliability.

I'm a big believer in the old pump and hold, two person bleeding method. I've long since lost track of how many spongy pedals on friends' cars I have firmed up by bleeding them the old fashioned way.

[Bill Douglas]

I use speed bleeders. Makes it easy.

[Cloggie]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

The best brake bleeder I have ever used has been my wife. Going on 37 years of faultless reliability.

I'm a big believer in the old pump and hold, two person bleeding method. I've long since lost track of how many spongy pedals on friends' cars I have firmed up by bleeding them the old fashioned way.

Whilst the option of borrowing your wife is likely the best solution, I have always done gravity bleeding with very good success.

I am of the belief that any of the bleeders just move too much fluid too fast through all the little orifices, angles and passages and so leave some microscopic bubbles in their wake.

I like gravity bleeding precisely as it has slow fluid motion (likely like your wife....no insult intended) and considering I use only Dot 5 silicone fluid, slow fluid motion is the way to go in my mind.

Cheap too...just a few length of tubing and some time.

D.

[Marine Blue]

I recently purchased a Mityvac for the brakes. That’s after owning a Motiv for 15 years and using it exclusively. I wasn’t a fan of adding fluid into the Motiv canister as I’ve had instances where bubbles were introduced. It also adds another clean up step and when dealing with a corrosive fluid I’m just not a fan. So I had to undo the cap, add fluid and re pressurize every time I needed a refill.

With Vacuum you can top off the reservoir and start suctioning, as the reservoir drops you can keep adding quickly and easily until you’re done flushing. The downside is the seal between the tubing and the brake nipple aren’t the best so air does make its way in. I’ve also seen air pull through the nipple and caliper area but again none of this is introducing air into the actual system.

Mityvac makes a great vacuum brake bleeder.

[jpnovak]

I gravity feed bleed and then final pump method with my son as a helper.

The air compressor line to vent does work really well.

The Motive also works well.

I do not like the vacuum method because I always see airbubbles from the hose to nipple connection.

[SCadaddle]

On the 911SC I wound up just doing a gravity bleed, then installing speed bleeders and one man operation with those. Worked like a champ.

On the 66 VW Bus I tried a brand new Motive power bleeder system. Seemed to work but had absolutely no brake pedal. Bled all 4 corners at least 3 times still no pedal. Apparently the drum brake master cylinder has pressure holding valves at the output lines that the Motiv couldn't overcome at 12-15 psi. Wound up bleeding the old fashioned way with a friend.

The Motiv sits in a box now. Their catch bottles with the cable are the bomb, they really are nice.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

On the 911SC I wound up just doing a gravity bleed, then installing speed bleeders and one man operation with those. Worked like a champ.

On the 66 VW Bus I tried a brand new Motive power bleeder system. Seemed to work but had absolutely no brake pedal. Bled all 4 corners at least 3 times still no pedal. Apparently the drum brake master cylinder has pressure holding valves at the output lines that the Motiv couldn't overcome at 12-15 psi. Wound up bleeding the old fashioned way with a friend.

The Motiv sits in a box now. Their catch bottles with the cable are the bomb, they really are nice.

Interesting, I just did the rear brakes in my 1970 bus and we used a Motive Bleeder. Worked like a champ.

Are you sure your flexible brake lines are not restricting flow?

[OSC911]

Originally Posted by NotStock

I have the motive, but I'm embarrassed to say I didn't think of this as the best way to hook it up. Looking at this, there was no reason to buy the special cap, should have just hooked the damn thing to the bleeder port instead of trying to block the bleeder... this is much smarter.

I’m also a little bit embarrassed that I didn’t think of this also. I bought the motive bleeder also.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

On the 911SC I wound up just doing a gravity bleed, then installing speed bleeders and one man operation with those. Worked like a champ.

On the 66 VW Bus I tried a brand new Motive power bleeder system. Seemed to work but had absolutely no brake pedal. Bled all 4 corners at least 3 times still no pedal. Apparently the drum brake master cylinder has pressure holding valves at the output lines that the Motiv couldn't overcome at 12-15 psi. Wound up bleeding the old fashioned way with a friend.

The Motiv sits in a box now. Their catch bottles with the cable are the bomb, they really are nice.

Also, the pressure in a hydraulic system has to bleed down, otherwise when you take your foot off the brake, the brake cylinder pistons will not retract.