Just before the storms came this way a front caliper was leaking on my 80. replaced the fronts and broke a bleeder valve off in the rear. replaced them and went to bleed with the mightyvac. never got them to bleed out right. Got to thinking that at some point the fluid may have run out of the M/C. After all this do I just need to start over and bleed the M/C and move to the calipers. I was thinking of using the gravity method this time so I can keep my eye on the M/C. Any thoughts and Thanks.

I have fallen in love with speed bleeders...

they are the best thing since peanut butter..

they allow fluid and air out but nothing back in.

you can use them on all four calipers and MC...

they are fast and my brakes were better than they ever were bleeding by vacuum, gravity, and old fashioned way.

I bled my whole car by myself in roughly an hour.. (includes taking wheels off...)

they cost 7.99/pair at autozone.. you need four pairs to change everything.. (1 pair per rear caliper, 1 for front calipers, 1 for master cylinder) its the best 32$ youll ever spend.

I read something on another post about there being different sizes for the speed bleeders. Any Idea about what size to use for the 80?

This sounds like a great idea.

How do you keep fluid from going all over?

I know it is the same in terms of where and how the fluid comes out but I have always wondered what you can do to keep the fluid from going all over.

Hope this question is not too stupid.


Bill

BLennox said: This sounds like a great idea. How do you keep fluid from going all over? Bill

you use clear plastic tubing like your doing it the old fashioned way.

I usually use a 20 oz mountain dew bottle.. when im done.. screw the lid on and throw it away.

basically it is the same thing except you dont have to have someone pump and hold.. you just open the speed bleeder.. get in the car and pump a few times and then stop.. get out look at the tubing.. if you dont see air tighten it up. if there is air... pump a few more times and recheck.

as for master cylinder.. just take short pieces of plastic tubing and put the end back down into the fluid.. use a paper clip to hold them still.. open both at once and pump away.. but dont pump to fast.. you want to make sure the air bubbles have a chance to get out of the fluid.

and as for sizes... yes three or four sizes.. either order them from a vette place.. or take one of yours with you when you buy.

cthulhu said: basically it is the same thing except you dont have to have someone pump and hold.. you just open the speed bleeder.. get in the car and pump a few times and then stop.. get out look at the tubing.. if you dont see air tighten it up. if there is air... pump a few more times and recheck.

Ben, how is this different then the old way of sticking the plastic tube in a jar of brake fluid and pumping?

Snoopy said: Ben, how is this different then the old way of sticking the plastic tube in a jar of brake fluid and pumping?

because you dont have to have a second person opening and closing the bleeder as you pump and hold.

you just open the bleeder and pump.. it is just a one way valve that pushes all the air and fluid out without letting it get back in when you let off the pedal.

I have a piece of 2x4 cut to the length between the brake pedal pushed down and the front edge of the driver's seat. I reach through the open window and pump the brake using the 2x4, then wedge the 2x4 on the driver's seat to hold the brake pedal down while I close the bleeder screw. Not as slick as the speed bleeders but still makes it a one person job.