C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Pressure Bleeding Question?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 13, 2013 | 09:24 PM
  #1  
fatboywilly's Avatar
fatboywilly
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 18
From: Evansville IN
Default Pressure Bleeding Question?

Have you ever used one of the pressure bleeding pumps? How well do they work? Are they worth the money or should we just use the speed bleeders? Thanks
Reply
Old May 13, 2013 | 09:51 PM
  #2  
leesvet's Avatar
leesvet
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Default

Originally Posted by fatboywilly
Have you ever used one of the pressure bleeding pumps? How well do they work? Are they worth the money or should we just use the speed bleeders? Thanks
I have seen pressure bleeders destroy a master cyl...

there are parts of a master that are sealed against ANY fluid moving thru to a port until the spool is moved (pedal) to open that port. The only thing separating it is an o-ring or lip-seal. Pressure applied without anyplace to go sometimes blows that seal right out...then the MC is junk.
They say to use something like 4 psi...to be safe. Thats not enough to move fluid and take contamination with it IMO.

I like the speed bleeders. Stick a hose on the nipple, run it to a bottle to catch the mess, crack the valve open and sit there and just pump the pedal and stop when you feel good about whats coming out. No mess, no need for 2 people. No air getting sucked in the system at the bleeder screw, best of all. AND....no worry about a damaged MC.

Besides, the cups on these MC are getting fragile...plastic thats old gets brittle..and I don;t want to risk breaking one. Can't buy just parts..like grommets...gotta buy the whole thing.
Reply
Old May 13, 2013 | 09:55 PM
  #3  
leesvet's Avatar
leesvet
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Default

Originally Posted by fatboywilly
Have you ever used one of the pressure bleeding pumps? How well do they work? Are they worth the money or should we just use the speed bleeders? Thanks
Pressure bleeders tend to blow seals out of master cylinders. Seen it, done it.

Speed bleeders are the way to go.. Easy, clean and 1 guy can do it without getting air in the system,.pump air and dirty fluid OUT, as much as you want, close the valve and go to the next. No air ever gets sucked in,..
and the master cyl is spared the forced fluid thru the port thats not designed to carry pressure. The pressure seals are behind the spool valve/piston, not the cup on this side of the plunger.
Reply
Old May 13, 2013 | 10:38 PM
  #4  
pcolt94's Avatar
pcolt94
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Default

With above.

I never got the great performance or action from the pressure bleeder system. It was also a mess to use as fluid seems to get everywhere regardless. I have the pressure system, vacuum system and the speed bleeders. I found the speed bleeders to be the easiest to use with superb performance.
Reply
Old May 13, 2013 | 11:20 PM
  #5  
Jerry Roubos's Avatar
Jerry Roubos
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Hemet California
Default

I plead ignorance. What are speed bleeders and where can I purchase?
I need to bleed my brakes and want to do it correctly.
Reply
Old May 13, 2013 | 11:53 PM
  #6  
VanSpeed's Avatar
VanSpeed
Pro
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 663
Likes: 118
From: Albany OR
Default

I have not had any of the mentioned bad experiences with my pressure bleeder. To avoid the mess just use it to pressurize the MC instead of filling the pressure bleeder with fluid, some others on the forum have suggested this method as well. It is an easy one person bleeding system. It sounds like the speed bleeders are as we'll but I do not have any experience with those. Good luck.

Brian
Reply
Old May 14, 2013 | 01:01 AM
  #7  
leesvet's Avatar
leesvet
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Default

speed bleeders are better bleed screws in the caliper that have a check valve built in.

Open the valve about 1 turn...pump the pedal all day and the fluid will go OUT of the bleed screw/valve but it will NOT allow it to suck air IN.

I stick a hose on the valve nipple then to a can or bottle and pump till the master cup is almost empty. Close that bleeder and move to the next. Mess-less.
Find them at most chain store auto-parts. You may have to ask for them. Know your size as well...there are several sizes, metric as well as SAE bleed screws. The C4 is metric but I cannot remember the size.
Reply
Old May 14, 2013 | 01:30 AM
  #8  
Cliff Harris's Avatar
Cliff Harris
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Default

Just bought some for my '13, so I've got the link:

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

I bought the polished stainless steel bleeders because they are visible...
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Pressure Bleeding Question?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:14 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE