Pressure Bleeding Question?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 18
From: Evansville IN
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
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
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.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 664
Likes: 119
From: Albany OR
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
Brian
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
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.
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.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
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...
http://www.speedbleeder.com/
I bought the polished stainless steel bleeders because they are visible...
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