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Power brake bleeder and/or fluid advice?

rjirvine

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rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
Posted

Has anone used a power bleeder for their brakes and where did you get yours? I want to replace my brake fluid, and looks like I can get a power bleeder for anywhere from 70-150 bucks on-line. The dealer wants about $85 for a brake fluid change, so I figure I can buy a bleeder and do both my trucks and save money and have the satisfaction of a job done right.

 

I know GM touts their own brake fluid, but I was thinking of using Valvoline syn power fluid. Any advice?

BDK Enthusiast

BDK

Posted
Posted
Has anone used a power bleeder for their brakes and where did you get yours? I want to replace my brake fluid, and looks like I can get a power bleeder for anywhere from 70-150 bucks on-line. The dealer wants about $85 for a brake fluid change, so I figure I can buy a bleeder and do both my trucks and save money and have the satisfaction of a job done right.

 

I know GM touts their own brake fluid, but I was thinking of using Valvoline syn power fluid. Any advice?

 

 

 

 

I bought a motive products pressure brake bleeder with the universal connection. Worked great.

Bish Senior Enthusiast

Bish

Posted
Posted
Has anone used a power bleeder for their brakes and where did you get yours? I want to replace my brake fluid, and looks like I can get a power bleeder for anywhere from 70-150 bucks on-line. The dealer wants about $85 for a brake fluid change, so I figure I can buy a bleeder and do both my trucks and save money and have the satisfaction of a job done right.

 

I know GM touts their own brake fluid, but I was thinking of using Valvoline syn power fluid. Any advice?

 

 

 

 

I also bought a Motive Products American Bleeder Kit from Apex Performance. I highly recommend the power bleeder. Makes for 1 man bleeding in about 10 minutes. Well worth the investment.

rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well, I ordered a brake bleeder from the earlier link. Thanks for the tip! I figure I'll do my 1988 K1500 (which has never been done, except for a little bleeding after changing rear brake cyls. etc) and my 2000 Silverado.

 

I know the manual ssys DOT 3 fluid, but will it hurt to use valvoline synpower fluid? It says it's compatable with DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids, and has a higher wet boiling point than regular DOT 3. I like valvoline products.

 

From what I've googled, it looks like some of the DOT 4 fluids will absorb more moisture than DOT 3, but since I will have a bleeder, I figure I can do my brakes once a year or something and have better protection than standard DOT 3.

 

Anyone have any $.02 to add?

kdm101 Enthusiast

kdm101

Posted
Posted

I flushed the system in my truck last year and I used the Synpower fluid. So far, I've had no issues whatsoever. The fluid's getting dark again, so I'm prolly gonna flush again before end of summer.

 

I also bought the Motive bleeder - more important than the time is the savings in aggravation from having to start over when your buddy keeps pumping the pedal instead of holding. :cheers:

 

This is a bit late, but I bought my set last year off ebay - got the pro kit (#250) for $59.99 from cbmtools. Their current price is $61.99.

rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I got the American car setup for $65 plus 8.88 shipping. It comes with the rectangular fitting for my 1988 truck and the round adaptor for my 2000 silverado and my wife's toyota sienna. Last time I blead the brakes I had my then 11 and 13 year old girls help me....talk about frustrating! They HATE when I have to bleed the brakes...they would rather clean house and mow the lawn than help me again, lol!

 

If it works as good as has been posted, I'll wonder what I ever did without it!

 

I'll give the Valvoline synpower a try...thanks

Bish Senior Enthusiast

Bish

Posted
Posted
Well, I ordered a brake bleeder from the earlier link. Thanks for the tip! I figure I'll do my 1988 K1500 (which has never been done, except for a little bleeding after changing rear brake cyls. etc) and my 2000 Silverado.

 

I know the manual ssys DOT 3 fluid, but will it hurt to use valvoline synpower fluid? It says it's compatable with DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids, and has a higher wet boiling point than regular DOT 3. I like valvoline products.

 

From what I've googled, it looks like some of the DOT 4 fluids will absorb more moisture than DOT 3, but since I will have a bleeder, I figure I can do my brakes once a year or something and have better protection than standard DOT 3.

 

Anyone have any $.02 to add?

 

 

 

 

I ran the Valvoline in my wife's vehicle. It seemed to hold up pretty well compared to the oem fluid. I still changed it regularly.

 

I've been running the ATE Super Blue and Gold. Since I flush every year, I just use the different color and wait till the color changes when I bleed. I just alternate Blue, Gold year to year. Probably going overboard but hey, I like working on my truck :cheers:

rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I got the pressure bleeder today and read the instructions. It calls for pressurizing the tank to that "specified in your owners manual". We'll there's nothing in my manual or in alldata.com. What should I pressurize it to? Maybe 15PSI?

Bish Senior Enthusiast

Bish

Posted
Posted
I got the pressure bleeder today and read the instructions. It calls for pressurizing the tank to that "specified in your owners manual". We'll there's nothing in my manual or in alldata.com. What should I pressurize it to? Maybe 15PSI?

 

 

 

 

15-20PSI is what I use. That thing ROCKS!

rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes that "thing" does rock! I got some valvoline synpower fluid (4 big bottles at 5.49 ea) and blead all my brakes. As luck would have it, the left front bleeder screw (last one) was stripped, and since I already had a beer or two had to make the wife run to the auto parts store to get a new one...I wonder how much that's gonna cost me!?

 

My old fluid is dark greenish (copper?) and I drained it into a clear 2 liter soda bottle, you cant even see sunlight thru it. So, I'm glad I changed the fluid. I got a few tiny bubbles etc. out of the old fluid, so I'll have piece of mind that I've got good brakes. For anyone who's interested, if you turn the wheels to the right and do the left caliper, and then to the right for the left caliper, it makes it a bit easier.

Supurban Enthusiast

Supurban

Posted
Posted
For anyone who's interested, if you turn the wheels to the right and do the left caliper, and then to the right for the left caliper, it makes it a bit easier.

 

 

 

 

That's a great tip - you can bet that I'll make use of that!

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
Posted
For anyone who's interested, if you turn the wheels to the right and do the left caliper, and then to the right for the left caliper, it makes it a bit easier.

 

 

 

 

That's a great tip - you can bet that I'll make use of that!

 

 

 

 

don't you mean turn right to do the left and left to do the right?

rjirvine Enthusiast

rjirvine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes, you are correct. Since the bleeder screws are on the aft portion of the wheel assembly, if you turn the steering wheel to the right it will expose the left caliper. Turning the steering wheel to the left will expose the right caliper. I was also able to make tire spots in my driveway due to this....my wife of course pointed it out.

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