Speed Bleeds

az'03Silverado · January 5, 2006

Does anyone here use 'Speed Bleeds' on their truck? Do they work well? Do they leak or anything? Does anyone know where to get them? I'm thinking of puting them on my calipers when I flush the brakes next to make it quicker but I want some real-life info on them. Thanks everybody.

Black-Z71 · January 5, 2006

Does anyone here use 'Speed Bleeds' on their truck? Do they work well? Do they leak or anything? Does anyone know where to get them? I'm thinking of puting them on my calipers when I flush the brakes next to make it quicker but I want some real-life info on them. Thanks everybody.

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Yeah...I installed them when I did my brakes over the summer. They actually work really well. I think its still a 2 person job...but the speed bleeders help because they have a one-way valve, so no air goes back in. I used the Motormite brand...here is a pic and a link to the product's website. This is the part number I used, I have an '02...I'm not sure if it's the right part for the '03 and up Silverado's.

Help...Motormite

97chevy350 · January 5, 2006

You can get the motormite speed bleeders at advance. They will be in the HELP section.

Zoltar · January 5, 2006

I have seen them at Walmart too.

az'03Silverado · January 6, 2006

So they still take two people? I was looking at these SpeedBleeder and they say that they only take one person. Anyone use these?

steve summers · January 6, 2006

I would spend the $$'s on a mighty vac instead, it IS a 1 person setup. I dont know how I ever lived without one, no pumping the pedal, no bench bleeding master cylinders.

Black-Z71 · January 6, 2006

I would spend the $$'s on a mighty vac instead, it IS a 1 person setup. I dont know how I ever lived without one, no pumping the pedal, no bench bleeding master cylinders.

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Yeah...without a vac bleeder, its pretty tough to do it with only one person.

pm26 · January 6, 2006

I would spend the $$'s on a mighty vac instead, it IS a 1 person setup. I dont know how I ever lived without one, no pumping the pedal, no bench bleeding master cylinders.

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Yeah...without a vac bleeder, its pretty tough to do it with only one person.

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Absoultely not true. I have been doing it alone successfully on many vehicles as follows:

1. Attach a 3-4 ft long piece of tightly fitting clear vinyl tubing on the caliper or wheel cylinder bleeder

2. Insert the other end of the tubing into a jar half full of clean brake fluid.

3. Crack the bleeder open about 1/2 -3/4 turn.

4. Pump the brake pedal about 5 times

5. Check to see if the old fluid is filling up the jar (it will be darker color than the fresh fluid

6. Check the brake master cylinder and fill up with clean brake fluid (DOT 3)

7. Pump the pedal about 5 more times. This should replace the old brake fluid in one caliper/wheel cylinder

8. Fill up the master cylinder, etc.

Start bleeding with the caliper or wheel cylinder farthest away from the brake master cylinder. This works like a charm. One man operation - priactically foolproof as long as you use tight fitting piece of tubing, keep in submerged in the jar of brake fluid, and do not crack the bleeder too far (will prevent air from entering). Takes me about 20 mintes to do the whole vehicle.

I tried the Mighty vac pump before, and did not have very good luck with it. If there is air trapped in the system, pulling vacuum alone may not get rid of all the air. On the other hand, pressurizing the system by pumping the brake pedal does.

rjirvine · January 7, 2006

I bought a pressure bleeder for about $70 and have used it on all 3 of my vehicles. I don't know how I lived without it. Just pressurize the tank (like a garden sprayer) and crack the bleeder screws, wait until the fluid comes out clear and tighten it back up and go to the next. I thought $70 was kinda steep, but keeps me from getting mad at the wife/kids when they try and help me bleed the brakes, lol.