Recommend me a brake bleeder tool

[Kram]

With bikes I would normally reverse fill from the caliper end, using a syringe. I've read that may cause issue with ABS units but there was no reasoning why.

I want to do a full fluid change as it looks like mud, that is currently in there.

Is there a better way for doing cars?

 

[DanZac]

Having messed around with a Gunnison easy bleed thing for years I finally stumped up for a Sealey Pressure Bleed Thing and it's been brilliant. In fact I'm that impressed I've been looking for things to bleed.

The only downside to it is the supplied cap doesn't fit all reserviours, so if you haven't got a euro standard cap you'll need the universal cap at more expense or get a spare cap and modify it to accept the bleeder hose. (Supplied cap won't fit on a MX5, Honda Civic, or 2014 Fiesta).

 

[MetalMonkey]

With bikes I would normally reverse fill from the caliper end, using a syringe. I've read that may cause issue with ABS units but there was no reasoning why.

I want to do a full fluid change as it looks like mud, that is currently in there.

You've pretty much answered your own question - the fluid in the calipers is often nasty and cruddy - not what you want to be pushing back through the delicate/expensive ABS unit.
You can vacuum bleed or pressure bleed, both have their pros and cons. Or do it the old fashioned way. Some cars can prefer one way over another and some are just a paint to bleed full stop.
Its also worth checking to see if the ABS unit has to be put through a special cycle via diagnostics to bleed it. Some do, Some don't.

If its just changing the fluid then what I would tend to do is syringe what i can out of the master cyl without going below the level that introduces air.
Then just perform a normal bleed at each calliper until the fluid runs clear. Providing you don't get any air in it, it should be fairly straightforward.

 

[mr haynes]

Cautionary tale

Remember my mate twice borrowing my pressure bleeder, first time he blew the reservoir(glued back together to get him home) and second, on a different car, he had a fountain of fluid bouncing off the bonnet due to the reservoir valve/sensor holes.

Definitely pros and cons to all bleeding systems

 

[mr haynes]

You've pretty much answered your own question - the fluid in the calipers is often nasty and cruddy - not what you want to be pushing back through the delicate/expensive ABS unit.
You can vacuum bleed or pressure bleed, both have their pros and cons. Or do it the old fashioned way. Some cars can prefer one way over another and some are just a paint to bleed full stop.
Its also worth checking to see if the ABS unit has to be put through a special cycle via diagnostics to bleed it. Some do, Some don't.

If its just changing the fluid then what I would tend to do is syringe what i can out of the master cyl without going below the level that introduces air.
Then just perform a normal bleed at each calliper until the fluid runs clear. Providing you don't get any air in it, it should be fairly straightforward.

Definitely this

 

[Kram]

Having messed around with a Gunnison easy bleed thing for years I finally stumped up for a Sealey Pressure Bleed Thing and it's been brilliant. In fact I'm that impressed I've been looking for things to bleed.

The only downside to it is the supplied cap doesn't fit all reserviours, so if you haven't got a euro standard cap you'll need the universal cap at more expense or get a spare cap and modify it to accept the bleeder hose. (Supplied cap won't fit on a MX5, Honda Civic, or 2014 Fiesta).

That looks very large, 2.5L capacity! Shame they dont do a smaller decent one. I saw theres a much smaller type, which actually I bought in the past and I remember it being rubbish.

I guess it all depends if theres a good seal on the res cap.

 

[DanZac]

That looks very large, 2.5L capacity! Shame they dont do a smaller decent one. I saw theres a much smaller type, which actually I bought in the past and I remember it being rubbish.

I guess it all depends if theres a good seal on the res cap.

Not sure why the capacity is so big. I guess it's aimed at more than just the DIY market?.

I just put as much as I think I'll need in it and it works fine. There's no need to fill it right up.

Your right though, it does depend on the seal on the reserviour and the supplied cap doesn't fit all reserviours.

 

[Kram]

The only downside to it is the supplied cap doesn't fit all reserviours, so if you haven't got a euro standard cap you'll need the universal cap at more expense or get a spare cap and modify it to accept the bleeder hose. (Supplied cap won't fit on a MX5, Honda Civic, or 2014 Fiesta).

I imagine Mazda 6 may have the same fitting as MX5? Do they sell a cap that fits it? Universal cap?

Knowing that Sealey are mostly imported tools, there are several identical looking and much cheaper options so I might try one. Some appear to include multiple caps.

 

[sg66]

If you want to muck around with caps there are loads of pressure vessels you could make your own out of, Stihl saw type water supply usually just over £30.00 not branded obvs

 

[JOEPRO]

Having messed around with a Gunnison easy bleed thing for years I finally stumped up for a Sealey Pressure Bleed Thing and it's been brilliant. In fact I'm that impressed I've been looking for things to bleed.

The only downside to it is the supplied cap doesn't fit all reserviours, so if you haven't got a euro standard cap you'll need the universal cap at more expense or get a spare cap and modify it to accept the bleeder hose. (Supplied cap won't fit on a MX5, Honda Civic, or 2014 Fiesta).

I have the same Sealey one and it's great. Vacuum never works well on brakes for me. Pressure bleed or pedal pump.

 

[DanZac]

I imagine Mazda 6 may have the same fitting as MX5? Do they sell a cap that fits it? Universal cap?

Knowing that Sealey are mostly imported tools, there are several identical looking and much cheaper options so I might try one. Some appear to include multiple caps.

They do a universal cap.

But I've made a couple up for ones that wouldn't fit by getting a spare cap from the scrappies, drilling a hole in the middle and fitting a quick disconnect fitting to it to suit the bleeder connection, which works and is cheaper than the universal thing if you can get hold of a spare cap to suit your car.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I have only used a Mityvac for probably 20 years !

 

[arther dailey]

i have an old eezi bleed , where you get the pressure from a wheel barrow tyre ,works great , excepting for clutch on l200 mitsi, new clutch ,master and slave ...but I am still driving around with pedal not fully returning ! tried reverse, tried vacuum ,nada.

 

[bricol]

Cautionary tale

Remember my mate twice borrowing my pressure bleeder, first time he blew the reservoir(glued back together to get him home) and second, on a different car, he had a fountain of fluid bouncing off the bonnet due to the reservoir valve/sensor holes.

Definitely pros and cons to all bleeding systems

Someone needs to read the instructions

 

[Dragnet]

I can't say I've had a problem with the Vizibleed I got from Halfords. The biggest issue is manoeuvring the double-jointed elbow necessary to get the spanner on the bleed nipple.

 

[premmington]

I have the same Sealey one and it's great. Vacuum never works well on brakes for me. Pressure bleed or pedal pump.

View attachment 482753

I got one of these - it been good and had nearly daily use in my workshop.

I bought the whole set of cap adapters when I bought it - have used a few of them but not many.

Would buy a sealey one of these again - it been better than the Sykes Pickavent one it replaced.

 

[Melvyn Best]

i have an old eezi bleed , where you get the pressure from a wheel barrow tyre ,works great , excepting for clutch on l200 mitsi, new clutch ,master and slave ...but I am still driving around with pedal not fully returning ! tried reverse, tried vacuum ,nada.

Did you check for wear in the brake pedal where the Clevis pin fits?

 

[Turbo]

Another vote for the Sealey one. I did a fluid change in the van and the job was so easy using this.

 

[indy4x]

Also have the Sealey one, only 1 adaptor though but it did fit an L322 RR, Mazda 3 Sport and 09 plate Jeep Grand Cherokee

Would definitely recommend it

I bought the universal adapter, it has a chain that goes under the master cylinder to clamp it on, just need to be careful when fitting to make sure you get a good seal

 

[AVI_8]

I have the same Sealey one and it's great. Vacuum never works well on brakes for me. Pressure bleed or pedal pump.

View attachment 482753

I got one of those from recommendations here, absolutely no regrets, not the cheapest but it’s built to last, great piece of kit