Has anyone used a brake bleeder and if so what type will fit our single circuit master cylinders? I know Motive makes some good ones.

Many thanks to all. I broke weak and purchased a Motive bleeder. Looking forward to replacing all my hydraulic fluids without having to get the wife to pump pedals!

tdskip: beautiful workmanship.

Well that is the first time I've ever been accused of that - lol.

(It is really easy to build guys)

Let us know how it goes with the Motive!

I've had really good luck with my Motive bleeder. tdskip's looks great, especially if you incorporated a pressure gauge. The point about pressure is great advice, I usually run around 10 psi, it seems to be plenty to do the job.

I have used Motive bleeders for my newer cars and it works great. A word of caution, 15 lbs of pressure is plenty and 20 lbs can cause leakage at the bottle. So don't over pump!

Klaus
--
The more I learn, the more I forget. So why learn?

You can easily make your own, and once you have used on you will never, ever, do it the old way.

Having gotten thoroughly tired of bleeding the brakes by myself and itching to try and build something I decided to make my own pressure bleeder.

Original idea was inspired by this ;

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/campingart/jettatech/bleeder/index.htm

Having used a pressure bleeder before it is by far the easiest way I've found to make this an easy one person job. Total cost for what I put together here was around $12.

Step one - buy the bits

Note - I don't think you want the Pipe Bushing that the original thread shows- for the TR6 it extends down into the fluid reservoir and would possibly aerate the fluid (not good).



Find some washers - I used brass to match the hose barb but not sure if you need to.



And a couple of o-rings



Some tubing (note - I lifted this picture from the original thread)




New spray bottle




Step two - use a Dremel to drill a slightly undersized hole in a brake spare master cylinder lid




Step three - connect the fitting to the lid

I used an O-ring and two washers to press down on the O-ring and had a good fit once I threaded everything down. The plastic on the lid is thick enough you can create thread by screwing the fitting in.











Yes, I will clean the lid before I actually use it....




Step 4 - connect the hose and attach the hose to the spray controller on the spray bottle and you are done. On the sprayer I bought I didn't even need to trim the plastic sparer nozzle, the tubing fit on it and actually snugly fit over some theads that were there.




Done!

That's pretty slick! Plus, it saves about $40.00, which you can spend on other parts for your Volvo.

It works really well too, and you only need a little pressure to have it do it's thing. The guys who came up with this got it right.

A couple pumps of the handle and you are good to go. I tried one design once that had you hook it up to a spare tire and that was a disaster (use your imagination...)

I figure I've already recovered the cost of the parts, which is small anyway, through the brake fluid I've saved. Not to mention the time.

Give it a try!

tdskip;

I agree pressure bleeding, implemented right* is a good thing, but unless you are using DOT5 fluid, don't be cheap and "save fluid"...replace fluid totally every two years...BF BP decreases as it absorbs moisture...and it is contantly and always will...as a general rule, release enough fluid through each corner when bleeding, until it comes out clean...then you know you have:

1. Replaced with new fluid along the ENTIRE path, and
2. Removed all air (which is kinda the point).

* There is nothing inherently wrong with using spare tire as a pressure source...but it would have to be limited and controlled with a regulator or it will cost you it's inflation, and as I belive you mentioned is too much pressure if not dropped...this does remind me of VW using it as the pressure source for the windshield squirter bottle in the Bug, but this could only work with an owner who would check an top up the spare tire pressure as well as the windshield washer reserviour at each fill-up (not that big a deal when ALL those items were located under the same hood).

Cheers

Good point Ron - thanks.

I built the bleeder to make make things easier with a project where entire system was dry since I had just rebuilt the brakes, but on a "topping off" basis I agree with you.

What I've found on any project that you are building up you end up having to bleed the brakes multiple times and have a bleed really helps.

I don't think I've ever use a system run off a spare again, this is easier and has less risk of blowing fluid all over the place...