Speed bleeders anyone?

So maybe I should have asked before I ordered, but last night I ordered in a set of speed bleeder bleed screws for the miata and its impending brake surgery. I didn't know these existed until yesterday when I was researching brake bleeding tools.

Anyone have experience with them? Do they do what they're supposed to do or did I just waste $30?

If they work, I'm probably going to order a set for the Vic too.

They work exactly as you would think. Love the things.

I have had issues with getting the wrong ones even though they are supposed to the fit, but such is life.

They work pretty well, not a replacement for having a helper though. Hard to see the condition of the fluid coming out (and any bubbles) when you are in the driver's seat

I have them on the Corolla, they work. I don't know why they aren't more popular.

They're nice for just getting fresh fluid through the system easily. I used to run them. Then I bought a pressure bleeder...

ProDarwin wrote: They work pretty well, not a replacement for having a helper though. Hard to see the condition of the fluid coming out (and any bubbles) when you are in the driver's seat

Speedbleeders are awesome, can't believe I didn't use them sooner. And to combat not being able to see, I use my ipad to facetime my phone from the drivers seat.

ross2004 wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: They work pretty well, not a replacement for having a helper though. Hard to see the condition of the fluid coming out (and any bubbles) when you are in the driver's seat

Speedbleeders are awesome, can't believe I didn't use them sooner. And to combat not being able to see, I use my ipad to facetime my phone from the drivers seat.

lol, I was thinking someone would do this as I was typing that out.

ross2004 wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: They work pretty well, not a replacement for having a helper though. Hard to see the condition of the fluid coming out (and any bubbles) when you are in the driver's seat

Speedbleeders are awesome, can't believe I didn't use them sooner. And to combat not being able to see, I use my ipad to facetime my phone from the drivers seat.

Needs must as the devil drives. That's pretty good though TBH.

I have used them and like them a lot, but have found how well they work will depend on how good the seal is between the threads of the bleeder and the caliper casting. If the thread seal isn't essentially perfect, it'll suck air past the threads. More so than a standard valve, for whatever reason.

I've heard nothing but good things about them.

But...they don't bleed any better than a gatorade bottle and a vacuum hose. In fact the hose/bottle keeps the mess contained and allows you to see the fluid that came out.

Ian F wrote: I have used them and like them a lot, but have found how well they work will depend on how good the seal is between the threads of the bleeder and the caliper casting. If the thread seal isn't essentially perfect, it'll suck air past the threads. More so than a standard valve, for whatever reason.

You should have good luck with this for several years of service.

Yup! Had this problem recently. Soft pedal syndrome after bleeding. Got 'em on the FX16. Bled them the old fashion way with a helper pumping the pedal. Noticed some fluid drops. It was leaking around the thread. BUT, the speed bleeders were reused when the calipers were replaced. Should have added some pipe dope to the threads before installing. They come with some goop on the threads when new.

rslifkin wrote: They're nice for just getting fresh fluid through the system easily. I used to run them. Then I bought a pressure bleeder...

It was 3 failed pressure bleeders that prompted me to check these out.

The hand pump/mity vac style, the pneumatic one from hf, and a hybrid of the two all failed so we did it the old fashioned way.

Realistically there will still be someone pumping pedals and someone watching, but if push comes shove, having a way to do it solo will be nice.

Glad one of my Impulse purchases actually was a good one.

I put them on the Impala. My only issue was that with the bleeders open, it mixes air with the brake fluid as it exits, so there are always bubbles in the tube making it hard to tell when you have all the air out.

You also kinda still need two people, but it sure does make the pump/open/close/release/repeat a lot easier. The second person just needs to open once, watch bubbles, close. It certainly increases confidence for me (except for seeing the bubbles)

Mine were cheapy parts store bits though.

What? And give up the one time my wife and I bond with the cars?

Up

Down

Up

Down

Up

Down

spitfirebill wrote: What? And give up the one time my wife and I bond with the cars? Up Down Up Down Up Down

Whoa whoa whoa. Enough with the dirty talk. What does this have to do with bonding with cars?

Speedbleeders are awesome, can't believe I didn't use them sooner. And to combat not being able to see, I use my ipad to facetime my phone from the drivers seat.

^That is berkeleying brilliant right there.

Ah.. the advantages of small British cars... can operate the pedal from either door with one hand while looking at the bleeder in question.

spitfirebill wrote: What? And give up the one time my wife and I bond with the cars? Up Down Up Down Up Down

Sounds kinky.

I do gravity bleeds. Gives me a really good pedal and it's easy to do solo. Plus this way I don't need to buy (counting in his head) 44 speed bleeders.

RevRico wrote:

rslifkin wrote: They're nice for just getting fresh fluid through the system easily. I used to run them. Then I bought a pressure bleeder...

It was 3 failed pressure bleeders that prompted me to check these out. The hand pump/mity vac style, the pneumatic one from hf, and a hybrid of the two all failed so we did it the old fashioned way.

A pressure bleeder

is very different than a vacuum bleeder

I have never had any success with a vacuum bleeder. Pressure bleeders on the other hand are the dogs danglies, but you need cap adapters for every car you plan on working on

OK, here goes...,

I've bled brakes with the regular fittings and the speed bleeders. I've found thread sealant is necessary on both to keep from sucking air around the threads on the return stroke of the pedal.

I use a 15' long piece of clear hose and a cup. I start at the right rear (farthest) put the cup in view from the drivers seat and pump til I get clear fluid at the cup. I move to the left rear, right front, left front, repeating the process. It uses a little more fluid but it's the best method I've found for single person bleeding. Bleeding brakes well is enough of a pain I generally put the car on jack-stands and pull the wheels/tires off to do it.

Fun fact - on a LHD classic 88" Land Rover, the left front wheel is the furthest from the master cylinder.

I have tried a few sets of speed bleeders, always leak around the threads... Then I made a pressure bleeder from a garden sprayer...$10. If my garage burned down that would be the first thing I would replace after a 3/8th ratchet set its that good.

Firmest pedal possible everytime, one man job, bleed order doesn't matter, all the calipers can be on the wrong sides nipples down and above the master cylinder and you still get a rock solid pedal with the least wasted brake fluid. Oh and it doesn't know the difference between abs and non abs, bleeds both equally as well.

Keith Tanner wrote: Fun fact - on a LHD classic 88" Land Rover, the left front wheel is the furthest from the master cylinder.

On a RHD Peugeot 205 GTI, the MC is on the opposide side of the car from the driver's controls, and a complicated system of levers transfers force from the brake pedal to the MC.

I have the Motive pressure bleeder and I love it, but be careful using it on Miatas. It doesn't take a lot of pressure to blow fluid past the junction of the master cylinder and its plastic reservoir. I've done it on three different cars with just about 10 psi. You just need a little more than atmospheric pressure to make it work. And any reading on the gauge means that the pressure in the bottle is greater than atmospheric pressure.

I hate brake fluid.