bleeding brakes
 

Hi, does anyone have any experience with bleeding brakes using the power bleeder below. its basically a pressure bleeder using a spare tire at 20 psi as the air source. i am about to use it on my volvo, as that was recommended by one of their aftermarket parts dealers (IPD) and was wondering if i could use it on the MB. thanks Ken.
http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsList.aspx?subSubCategoryID=13

I always doubt the need for special bleeding tools.

I bleed all my cars (all have ABS) without any special tool except some home made fluid collectors, I usually prepare plenty of brake fluid, fill up the reservoir, then have a helper watch the fluid level, I pump the brake petal, he/she cautiously stops me as soon as fluid level drops to half, (For some of my cars, I don't even need a helper, I can watch the level and pump the brake all by myself), then fill up the reservoir again, repeat the procedure until the fluid from the brakes is clean. It's so easy I can do it in one hour now.

I have a device that's identical to the one shown at the web address above - Speedi-Bleed. I like it, especially since I work alone. Pedal bleeding is fine if there are 4 legs around.

You'll be able to bleed your system with this gadget by yourself.

you have to make sure that there is a cap that will fit the Benz's reservoir. i built the one described below and tried to use it on the family van but the cap leaked all over the place, not being a screw-on type cap.

http://home.earthlink.net/~asherson/Don/The_Brake_Bleeder/the_brake_bleeder.html

thanks, i like the homemade bleeder, should have checked this website before spending $22 on the one from IPD. THat one has to use a spare tire for the air source. Have you tried to bleed your brakes using it? or atleast a power bleeder? I think the cap on the MB is the same as the one on the volvo but will check and if not, get a new cap and cut up the old one on the MB.

The caps sold with the professional units have been designed to fit your fluid reservoir. Can't say about the homemade varities.

...just did a master cylinde R/R on my '86 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio and for the first time used a pump type of power bleeder

being old school and always having the luxury of extra legs, the old fashioned way was always adequate

using the power bleeder was a light years ahead improvement in ease and time involved in this activity and just as easy to do as pumping the brake pedal by hand

also the power bleeder ensured that the expelled brake fluid was neated collected and didn't squirt w/ vigor all over the place

power bleeder is the way to to, hope this helps

-fad

fad, did you use a homemade one or a store bought?

Mike, i would think that the seal between the master cylinder reservior and the pump would be the best if it was an actual cap. now whether you can properly seal the cap and the pump hoses, that would be questionable. i will try my volvo cap and see if it screws into the mb mastercylinder reservior.

if you follow those plans, it works pretty good. you can even add a pressure gauge if you want to keep an eye on the pressure. if you do have to make your own cap for your bleeder, be sure to seal off the relief vent.

I used a professional bleeder that my brother-in-law owns. I know it was a professional bleeder, 'cause it said "professional bleeder" on it...though that was not the manufacturer or brand

From memory the bleeder I used had a pressure guage, and I kept it at 15lbs to suck out all the dirty worn out bubbly fluid- - when the fluid ran crystal clear with no bubbles, I did a little more extraction, & presto done (really really easy)

I started bleeding the caliper furthest from the master cylinder and ended with the one directly underneath the mc

I became convinced seeing the crap fluid the came out, that there's NO way the old fashioned brake pumping method would clear the lines and system as throughly (well,...maybe the old fashioned method would suffice with one hell of a lot of pumping)

I don't recall the bleeder's brand off hand, but it had clear lines attached to the bleeder nipple so you can see all that's being sucked out, output line is piped to a plastic res cup to hold fluid, had like a gun type of pistol grip that you can pump to create suction pressure, and a guage to monitor suction pressure, ...and oh yes a vast assortment of black rubber nipple fittings (and more hoses) to match diff caliper bleed outlets sizes

possibly Sears has a bleeder tool out that has a good price and great warranty? I'm not convinced that one needs much more than the pump type of bleeder since honestly it took only 15 minutes to bleed and flush the system clean

hope this helps

-fad

All I can tell you is the unit I use(Speedi-Bleed) is A-OK.

It comes with everything you need, including the cap that screws on to the reservoir.

Remember, that if your home-made cap pops off, you may have brake fluid flying about the place...all over your car's paint.

Brake fluid will damage paint.