just wondering if speed bleeders are worth it and what your guys opinions about them? Thanks

 

i dont have speed bleeders but i have this thing from a motorcycle shop that's used for bleeding brakes

it's just a hose with a check valve in it, and you just pump the brakes and dont have to worry about air going back in since it's a 1 way valve, so far it works great and was worth the 10 bucks

i bought it from cycle gear, any motorcycle shop should have it

edit: this is the exact part i'm talking about

http://cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?...r2=14

 

I had a set and I didn't like them. The pedal was just never as firm when using the speedbleeders. I have actually had a friend push the pedal for me and watched the bleeders and I could see fluid move from the tube back into the bleeder/caliper when they came off the pedal.

I eventually went back to stock bleeder screws and just make a buddy push the pedal for me.

 

I never have had a problem with mine.
They work great and make bleeds at the track a snap to perform.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I never have had a problem with mine.
They work great and make bleeds at the track a snap to perform.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

some love them, some hate them. me-i have enough brake problems. i dont need somehting else to add into the equation.

 

I heard far to many horror stories...so I went with a Motive Products Power Bleeder. Unfortunately I can't really comment on it because I haven't used it yet.

 

I like them, haven't had any issues yet.

 

I like mine as well.

Might need to replace them every few years, but mine are going on 4 years use and still work great.

 

the only issue i find wiht those one-man bleeder type hoses that have a check vavle in it, is that the threads on the stock bleeders are far from sealed, so air can go in through there no problem.

not sure if that affects much, but i don't chance it, i either vacuum bleed it, or old fashion 2 man bleed it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eddiebx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the only issue i find wiht those one-man bleeder type hoses that have a check vavle in it, is that the threads on the stock bleeders are far from sealed, so air can go in through there no problem..</TD></TR></TABLE>

would some teflon tape help/fix that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pos_cd5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

would some teflon tape help/fix that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i would imagine it should, but i dont know how teflon reacts to brake fluid so i never bothered.

i konw those russels speed bleeders ome with some like thread sealent type stuff on the threads to prevent the air leaking through so the speedbleeders work effectively.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Type_RS_59 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I heard far to many horror stories...so I went with a Motive Products Power Bleeder. Unfortunately I can't really comment on it because I haven't used it yet.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto. I bought one of these and it works great, as long as you have room above the master cylinder for the cap and hose. Be sure you order the right one, else the cap won't fit your master cylinder threads.

 

I've been using the speed bleeders for 5-6 years and like them. I started having issues with them leaking around the threads a little after switching to new calipers and tried a few wraps of teflon tape. It worked fine. Brake fluid should have no effect on the tape, teflon is a very inert material unless overheated. On the screw, there should be no issues since it takes 500-600 degF to overheat teflon and I don't expect it to get that hot there.

 

never had issues with leaking with speed bleeders.

I will suggest that the bleeders and SS lines be replaced every 4 years of daily driving.

At 5-6 year I blew a LF Goodridge SS line, then the bleeders were clogged up. I was doing yearly flushes in the spring for Autox.

You can make your own power bleeder....old cap and a shrader valve, did it on old GM's when I was a kid.

 

I've had some pretty significant issues with Speed Bleeders on my wagon, but it was mainly fitment related. We've mostly resolved those - their customer service is indeed pretty good.

But the fact remains that I have two busted bleeders stuck in my front calipers. They're pretty fragile.

 

i have my wife. she's the fastest speed bleeder i know.. she just needs to switch legs every now and then...

oh yeah, more relevent note: i'm installing them on my F150 soon. hope the work good. i'll find out then.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-AT_me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">oh yeah, more relevent note: i'm installing them on my F150 soon. hope the work good. i'll find out then. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Use only a six-point exact-size wrench, and tighten very carefully. About a quarter of the force you'd think is "lightly snug."

 

i just do the gravity bleed and i've never had a problem

 

what "speed bleeders" are people using?

The cheap Speed Bleeders did look like junk, I was using the older Russell units.

Local Pep Boys put them on clearance for $3 a pair, I bought a bunch of the "metric" units.

3956 and 3952 part numbers ring a bell.

Guess since they were bought out it's now 639560 and 639520

http://www.russellperformance....shtml

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marshun &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just do the gravity bleed and i've never had a problem</TD></TR></TABLE>

gravity bleed? unless your talking about something other than the tradition method, gravity isnt whats bleeding your brakes, the pressure created by the matser cylinder is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mista Bone &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what "speed bleeders" are people using?

The cheap Speed Bleeders did look like junk, I was using the older Russell units.

Local Pep Boys put them on clearance for $3 a pair, I bought a bunch of the "metric" units.

3956 and 3952 part numbers ring a bell.

Guess since they were bought out it's now 639560 and 639520

http://www.russellperformance....shtml</TD></TR></TABLE>

from what i was told by a Speed-Bleeder distrubutor the patent for the design is owned by speed-bleeder, and they manufacturer the speed-bleeders sold by others, including Russells. i dont know if thats true or not though, maybe he was just trying to sell me his bleeders

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Splat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Use only a six-point exact-size wrench, and tighten very carefully. About a quarter of the force you'd think is "lightly snug."</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks for the tips. i will definately remember to do so.

 

I picked up a set of Russell Speed Bleeders and I noticed that none of my metric wrenches had a good fit. I ended up using a standard wrench instead. I think it was a 3/8" but I could be wrong.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by champwhiteEG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just wondering if speed bleeders are worth it and what your guys opinions about them? Thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>
I have been using them for four years with no problems.

There's a couple of ways to misuse them and get into trouble.

The most frequent abuse comes from not believing that they are closed, and over torquing them to the point that you strip something and render them leaky.

Another problem is that they stick out enough from an OEM caliper that people will tend to try to screw in the housing too much, and cause damage to the caliper.

As long as you are careful and thoughtful, I think they are so much help to single man brake bleeding that it belies the possible difficulties.

For whatever one old man's opinion is worth.