forhamilton

I was recently told by a technician that you need a power bleeder. Does anyone do it the old fashioned way? Suck the old fluid out. Pour in new fluid. Get help to push pedal to floor while opening line until clear fluid comes out.

I'm about to swap my pads and do a brake fluid bleed/flush. Thanks!

redmonkey928

Just did the clutch, no problems doing it the old fashioned way.

Had the power bleeder on hand and ready if need be but it is all relatively easy.

CosmosMpower

I do it the old fashioned way, power bleeder can be kind of messy. The best way I've seen at a shop was a device that sucks fluid through the caliper, just keep the reservoir topped up with clean fluid as you go.

audipwr1

How'd you get up there to the bleed nipple for clutch I tried with car on jack stands and gave up

redmonkey928

I will be down at the shop this afternoon and get the exact tool used, but I believe it was just an open-ended wrench.

We used a hoist and lifted the car so you could stand under it and got up around the bell housing to open it. Used a clear plastic tube to avoid draining down the housing and into a catch bottle.

Open/closed/pumped the clutch, and the person below would close/open the bleed screw until we got a solid clutch and no air. Feels solid after.

Two people was definitely the way to go, recommended if anyone is looking to do this but I am sure it can be done many ways.

audipwr1

Yeah lift would change the game materially to get at it

AEsco48

Power Bleeder (pressure at the master cylinder tank) is basically the same as old fashion but you don't need to have two people/person to close the nipple to prevent fluid from being sucked back in when you lift of the brake pedal (still best to lift slowly). That and you don't have to fill the tank so often. Never spilled a drop of fluid with my power bleeder.

I dont like the idea of the systems that suck fluid from the bleeder nipple, they can suck air from around the bleeder screw threads. Plus you don't get the fluid flow rate (that can dislodge any air bubbles clinging to the brake fluid passages) that you get from pushing the pedal (on top of tapping the calipers with a mallet).

BartN (TX)

I've done the bleeding the old fashion way many, many times on my car. Very effective, however somewhat recently went to a pressure bleeder and now don't have to wait on my wife to commit to sitting in the 100% garage and push the pedal.

Do you have a specific question about the manual method, or just asking if it works ok?

24Chromium

Whenever I see the pro and am teams at the races, that's the way they all do it... a two-man job the old fashioned way!

edwin814

I prefer the old fashion way

forhamilton

Yes. My question is can you help?

AEsco48

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BartN (TX)

Sure, drop by my house tomorrow after work and we'll get it done.

Gadsby

Old school works awesome, get the best fluid based on your use. 1 current improvement is the vented catch bottles keep things relatively clean

PCA1983

Me too, but I get a lot of complaining from my wife!