Brake bleeding is a maintenance procedure performed on hydraulic brakes to remove air bubbles so that your brakes can perform safely and effectively. Most experts recommend bleeding your car brakes every 2 to 3 years to keep them in a good condition.
The braking system needs bleeding when changing brake fluid or any other part associated with the braking system of your vehicle. A brake bleeder kit is a specialized tool for bleeding brakes.
As a car owner, you can choose to bleed your brakes professionally or bleed brakes by yourself as long as you have the right bleeding kit and know how to bleed brakes. Here’s a short guide on how to bleed brakes.
How to bleed your brakes.
- Reach the bleeder screw by jacking up your vehicle and going underneath.
- Pick the brake bleeder wrench that fits the screw, and loosen the screw.
- Place a small piece of flexible hose over the end of the bleeder screw and place the other end of the hose in the jar.
- Then fill the jar with brake fluid to cover the end of the hose. If you don’t have anything that fits over the bleeder screw, just keep the jar near the nozzle so that any fluid that squirts out lands in the jar.
- Get someone to help slowly pump your brake pedal a few times. Have them say “Down” when pressing the brake pedal down and “Up” when releasing it. After the pedal is being pumped a few times and being held down, open the bleeder screw, brake fluid will squirt out. If there is air in your brake lines, air bubbles will be in the fluid. Before releasing the brake pedal, tighten the bleeder screw. Failure to do so sucks air back into the brake lines when the pedal is released.
- If you have a power bleeder kit however, the above step is unnecessary. The power bleeder will provide the pumping pressure that you need, and so you can bleed your brakes alone.
- Open your master cylinder and add more brake fluid until the level reaches the “Full” line.
- Bleed it at the point where the brake lines attach to the cylinder or at the master cylinder’s bleeder nozzle.
- Repeat this process with each brake until the air is out of each brake line.
- Always add brake fluid to the master cylinder after you bleed each brake.
- After you bring the brake fluid level in the master cylinder back to the “Full” level for the last time, drive the vehicle around the block. At this point the brake pedal should no longer feel spongy when you press it. If it does, the process should be repeated.
Brake System Power Bleeder for Most Late Model GM Cars and Trucks
- Built-in Hand Pump
- Does not require any external pressure source
- Comes with everything you need to bleed your brake or clutch systems.
- Does not fit many Japanese and European vehicles, so will need another adapter
- LIt is very light, weighing only 2.5 pounds, and looks fragile.
Amazon.com
ARES 70921-2-Liter Manual Brake Fluid Pressure Bleeder
This is a reliable pressure brake bleeder that is easy to use and comes with a 2-liter capacity tank for added convenience. This tank is big enough to store new brake fluid as you empty out the old fluid. It can be used by one person and relies on hand pump operation to fill in fluid into your car’s brake system.
Once you connect the adapter to the master cylinder reservoir, all you need to do is start pumping, and you will have your fluid reservoir refilled in a few minutes. The ARES 70921-2-liter Manual Brake Fluid Pressure Bleeder also has a pressure gauge that you can use to monitor the amount of pressure being used. It is designed for use with disc or drum brakes.
The Ares 70921 pressure builder is slightly larger than a lot of other similar products available in the market and this might make storage a bit of an issue. The Ares bleeder includes a hanging hook to hold on to as you pump it, so it does not really support any form of hands-free operation.
- Works on a wide range of vehicles
- The pressure gauge allows you to monitor system pressure with greater accuracy
- Master cylinder adapter fits a wide variety of makes and models.
- Easy to operate
- Comes with a 2litre tank for brake fluid storage
- Operation is a bit slow
- Not as versatile as pistol grip pumping systems
Amazon.co.uk
Brake Bleeding Kit MV8000 and Automotive Tune-up
This is a high-quality and affordable brake bleeder kit, quite popular amongst car owners, diagnostic service providers, and professional mechanics around the world.
One person is enough to serve for brake bleeding. This MV8000 vacuum kit includes the necessary accessories, it has the Beltline hand vacuum pump to pump brakes, tire adapters, and tube rubber capped adapters for pipe connections from .090”.
With this kit, one can easily bleed a clutch or a brake with accuracy and control, and without having any air gap in between. Also, the kit has a reservoir of the universal size, which makes it easy to use, so you will have no problem using this brake bleeder kit on any clutch or braking system.
- One finger lever vacuum release with a manual vacuum pump
- Universally compatible with any brake system
- One of the most popular brake bleeding kits
- Beginner-friendly Includes durable, highly accurate, and sensitive pressure gauge.
- Field serviceable- service parts and kits available.
- Expensive kit
- There may be noise while working.
Ebay.co.uk
HTOMT Brake Bleeder Kit
HTOMT Brake Bleeder Kit for Automotive is a reliable, one-person brake bleeding kit
The kit includes a vacuum pump with a pressure gauge, reservoir jar, four different lengths of tubes, and adaptors designed to fit just about any standard vehicle.
All components fit snugly into the included foam tool case which is easy to transport and hard to damage. The HTOMT Vacuum Pump Test Set works for bleeding brakes, pumping out fluid in the master cylinder, and pumping out power steering fluid. It makes changing brake fluid and power steering fluid quick and easy.
The kit includes three different brake bleeder valve adapters. Conveniently, you can store the adapters, and the rest of the kit, inside the durable blow-mold case for easy transportation, and to keep all the pieces together. The HTOMT brake bleeder kit is the best overall choice for most DIY mechanics.
- Pros
- Universally compatible with most vehicles
- Easy to use and very affordable
- One person brake bleeding kit
- Kit Includes adapters for most vehicles
- All tools fit into a rugged portable carrying case
- Fits most cars, trucks, and motorcycles
- Durable, long-lasting construction
- The vacuum could be slow sometimes
- Requires air compressor for usage
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
HTOMT Brake Bleeder Kit for Automotive
HTOMT 2 In 1 Brake Bleeder Kit Handheld Vacuum Pump Test Set uses pressurized brake fluid to force air and old fluid out of your brake lines. It is a master cylinder bleeder kit professionally designed to provide superior durability and works on most late model GM cars and light trucks.
The kit comes with an adapter 1108, including a flexible tube for bleeding your brake system. The bayonet-type adapter pushes on to the master cylinder reservoir and locks with a twist. This kit makes it easy to connect the adapter and bleed your brakes.
It comes with everything you need to bleed your brakes or clutch system. The adapter that comes with this bleeder kit also fits Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Saturn. No pressure source is needed with this power bleeder as it is operated by hand and it features a precision pressure gauge to ensure safe and effective operation.
- Beginner-friendly
- Compatible with all types of American-made vehicles like GM or Ford.
- Can be used on almost vehicles, big or small
- Pressure gauge for ease of use
- Comes with necessary attachments
- Fully manual pressure pump
- The hose provided with this brake bleeder kit is short
- Not designed to work with Japanese brake systems.
Amazon.co.uk
Copap Brake Bleeder & Vacuum Pump for Car & Truck
This vacuum brake bleeder kit comes with a carrying case for easy storage and convenient transportation as well as a vacuum gauge located at the top of the piston pump.
This makes it easy to read out the pressure, with an ideal pressure range: 0-30in hg, 0-760 mm Hg. The gauge is made of pressure-proof salinity, so it continues working even under high pressure.
While it does not come with a universal adapter, the COPAP 16pcs Brake Bleeder And Vacuum Pump Tool Kit do have several separate adapters that can work on most makes and models of vehicles. The hose is fairly long.
- The affordable and versatile kit can be enjoyed by beginners and experienced automobile owners
- The high strength copper barrel and the metal shell will not start corroding or forming rust patches with time
- Handheld vacuum pump enables you to bleed your car brakes yourself
- Compatible with most automotive braking systems.
- This bleeder kit comes with a carrying case
- A single person can easily control this manual vacuum pump to test the vacuum of the car
- The jar is too small to draw enough fluid
Amazon.co.uk
Ebay.co.uk
CARSC Hand Held Vacuum Pump Tester Kit with Adapter
A multifunctional vacuum pump used to test a variety of essential vehicle settings and operations by using some of the included accessory caps and fittings. The kit includes accessories for both brake bleeding and automotive diagnosis.
The CARSC Handheld Vacuum Pump Tester can test and diagnose a wide range of parts and general-purpose system on any vehicle. The universal design makes this kit suitable for all vehicles regardless of models and brands, including the brake bleeding of motorcycles.
It can also be used to test various basic operations and installations of vehicles. This product can also serve as a brake bleeder.
- Quality materials adopted to make the product sturdy and durable.
- Comes with a custom-made toolbox.
- Suction power is a little low
Amazon.co.uk
YSTOOL Professional Brake and Clutch Fluid Bleeder Tool Kit
YSTOOL brake and clutch oil change toolsets are widely suitable for professional workshops and your own garage, to change brake clutch fluid and flush the air from the brake system. The YSTOOL Professional Brake And Clutch Fluid Bleeder Tool Kit can also be used for ABS systems but will require different operating steps.
Do not attempt to use the tool on any other liquid, as contamination of brake fluid and possible brake system failure may result. Please read the instruction carefully before use.
The kit includes a 1L waste oil collection bottle, with a 13″L chain, which can be hooked on the brake. Work the 13″L bleeder hose with universal cone suction nozzle, collect the waste oil from wheel cylinders and calipers.
- Can be used for ABS systems.
- Suitable for both professional and DIY use.
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Comes equipped with only a European-style connector for European cars
Accessories
Conclusion
To bleed your brakes, you need a good brake bleeder kit. However, getting the appropriate bleeding kit can be a bit of a problem considering the wide variety available on the market, hence this guide. In this article, we reviewed some of the best bleeder kits you can find online.
