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I just read the article about brake bleeding in the latest issue of Bimmer Magazine (May 2005) and the author recommeded pressure bleeders, I have a Motive Products bleeder and it works very well.

In addition, the author had a bleeder he liked better than pressure bleeders, a power vacuum bleeder, the Vacula Basic bleeder which you can see by going to products on the linked site. This bleeding method offers a couple of advantages, and the bleeder can be used to evacuate the brake fluid reservoir as well as the braking and clutch hydraulic systems.

The main drawback is cost, the Vacula bleeder costs in the $170-250.00 range, quite a bit more than the Motive Products pressure unit. Still, it may do a better job, particularly with Antilock Braking Systems.

Check out the Bimmer article, Brake Fluid Changes Made Simple when your issue comes, it even explains the pedal pump fluid change method.

You can make a dead-nuts copy of the Motive with a spare res cap, a pump-up garden sprayer, some clear tubing and a couple brass pressure fittings. Costs about $25. Go big time and add a pressure gauge for another $5.

Tony

Let's see if I have this right.

You paid 30 dollars, that's $30.00 US, for something I bought already assembled for $42.00 (now $49.00). But wait, did you figure your hours into the figures? How about the gas to go get the parts?

I did figure in those other costs, and there is no way that I could buy and put together anything that resembled the Motive Products pressure bleeder. Take my advice, everyone, pay them what they want if you want a pressure bleeder, your car takes enough of your time keeping it running or making it run better, don't go into the amateur brake bleeder business, there really isn't a method to make it pay. :p

(edit) I forgot, if you have an Uncle Vinnie that's in the olive oil business and has an extra two quart garden sprayer with an indentation for a pressure gauge, and gives you one, you will be able to build a cheap brake bleeder, in a few hours, right after you find the extra brake reservoir cap and drill a hole in it, and all the rest.

[Edit by fastpat on [TIME]1110090254[/TIME]]

I've got to agree with Pat on this one Tony. I'm pretty damn cheap when it comes to buying something I can make myself. When I looked at what I could get ready to go, and it was only a few bucks more then assembling one myself, I bought the Motive.
It has always worked fine for me. I use it on all my cars even the antilock ones.
Bob

[QUOTE="Michael"]What are you guys talking about, have your significant other pump the brakes. [/QUOTE]

Oh please. Women don't know how to pump brakes! :p

The brake pumping way is a pretty good way to bleed brakes, but a pressure or vacuum bleeder is the best way to be sure you've gotten all of the air out.

IMHO the relative merits of building vs. buying a pressure bleeder are individually subjective.

Even with a small differential in $$ for a small project like that, my own preference is to build the thing. I take some form of satisfaction in creating/modifying/repairing schtuff. Now, in the case of MAJOR PITA type tasks I find myself sometimes more willing to pay for and remove myself from the mundane actions of the job. Not usually automotive repair stuff, but other things.

Also,

As far as "pump the brake" bleeding, there is a school of thought that says that significant damage can occur to your master cylinder seals using this method. When one cycles the piston through a near full stroke with hydraulic resistance/pressure removed or reduced, the seal travels across a section of cylinder wall which it never normally touches. The normal region of travel experiences polishing over time that this "deeper" section is not, and when one passes the seal repeatedly (during the bleeding) over the slightly less smooth area, the seal can become damaged at its lip and more prone to leakage or failure.

Having said all of that, I have certainly done such bleeding over the years and can't say that I have experienced premature seal failure. But it HAS been argued that it is possible.

I have also used vacuum bleeders, although perhaps not the one described by Pat, and I don't think I prefer them. I find that they extract in a very bubbly manner, which I find somewhat disconcerting. I much prefer a smooth ejection of fluid, so that I can more easily see the color and/or bubbliness of what comes out.

just my .02

Andrew.

OTOH, if you've got time on your hands (Bleeding brakes is a leisure time activity for you guys, isn't it?), use what God gave ya: gravity.

Oh; you're in a hurry? Never mind.

[QUOTE="fastpat"]In addition, the author had a bleeder he liked better than pressure bleeders, a power vacuum bleeder, the Vacula Basic bleeder which you can see by going to products on the linked site. This bleeding method offers a couple of advantages, and the bleeder can be used to evacuate the brake fluid reservoir as well as the braking and clutch hydraulic systems.

The main drawback is cost, the Vacula bleeder costs in the $170-250.00 range, quite a bit more than the Motive Products pressure unit. Still, it may do a better job, particularly with Antilock Braking Systems.[/QUOTE]
My mechanic buddy has the vacuum-type bleeder - supposedly less traumatic on older brake seals, etc., but it might be propaganda from the traveling parts salesman. It's as easy to use as the Motive-type.