DIY Pressure bleeder - Easiest project Evar

[Den]

2-Gal Flo-Master spotted @ WalMart today for $15.

[Den]

. . .and this aluminum adapter cap with rubber gasket would solve any leakage problems. A lil' pricey at $25, but it looks like a nice piece.

http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=2123

Total cost would be more than you could buy one for. . .

http://www.bimmerparts.com/item.wws?catpk=&sku=POWERBLEEDER&qty=1&mfr=MOTIVE&storepk=300033&price=43.98&cookieID=2DS1FFPOI2DS1FFPOH&clientid=bimmerparts.com

MOTIVE POWER BRAKE BLEEDER
List Price:
Your Price: $ 49.95
Sale Price: $43.98

but it would be kickass like this one:

http://www.apexperformance.net/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=949&cid=8

[jw 325ic]

made one about a month ago, handy tool. solved my girls "lost clutch" in 15 mins. my tank was a little different, only think i had to do was fashion a late model GM cap to a fitting in the cap(some drilling) and rtv all air leaks. worked like a damn charm. definitely the best choice compared to a $60+ piece at any of these parts places.

[Den]

Modifications, which I'll be doing but haven't done yet-
-Add a tube of some sort to the inside of the reservoir cap off the threads so that when the pressure is relieved in the tank, it will siphon the fluid out of the reservoir to the proper fill level rather than leaving it overflowing.

http://www.apexperformance.net/cartgenie/pg_brakebleeder.asp

Directions for using the POWER BLEEDER
. . .
9. If fluid remains in the Power Bleeder tank when through: tip the tank away from fluid pick-up tube and open bleed valve closest to the master cylinder. Allow air to flow into fluid reservoir until fluid level falls just to the maximum fill level on your reservoir. Close the bleed valve and tighten to specified torque.

It seems like the whole procedure could also be done this way. Just use air to pressurize your fluid reservoir, and refill the reservoir and repressurize it for each brake line or as much as necessary. . .just like you would refill it if you were bleeding by pumping the brake pedal. This would not be as smooth a manuever, but the only thing that might leak out of your bleeder would be air. I read that this technique began with guys at the track using air in a spare tire to pressure bleed the brakes for a quick fluid change.

[Den]

Okay, lessee. . .I think I understand why Justin likes the Flo-Master, but the tubing on the 2-Gal Flo was not 1/4" ID, and I didn't want to bother matching my tubing size to theirs just so that I could connect the two tubes with a double barb. I found a $10 sprayer at Lowe's that has a simple nipple for attaching the spray hose(Chapin 1-Gal.), rather than the complex screw fitting that the Flo-Master uses. I put some 1/4" ID tubing directly on the bottle's nipple with a hose clamp, and attached the other end to the 1/4" barb in my adapter cap, also secured with a hose clamp. 1 tube.

I drilled out the adapter cap with progressively larger bits until the barb would just barely fit into it by screwing it in and held it it a vise while I screwed it in all the way with a wrench. This connection is probably air-tight, but I put a bead of silicon on it anyhow when I was making the seal on the inside of the cap.

The cap is the trick. A Volvo cap with a gasket would be nice, but none of the local junkyards would sell me one. You would probably have to get this at a "pull & pay" DIY yard. The $4 cap AutoZone has for later model GM's is the wrong one. The desired cap #42035 is for 87-90 GM's. Advance Auto has it for $5.48, but it's a 2-day special order. I finally found it at Pep Boys for $6.99.

I went to Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, and True Value(best price on threaded barbs, BTW, $1.29.) Nobody has a barb that swivels. You might be able to achieve this with another type of connector, but it's really not worth the effort to find these parts. The rotation of the hose is only an issue when screwing on the cap. With plenty of tubing between the sprayer and cap, the rotation just makes the tubing coil up a lil'. BFD.

I dunno if adding a pressure gauge is worth the effort either. The E30 Bently manual has a page on pressure bleeding. It says to use 12-15 psi, but don't exceed 28 psi. I dunno if I can guesstimate 12psi, but I'm pretty sure I know what 28 psi feels like on a hand pump. That's like trying to pump up a tire.

I just used air to pressurize the master cylinder and topped off the brake fluid as necessary, so my sprayer is clean & dry, and I don't have to worry about brake fluid eating the seals or over filling the reservoir. I would at least start off this way because air leaks are easier to clean up than brake fluid leaks. :D

[BDSax]

wow, i wish i thought of that, i spent $60 on mine. even thought its worth every penny

[87-325ic]

Ive been having trouble finding a cap that fits.. noone around here seems to carry the Help! PN 42035, nor do they even have "late model gm caps"..

any suggestions..

[deutschman]

just built one today to use on my '02. i have not gotten a cap yet and will try and find one that fits on my 'o2 tomorrow. ill post a picture of the finished product.

[3bvert]

thanks for adding something to my to do list ;)

[ColdAccord]

Good way to save a few bucks

[deutschman]

here we go. sorry for the bad cell phone pics. my mom took my camera to india for a month.
so i kept the spray nozzle thing on it so that i could start and stop the flow of fluid when ever i wanted. i could not find a bolt on valve stem so i just got one of the push in ones and epoxyed the shit out of it. turned out great and has no leaks at all.

[idanity]

this is why i love the forums so much.

kuddos

now, we need to make the ultimate one w/steel braided lines and slap a roundel on it.

[Sean]

I made one but it leaks through the threads on the cap (doesn't come through the hole I made - but literally through there the cap threads on). Is it because I didn't put enough silicon where that pressure notch is? I'm kinda fed up, ready to buy one tomorrow cause not being able to bleed my brakes to save $30 isn't worth it to me. lol

[Axxe]

I know this is an old bump, but the easiest way that I can think of to make it all swivel is to use quick connect air line fittings. That way it's:

cap --> 1/4" air line quick connect (male) --> 1/4" air line quick connect (female) --> 1/4" NPT to barb --> hose.

[tinkerputzer]

A swivel would be nice but I don't think it's all that necessary. If you don't want the line to get twisted up while screwing on the pressure bleeder cap just rotate it a few turns in the counter clockwise direction before installing it.

Also for those having problems with brake fluid leaking out the pressure bleeder reservoir cap there is a simple solution. Take the seal from the cars reservoir cap and temporarily install it on the pressure bleeder cap.

One problem I ran into while bleeding my car is when the reservoir is under pressure it will cause brake fluid to leak from the seals between the reservoir and the master cylinder. The leak can be avoided by installing a zip tie around the reservoir and the master cylinder to snug them up.