Re: Vacuum brake bleeding kits

["jtrealtywebspannet" <jtrealty@xxxx>]

I have tried may different ways to bleed brakes and vacuum is the 
least preferred way. When you try to use vacuum you take the chance of 
introducing air and contaiminants into the system or at least the 
bleeder. The bleeder screws were not deseigned to be used in that 
manner. Some advice was to remove the bleeder screw and "grease it up" 
and reinstall loosly but I never had luck with this method, I always 
seem to pull air I think at the bleeder screw. Besides if there is any 
crud in the bleeder screw it doesn't work at all.
Pressure is the best way and the "Poor Man's" way is with an 
assistant. Short of that there is a cheap device that consists of a 
short piece of hose with a small plastic check valve. Use a small 
container with some fluid in it so you don't pull any air back in. The 
procedure is to do the master cylinder first, then front left, front 
right , rear left then rear right and repeat at least once. Make sure 
the fluid runs clear, which is why you really should watch as you 
bleed. A pressure bleeder is the the best way to go if you can afford 
it. NEVER mix brands of brake fluid and always use sealed cans. Get a 
kid to help you and all you have to promise him is a ride! The owner's 
manual says to change the brake fluid and clutch every 2 years. 
Current wisdom is to only use Castrol GTLMA Dot 4 as it seems the most 
compliant with the materiels used in the brake system. You should be 
able to find it in any large auto supply that handles the Castrol 
brand which is reletively popular. Dot 5 silicone does not absorb 
moisture but has a problem of dissolved air which increases 
compressability and on many older cars (Deloreans not included) 
increases brake pedal travel to the extent that to stop you have to 
pump the brakes, not what you want in a panic stop! It is very 
expensive and if mixed with any other DOT like 3 or 4 now you have to 
dump the whole system dissasemble, flush, and reassemble!
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757



--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Hank Eskin" <heskin@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> I need to bleed my brakes, and today I picked up a $25 vacuum
> pump/one-person-brake-bleeding kit at Autozone. What are peoples' 
opinions
> about these type of kits, do they do the same job as a traditional 
two-man
> brake bleeding procedure, and is there anything I should look out 
for when
> using this kit?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Hank Eskin #1619