Learning the hard way on a $60 brake bleeder kit

Picked up a cheap vacuum brake bleeder from AutoZone a few months back. Worked okay for the first job, but the plastic reservoir cracked on the second use and left me with a mess. I should have just saved up for the Motive Products pressure bleeder at $120 or so. Anyone else have luck with those cheaper kits or am I just unlucky?

2 comments

2 Comments

finleyf8827d ago

The miata clutch bleed thing is actually a pretty good example but I gotta push back a little on ABS systems. Cheap vacuum bleeders won't mess up your ABS module or anything like that, they just can't pull enough vacuum to get all the air out of the longer lines and the modulator. I had a 2002 Subaru that needed a full brake flush after I replaced the master cylinder, and my $50 Mityvac just couldn't get the pedal firm until I borrowed a buddies pressure bleeder. The check valve issue you mentioned is real though, I had a cheap one where the plastic valve would stick open if the fluid got even a little warm.

the_joseph27d agoMost Upvoted

My first cheap bleeder actually lasted through 3 cars before the hose fitting stripped out. What got me was the harbor freight one that worked great until the check valve started sticking and letting air back in during a clutch bleed on my miata. I'd say it really depends on what you're working on, for simple caliper bleeds those cheap ones are fine but anything with a long pedal stroke or multiple bleed cycles like ABS systems they just cant handle it.