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Tools to bleed brakes and clutch master cylinder

Best tools to bleed brakes and clutch master cylinder

Forget about bleeding brakes by pumping the pedal. That’s a great way to get air into the ABS valves. If that happens you might need a scan tool to force the ABS system into a self bleed. Instead, here are the best tools to bleed brakes and clutch master cylinder

How to use a vacuum pump to bleed brake caliper or wheel cylinder

Buy or rent a hand vacuum kit like this.

Hand operated vacuum kit Mityvac MITMV8500 Silverline Elite Automotive Vacuum Pump Kit

Mityvac MITMV8500 Silverline Elite Automotive Vacuum Pump Kit

Attach the collector cup to the pump and run a clear PVC vacuum hose to the bleeder screw on the brake caliper or wheel cylinder. Operate the pump to pull a vacuum. Then crack the bleeder screw and remove fluid until you no longer see air bubbles.

Use a handheld vacuumm pump, collector cup and vacuum hose to bleed brakes

Hand held vacuum pump, collector cup and bleed hose

 

 

 

 

 

 

This procedure works well IF you don’t have air in the master cylinder or the ABS valves. If you let the system run dry, you can use the vacuum pump for hours and never get a firm pedal because it’s almost impossible to suck air bubbles down from the master cylinder and ABS valves. If you run into that situation, you’ll need to do a reverse flush to force the air bubbles UP.

Tools to bleed bleed brakes and clutch master cylinder in reverse

Buy or rent a reverse brake and clutch bleeding tool like the Phoenix Systems 2104-BOT V-5 shown here. The kit includes a hand operated pump that can be set up to pull

Image of Phoenix Systems 2104-BOT V-5 brake and clutch reverse bleed kit

Phoenix Systems 2104-BOT V-5 vacuum and reverse bleed kit for brakes and clutch systems

a vacuum OR as a fluid forcing pump. In the fluid forcing mode, the pump draws brake fluid from the bottle and forces it backwards through the brake or clutch bleeder screws. That method applies pressure to the air bubbles, forcing them UP through the ABS valves and master cylinder. See the images below to understand how it works.

Four procedures to remove air from brake caliper, wheel cylinder, ABS valve, brake master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder and clutch master cylinder

images of four way to bleed brakes and bleed clutch master cylinder

Four methods for removing air bubbles from brake lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, ABS valve, clutch slave cylinder and clutch master cylinder

© 2012 Rick Muscoplat

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