Speedbleeders

[chuckerants]

I just finished bleeding my brakes and clutch. I installed new Speedbleeders and man oh man are they easy. They really are as easy as they say.

The hardest thing about the whole process is making sure you don't spill the brake fluid anywhere under the hood. That and jacking the car up and taking the wheels off. It goes a whole lot faster if you have a compressor and an impact wrench.

Though the brakes were really easy to do, the clutch kinda freaked me out because there is no pressure on the clutch pedal when you start bleeding it. But, once you tighten the bleeder, it feels ok again.

I bought the whole "kit" with the hose and the bag. I may cheap out and clean the hose and the bag to use next year. I used ATE Super Blue this time so I can see the new fluid. Next time, I'll use the ATE Super Gold for the same reason.

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

The sizes should be the same for all years, but please verify before ordering.

Front....SB8100
Rear.....SB7100
Clutch...SB7100

I think the whole thing took me about two hours including clean up and test drive.

[bogey]

I put speed bleeders on during my last brake job and it was quite simple to flush the whole system. It sure beats the vacuum pump I have.

[Kyp J]

I wonder why they only list 90-97 for Miata?

What is the diffeence between the front and back bleeder?

I will probably find out in a couple of days when I change rotors, hoses and pads. I wish I had seen this when I ordered my stuff, now I don't have time to get them unless somebody like NAPA carries them.

[Curiousgb]

Speed bleeders are a godsend. Really makes bleeding brakes a one man job. Don't forget to get one for the clutch as well.

[BlownMX5]

+1 on Speedbleeders. But, of the 5 I own, 2 of them had to be replaced due to bad check valves. One of mine is still a bit flaky.

Pat.

[Race Grandpa]

How often do you guys bleed your brakes? Seems it would be when you have "major" brake work.

[BlownMX5]

I bleed them before every track day. I don't necessarily flush the lines completely, I just want to make sure that there isn't any fluid in the calipers that has gotten real hot from the previous track day.

Pat.

[Kyp J]

I bleed them before every track day. I don't necessarily flush the lines completely, I just want to make sure that there isn't any fluid in the calipers that has gotten real hot from the previous track day.

Pat.

I had been wondering how you check for the air bubbles while pushing the brake peddle during bleeding. In the situation described above there wouldn't be any so I guess you just pump however many times for that much volume and go on. In that case it sounds like a good thing to have.

For brake work I don't see how it would help.

[chuckerants]

I had been wondering how you check for the air bubbles while pushing the brake peddle during bleeding. In the situation described above there wouldn't be any so I guess you just pump however many times for that much volume and go on. In that case it sounds like a good thing to have.

For brake work I don't see how it would help.

The instructions say to pump the brakes 4~5 times to get any air out of the brakes. Using 1 liter of the ATE Super Blue, I re-bled the brakes as I got the bleed order wrong and I still have about 1/4 of that liter can left. So, I'd pump those brakes as many times as you think it's necessary.

Also, the last time I bled my brakes was when I installed my Axxis Ultimates pads almost two years ago. I'll probably change the pads again next year and bleed the brakes again then.

[Kyp J]

I had been wondering how you check for the air bubbles while pushing the brake peddle during bleeding. In the situation described above there wouldn't be any so I guess you just pump however many times for that much volume and go on. In that case it sounds like a good thing to have.

For brake work I don't see how it would help.

I quote myself to disagree with what I wrote before:

What would be good about the speed bleeders while using the conventional procedure requiring a hoser and a pumper is the coordinated pause on the pump action to close the bleeder. The hoser could just monitor bubbles and handle his hose.

I could use a third person to monitor the reservoir. I just changed my rubber hoses for steel which required a lot of pumping. A vacuum bleeder would have been handy. However, I let the reservoir go too long and put a bunch of air in from the top end. puh puh puh poop. Had to go buy another can of fluid.

[BlownMX5]

The hoser could just monitor bubbles and handle his hose.

Wait for it... :yes:




I always get a little air out every time I bleed them. But really, the Speedbleeders just make the job so easy, it's no big deal to do it frequently.


Raise car; remove wheels
Loosen Speedbleeder 1/4 turn and attach hose/bag
Pump brake 7 or 8 times
Fill reservoir if necessary
Remove hose; tighten Speedbleeder
Repeat next wheel
Replace wheels; lower car


The best part is that I don't have to involve the SO which almost always started an argument somehow. It was a lot like trying to paddle a two-person kayak. Someone's feelings always got hurt :boxing_smiley:.

Pat.

[Serpico]

"The best part is that I don't have to involve the SO which almost always started an argument somehow. It was a lot like trying to paddle a two-person kayak. Someone's feelings always got hurt ."

YUP! Been there, done that....

I will install the speedbleeders on my next car as well. What a great invention!

[maggie]

It's time to change fluids. My brakes aren't performing and at first I thought it was a vacuum problem but notice that once the fluid and brakes heat up is when the performance decreases. Finding this thread by accident was too cool. I'll be ordering a set of speedbleeders today. Before I start I wondered if anyone with the factory big brakes has replaced their brake lines with braided stainless. All of the vendors seem to have the lines for all but the big brakes. What difference is there between the brake lines?

[maggie]

Recanting the big brake availability...it was over a year ago when I last looked at the SS brake lines. There are now a few options to choose from. I'm still curious about the difference.

[ROZ]

I had SS hoses put on a few months because the whole thing about the rubber getting old, less rigid and prone to expand, losing braking power. As I was putting in poly bushes new shocks and 1.8 brakes I thought I'd go ahead.

You never know with these things whether you just feel a placebo effect, but it certainly "seemed" to firm up my brakes.

Pity you can't see them - they look great!:)