If you’re in a hurry and are just scanning the article I’ll help you out. I chose the Mityvac MV6835 as the best brake bleeder.
My first experience changing my own brakes and rotors was when I was in college. I didn’t want to spend the money getting a brake job done by a professional. I decided I could do it myself.
I ordered the rotors and pads online and set out to get the job done one Saturday. It took me a bit how to figure it out. In the end I was successful and had new brakes for the cost of the materials and my time.
During that process I had to bleed the brakes to get air out of the lines. Hydraulic brakes pump a liquid through a tube to squeeze calipers. These calipers slow the rotor and stop the wheels from turning. If air gets in the lines the brake lines lose pressure and won’t work as well to stop the car.
When you get your brakes serviced by a repair shop they’ll usually bleed them. If you want to do your own brake work then you’ll need a brake bleeder. Which one is the best? I’ll help you examine what’s out there.
What are the Types of Brake Bleeders?
- You and a buddy – One person pumps the brakes while the other catches the fluid. The downside to this is you need two people. But what if you don’t have a friend around or you’re working alone?
- Reverse bleeder – With this method you’re forcing brake fluid from the bleeder valve (at each brake) to the master cylinder. This method is very simple and easy to perform yourself.
- Vacuum pump – This goes the opposite direction of the reverse bleeder. It pulls brake fluid using vacuum pressure from the master cylinder to the bleeder valve.
- Pressure bleeder – This type attaches to the master cylinder and pushes brake fluid out the bleeder valves. Most shops will have one of these and you’d rarely see this in a homeowner’s garage.
Why would I need to bleed my brakes?
The brake system needs to be completely flushed every two years. Brake fluid stores water over time which means your brakes will gradually start to fade. If you’ve heard the term ‘spongy’ when describing brakes, this is where it applies. You also won’t notice the buildup over time either because it’s gradual.
One good way to compare your brakes is to drive a new car. Check with a friend or go for a test drive at a dealership. See how the brakes compare to your car. Do your brakes feel ‘looser’? If so, you may have moisture buildup and may need to flush your system.
You should also bleed your brakes after changing your pads or rotors.
Capri Tools Vacuum Brake Bleeder
You’ll need an air compressor to use this vacuum brake bleeder. It’s a vacuum system and has the right adapters and connectors to bleed any ABS system and even clutches. Use it to vacuum out old brake fluid from the master cylinder for a complete flush. Then vacuum the new fluid from the mastery cylinder to the bleeder valves.
Pros
- Your air compressor does all the work. No hand pumping.
- It’s much faster and will make less mess than a hand pump.
- It also has a built in silencer to make things quieter.
- The storage tank is high capacity so you won’t have to worry about emptying in the middle of the job.
Cons
- You’ll need to lower the PSI on your air compressor to avoid it sucking in air at the bleed screw threads. Play around with the PSI to make sure you get a good connection but also have enough vacuum pressure.
- It has no auto-refill attachment for the master cylinder. Keep an eye on the brake fluid in the cylinder while you’re vacuuming it to the brakes. You don’t want to pull in air and have to start over wasting more brake fluid.
Mityvac MV6835 Vacuum Bleeding Kit
The Mityvac also requires an air compressor to supply the vacuum pressure. You’ll need a compressor with 100 PSI or more to get enough vacuum pressure to work properly. It comes with enough hose length to work comfortably. It also has universal adapters for different bleed valves. It even comes with an auto refill adapter to make sure you don’t let the master cylinder run dry of brake fluid.
Pros
- A great advantage is the refill kit. It refills the brake fluid so you don’t pull in air bubbles and have to start over.
- This one also uses your air compressor instead of a hand pump. This means less work for you.
- It has a 1.8 liter reservoir. This is plenty of space to store brake fluid as you remove it.
Cons
- You need a strong air compressor with a high recharge rate (CFM). Otherwise you may have trouble pulling the brake fluid out.
HTOMT Hand Held Brake Bleeder
The HTOMT kit uses a hand pump instead of an air compressor to create the vacuum. The gauge allows you to see the amount of pressure you’re applying as you’re bleeding the brakes. It comes with enough hose lengths to accommodate your work space.
Pros
- It’s adaptable to more than brakes. Clutches, carburetors, and even non-automobile usage
- It comes with a great storage case which doesn’t take up a lot of space.
- It’s also lower in cost than other compressor based systems.
Cons
- It’s a manual pump so you’ll be squeezing the handle until you’re finished.
- You may need to work to get a good seal to avoid air bubbles.
Motive European Power Brake Bleeder
The Motive 0100 works as a reverse bleeder. You put the brake fluid in the reservoir, pump it to add some pressure, and then go to each bleed screw and add fluid. This is also a good option if you have a European vehicle or an import car. These cars use a 45mm reservoir caps and need a different adapter. The reservoir holds 2 quarts so you can flush the entire system. You must also hand pump to create the pressure.
Pros
- It’s small and portable. You could bring it to a buddy’s house to do a brake job. You won’t be able to do this with others that require an air compressor.
- It’s quick and easy since it’s a reverse bleed.
Cons
- If you unscrew the cap with the hose connected you’ll begin to twist the hose and it will kink.
- It’s a hand pump. That just means a little more work.
Phoenix Systems Reverse Brake Bleeder
Phoenix Systems has another take on getting air out of brake lines. It’s also a reverse bleeder that allows you to do it without needing the help of someone else. It comes with all hoses you need to reverse bleed.
This is an option for someone that needs it for occasional use.
Pros
- You can bleed all 4 brakes in under 15 minutes.
- It’s not very messy when done properly.
Cons
- The build is a little finicky. Sometimes the parts can pop off but it’s easily reassembled.
- It doesn’t come with a storage case so you’ll need to find a place to store it when not in use.
- You’ve got to make sure you’ve got a good connection to the bleed valve. Otherwise you’ll have trouble getting it to work correctly.
Summary
If you’ve got an air compressor the Mityvac MV6835 is my best choice. It’s a great option for someone that works on brakes often or needs to change out pads regularly. It’s going to give you the most flexibility and ease of use compared to the others.
I like it because you can completely flush the brake system quickly. It can vacuum out any old brake fluid from the master cylinder and then pull in new brake fluid with the same device. The refill attachment is what makes the difference between the others. This keeps you from wasting fluid if you accidentally vacuum the master cylinder dry.
Now you know the best way to bleed your brakes. No more squishy brakes!