Motive Power Bleeder
 

I plan to bleed my brakes within the next couple of weeks using the Motive power bleeder. In the past, I've always relied on the "pedal push" method and managed to recruit my significant other or one of my sons to help ... but the power bleeder offers the convenience of one person being able to do the work alone ... so I thought I would try it out. One question: What pressure should you bring the power bleeder vessel up to for bleeding the lines? I recall that AK used 15 lbs (I think) in his DIY video ... but I'm not sure if he was just guessing. Is there a recommended min/max range? The instructions that come with the bleeder aren't helpful in this regard. Any advice from those of you who have used the bleeder is welcomed. Thanks!

15 works, i use 13

I pump it up to 30-35. Also, if you are putting fluid in the bleeder tank, make sure when you are done to unscrew the top of the bleeder from its tank BEFORE unscrewing the adapter from the master cylinder. If you do it the other way around, brake fluid will go everywhere.

Mike, Is helpful hint at the end from a personal experience? :icon17:

yep!

OK, thanks for the advice. Another question: Once the bleeder tank has been filed with the new brake fluid and hooked up through the poly tubing to the master cylinder reservoir, I suspect that there initially will be air in the tubing. So is the idea that this air will initially be forced under pressure through the tubing, reservoir, MC and the first brake line to be bled (i.e., the rear passenger line), and will be bled out when the bleed screw on the caliper is opened up? Or am I completely off base? I guess the other thing is to ensure that the bleeder tank is filled up with an adequate amount of fluid at the start ... probably 1.5 to 2 L of fluid (??) ... so that all lines can be bled without a need to re-fill. Again, any advice is appreciated.

i use the motive extractor pump. i never liked the idea of pressurizing my brake reservoir.

people use gravity bleed these days, why not just speed up the process using an extractor instead? you can extract other things with it too, like motor oil from your engine dip stick, power steering fluid, etc. get more use out of your equipment than just bleeding brakes.

That isn't an issue at all. There is a certain amount of air in the tube, correct, but when you pressurize the bottle and open the bleed screw, its still the same amount of air, so the fluid will travel through the tube and into the resorvoir, and the air will stay on top. 1 liter should be fine, but check it after each caliper, and have a second bottle just in case.

Hey Kenchan tried to send you a pm but it says you can't receive. Will the extractor be easy bleeding clutch fluid as well? I'm thinking of changing to ss lines on brakes and clutch lines and would rather extract than pressurize as well.

sorry my extractor pump is not by motive, my replenish brake bottle with nissan valve is by motive.
the extractor is by mityvac. i think it was model mv7400. hand pump evacuator.

ive not done the clutch lines, but it can extract pretty much any fluid as long as i can fit the tube in the hole or reservoir. very handy to have. :tup:

just clean the tube and fittings after you're done to prevent any leaks.

Be very careful about how high you pressurize, you could potentially blow something out of place and have to disassemble the master to put things right. Things such as O-rings, etc.

I've used the mighty vac method before a few years ago at a tech meet. I like it better than the power bleeder. With the motive adapter cap you can also use another bottle to replenish what you suck through the bleeder.

Hi Kenchan, what's the correct Motive replenish brake bottle for the Z? Is it their "0107 Ford/Import Three Prong Bleeder" or "0117 Black Label Ford / Import 3-Tab Power Bleeder"?

Thanks for advise :hello:

its the three prong, i believe its a 2in resevoir cap.

0107 I think the black label is the same, but more premium.