Pressure vs vacuum based brake bleeders, recommendations?

[verced]

Hello all, I going to buy a brake bleeder and was wondering what your opinions are on pressure based bleeders like the motive product versus vacuum based bleeder like the mityvac. I'm leaning more towards the motive because it doesn't require external vacuum produced by an air compressor and seems to be less prone to introduce air into the system. I have no experience with any of these products or methods and thus I'm merely making assumption based on research I have done. Any opinions or recommendations? Thanks again, awesome forum.

 

[kctyphoon]

I’m not a mechanic, i have both.. IMO - motive pressure bleeder is better. Biggest reason, you set it it up once and never move it.

That said - some of the bigger vacuum kits will do more than just bleed brakes. Your actually getting an extractor kit, that can bleed brakes as well.

A bigger extractor can be used to do more things.. the pressure bleeder, is a pressure bleeder.. but just doing brakes, MY FEELING is the Motive is a lot easier. But mityvac has several models, including this hand pump extractor/dispenser model. Smaller bleeder kits are available through them too.

Something to consider..
Mityvac 7201 Fluid Evacuator Plus https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR7TC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Brake Bleed Conversion Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M6035O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[goblue1998]

I have the motive one and like it.

 

[frank001]

Been using the Mityvac for many years, on many different cars including ABS. Never have any issues.

 

[mikester]

I borrowed one of these from a buddy and it worked really well. If I was doing brakes all the time I would invest in one.

 

[verced]

You guys aren't making it easy to decide lol. I do like the simplicity of the motive design and not having to monitor the master cylinder to ensure it doesn't run dry while bleeding at the caliper.

 

[kctyphoon]

You guys aren't making it easy to decide lol. I do like the simplicity of the motive design.

This is the better question. What is more useful for you? Do you work on a lot of cars? Are you a mechanic, or is this just for your own car?

The motive requires different adapters for different cars. The mityvac is universal, and depending on the model can also drain the oil from your car, your lawnmower, gasoline from the motorcycle, trans fluid, wiper fluid, power steering fluid, ect, ect, ect..

The motive isn’t expensive if you just need one adapter.

You will not find something that bleeds brakes faster and easier than a motive pressure bleeder.. its effortless.

If you want the typical GJ answer - just buy both..

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I borrowed one of these from a buddy and it worked really well. If I was doing brakes all the time I would invest in one.

I have a similar kit, very nice for all manor of fluid removal. Bunch of coolant in a block? Removing/tilting a P/S reservoir? Oil pooled in the "V" of an engine? **** it out.


It works fine for clutch/brake bleeding. I prefer to pump the pedal slowly while it goes, helps speed things up. I have little issue with running the master dry, slow the "****" rate if need be, it has a variable trigger. I never liked the brake flush machines that were master cylinder mounted, lots of leaks and adapter issues. I've never used a Motive, and I can tell you the machine that shop had which often fought me was rather beat.

 

[verced]

@kctyphoon, this is a good point. I will be using it on two vehicles, two motorcycles and maybe a lawnmower and pressure washer. When you take this into consideration, it seems clear which on to get. Thanks. Btw, I pulled the trigger on the snap-on set. It didn't break the bank for me and I finally got tools that I wished for since I was a teenager. I'm very happy

 

[kctyphoon]

@kctyphoon, this is a good point. I will be using it on two vehicles, two motorcycles and maybe a lawnmower and pressure washer. When you take this into consideration, it seems clear which on to get. Thanks.

Yea no problem. Obviously i posted the bigger mightvac kit - but the hand pump styles are available too.. personally, i think its easier to have one with larger container.. the more pressure you can build before you crack open a bleeder, the less messing around you have to do. It helps keeps both hands free.

 

[rlitman]

I have a vacuum bleeder. It's great for sucking fluid out of the master, so you flush with just clean fluid. It's great for flushing brakes. But it's not so great for an initial bleed to be sure your lines are bubble free. I'll vacuum bleed, but if the lines had air in them, I'll finish by 2-man bleeding with the pedal. That has it's own risks (damage to the master cylinder).

Personally, I don't think I'd buy the Motive. The problem is that it stores the brake fluid under air. Good pressure bleeders store the brake fluid under a membrane (like an Extrol expansion tank), so that it can sit in the bleeder and not go bad. With the Motive, you really should drain it every day you use it.

 

[signcrafter]

I borrowed one of these from a buddy and it worked really well. If I was doing brakes all the time I would invest in one.

I have this one and love it.

You guys aren't making it easy to decide lol. I do like the simplicity of the motive design and not having to monitor the master cylinder to ensure it doesn't run dry while bleeding at the caliper.

The kit that mikester showed comes with a bottle that you fill with clean fluid. This is the actual brake bleeding kit, not a fluid extractor. So you **** out as much as you can from the reservoir and then put the container with new fluid on the reservoir upside down and open the valve. This automatically fills the reservoir with new fluid. Then just **** the fluid from each bleeder. Have used it on many vehicles and it works great.

The problem I saw with the motive was the need for different adapters for each vehicle type. Since I work on many types of vehicles I decided that the mityvac worked better for me. Along with some advice from a couple of the better mechanics on this site. And one thing about the motive that I didn't like was that you have the brake fluid under pressure so if something goes wrong it's going to make a mess with brake fluid that eats paint.

 

[99LeCouch]

Bought the Harbor Freight vacuum bleeder. It works well enough.

 

[johninct]

Bought the Harbor Freight vacuum bleeder. It works well enough.

I am a Snap-On guy and really like the Harbor Freight one. I use it to **** all of the gas out of a car in my garage too.