Harbor Freight - The Adult Candy Store

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
01/24/2014 at 20:55 • Filed to: None

I will get these brakes fixed this time, because now I have a power bleeder, and a magnetic mount catch bottle. And a 1/2" impact gun, because screw trying to wrench lug bolts off by hand. Oh, and 4 litres of brake fluid. I think that might be enough.

DISCUSSION (13)

Squid > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 20:58

Did you get the pneumatic bleeder? I tried that one and was very dissatisfied, maybe it was the fact that the Miata didn't like its fluid being sucked out but I think it was more of a fact that it was just a bad product. I should have went for a mighty vac instead. Hopefully you have better luck.

Clown Shoe Pilot > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 21:00

4 liters is way more than you'll need. It's totally possible to do a full flush with a power bleeder with half a liter or possible just a little more.

deekster_caddy > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 21:15

What's really dangerous about that store is that you think you are getting useful tools you can add to your toolbox. In reality, you are getting tools that you can use once for sure, 3,4 times okay, 8 times probably something will not work right anymore.

I suppose it's okay for cheap jack stands, but even those can be screwups.

It's kind of like buying Duralast parts at AutoZone. You know it's going to work for at least a week, but could fail anytime after that. But yay for the cheap oil.

Bird > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 21:15

Did you use a 25% off coupon?

Sign up for their ads. Don't join the club thing or whatever, but just get on their mailing list. They'll send you a 20-25% off coupon every month.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 21:46

And they're all going to break after they've been used once.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Bird
01/24/2014 at 22:07

Yes, of course. As long as they come in the paper catalogs, I'm good.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Clown Shoe Pilot
01/24/2014 at 22:08

But it's always nice to have extra. In a sealed container. :)

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Squid
01/24/2014 at 22:10

Yes, I got the pressure bleeder. The standard method had some undesirable side effects, so I'm going this route to see if I have better luck.

Before taking it to the local BMW indy, if need be. It was not fun with the questionable brakes on the track.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
01/24/2014 at 22:15

Sometimes they do, but if you are getting something for $4.99, are you really expecting much?

And if I find them useful, then all the better to upgrade once they do start in with having issues.

Squid > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 22:16

Pressure or vacuum? I purchased and promptly returned the vacuum one as it just was not sealing on my bleeder valves and I was getting thoroughly frustrated. . . You should be fine with a pressure bleeder as long as you keep fluid in the reservoir and it seals to your master. It doesn't take that much pressure to bleed brakes.

Good luck getting your brakes unsquishy for your next track venture.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Squid
01/24/2014 at 22:19

It's a pressure bleeder.

I would have a MityVac around if I hadn't crashed my Benz, because those are useful in diagnosing the vacuum controlled systems (i.e. door locks, HVAC, and a few other things), but alas.

The FSM states to use a pressure bleeder on the master cylinder, so I suppose doing it the old fashioned way would possibly have side effects.

With German designed cars, there is always Ze Right Way to do something, and everything else is wrong, and causes side effects.

Clown Shoe Pilot > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 22:38

I use brake fluid that comes in 500mL containers. I usually keep 2 sealed in stock

Squid > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
01/24/2014 at 23:57

Yep. Ze Germans are very precise.

I want a pressure bleeder, it would make life so easy. I may have to see if I can make my own one of these days using a spare master cylinder cap and a schrader valve. Gotta go ghetto to go big right? hahahaha.