The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
7 members (Otto Skorzeny, Gdads51, VEW, MickeyP, 50Chevy3100, HandyAndy, 1 invisible), 74 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,090
Posts1,056,015
Members48,430
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#806503 12/14/2011 12:34 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 311
8
'Bolter
'Bolter
8 Offline
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 311
After two days of bleeding my 48 Loadmaster using the traditional way, and with a Mityvac one man brake bleeder. I installed speed bleeders and I am thrilled at the results! I highly suggest this product! BTW I learned about it from this forum.
Thanks


Curt Warren
Salt Lake City
1948 1.5ton Loadmaster
http://photobucket.com/48loadmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14,522
Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall
Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14,522
...yep, got 4 of them on my panel. I was skeptical but I must say they work nice...even though they are a bit pricey.


1937 Chevy Pickup
In the Gallery
1952 Chevy Panel
In the Gallery
More photos
1950 Chevy Coupe
Pictures!

I'd rather walk and carry a Chevy hub cap than ride in a Ferd.
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you smile
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,388
M
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
M Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,388
What's a speed bleeder? I usually use the clear hose into a jar method, where you crack the bleeder, and pump the brake pedal.

Could my life be easier? Are these something Ron Popeil could sell me?


Christopher
1950 1-Ton
"Rochester"
In the Gallery
In the DITY Gallery

1949 GMC Panel Truck
1926 Model TT Truck
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,867
R
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
R Offline
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,867
A speed bleeder is a bleeder screw with a ball valve inside. Crack them open, pump the brakes and close them. No air gets back into the system through the ball valve making bleeding brakes quite simple.

Jeff


My 1953 Chevrolet
1947.1 Gallery
1972 C-10 1/2 Ton & 1972 C-30 1 Ton
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 695
H
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
H Offline
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 695
A check valve is a novel idea! thumbs_up
I just Googled and looked at them on JEGS website.
They were 10 bucks for a package of 2. I don't know if cheaper anywhere else, but compared to bleeding brakes the way I've always had to do it... I'd spring for $20!
Thanks for bringing this up, Curt!
Jerry


1959 Chevy Apache 3200 Stepside
In the Stovebolt Gallery
Restoration Journal on Facebook

"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." ~ George Bernard Shaw
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 311
8
'Bolter
'Bolter
8 Offline
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 311
Here is more info Christopher http://www.speedbleeder.com/
I picked mine up at NAPA for about $13.00 a pair, pricey until you successfully bleed all your brakes twice in less then 30 minutes by yourself!


Curt Warren
Salt Lake City
1948 1.5ton Loadmaster
http://photobucket.com/48loadmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 324
V
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
V Offline
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 324
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-...ck-speedbleeder-and-factory-caliper.html

This looks like if it isn't replaced properly it could lead to a very unsafe condition!
After reading this article and before purchasing Speedbleeder, I will make sure my stock bleeder and the new Speedbleeder is compatible in, thread pitch,size, outside measure etc
Keeping in mind that my old pickup would never go through as much hard use as in a race track situation, this is a very good Idea, but I think just to be on the safe side,it deserves to be further researched.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Offline
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
Simple task vick, unscrew the old ones and screw in the new ones, that's it!!! It's just a
normal bleeder screw with a ball check installed. No danger there unless you don’t know
which end of the wrench to use.

I live a couple of miles from where they are made so I ran out there and bought a set for
my '50, 3600 about five or six years ago. I took a tour of the factory. It was a 3 or 4 man
operation back then, just a couple that live on a farm out in the boonies SW of Newark,
IL. In one of the barns out back there was an operator feeding a bunch of old Brown and
Sharp cam operated screw machines pumping out parts. The guy wasn’t there but I talked
with his wife who handles the office, that is bookwork, orders, s&r etc. Of course they’ve
probably been bought up by one of the big groups by now.

Here’s a set installed on Bluebelle:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/140334438/large

There are only a couple of things to watch out for. One is bubbles in the mason jar. It’s
kind of hard to watch for bubbles when your in the cab so In my case I sat my “big old
wife” down on the milkin’ stool and had her holler 'soo-ee' when the fluid ran clear in the
Tygon tubing.

The other is the fluid level in the stock master cylinder. It don’t hold all that much and a
few pumps and you have to top it off else your just pumping more air into the system.
Other than snugging up the bleeders that’s all there is to it
DG

Last edited by Denny Graham; 12/15/2011 12:15 AM.

Denny G
Sandwich, IL
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
I can see a problem with brake calipers...most have a right angle
cross port to the Bleeder screw well and the Point can bottom out
causing a sealing issue....not a foreseeable problem on wheel cylinders.....


My GMC has a bad case of ship fitters disease!
GMC: Get More Cash...
1958 GMC
1956 Chevy 1500 Hydraulic Dump Truck
1952 Chevy 1700 3-Ton Firetruck

My Webshots photos
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

Has anyone had a problem with any brand of speed-bleeder on our old trucks' drum brake systems?

I have had no problem on my 54 1/2 Chevrolet truck and no problem on my 54/55 2-ton GMC COE flatbed truck. I use the less expensive Russell Speed Bleeder (639590, I think) rather than The Speed Bleeder.

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,867
R
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
R Offline
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,867
Tim,

The only problems I have ever had with speed bleeders has been working on an old system that has been polluted with dirt or rust. The particles clog the ball valve and very little fluid comes out. This is why a good flushing can be worth while.

In response to your question, I've used three different brands with no problems except what I've listed above.

Jeff


My 1953 Chevrolet
1947.1 Gallery
1972 C-10 1/2 Ton & 1972 C-30 1 Ton
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Offline
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
I also heard about them on this forum a while back - so thanks much! One note, when ordering on their web site you need to know the thread size ahead of time, they didn't have a listing for my 46. They work great.

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 324
V
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
V Offline
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 324
Thanks Denny & everyone else for sharing info on these. Good to hear the opinion of people who are actually using them. I am going to our local Napa Store to pickup a set of these. I have some ordinary bleeders to compare with for size & thread comparison.
Very ingenious invention!
The vacuum booster helps the brakes reach very high pressures, & produces maximum braking force on all four wheels. The pedal,can produce 1,200 to 2,000 psi of pressure in the hydraulic brake system.
I've been doing a complete frame off on my 51 Pickup for 6 years now and getting anxious to hit the road next summer. Safety first has always been no 1 with me.
Love the Stovebolt Site


Moderated by  Dusty53, SWEET 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0