Best way to bleed brakes, solo?

Can someone point me to the correct procedure to bleed the brakes by ones self? Like with no "helper".

 

Gonna need a bleeder kit to do it solo.

I have a Motive kit from Amazon. I used it once and it works. But I just ask the other half to come outside and help. Less crap for me to take out and clean.

 

Well my other half died, so right now i will look at the kit and keep searching for the procedure.

 

Sorry about your other half.

But its pretty much the same as 2 man job you just have a hand held vacuum pump at the brakes.

 

You can just open the bleeder valves one at a time, and let them drain into a pan, while making sure the reservoir remains full. It will work the bubbles out, though it might take a little time. Done it a few times this way over the years.

EDIT: You'll see it sputter as the bubbles come out and eventually just have a clean stream, then you know you're good. Do front, then back, or vice versa, not side to side.

EDIT EDIT: You don't step on the pedal, you are just gravity bleeding them.

 

How to you stop it from sucking back in air when releasing the pedal?

I've never trusted just leaving the bleeder open.

 

You do not step on the pedal, it is just a gravity bleed

 

Sounds like it takes forever.

 

Not as long as waiting for an Amazon delivery!

 

That is true now with USPS.

I've tracked my stuff to the local post office. Then the next day its back in the states and takes days to get back.

 

YouTube gravity bleeding.

 

I went this route and seemed to work well: https://youtu.be/jpiXOBRkZs4?si=LpL9yhYmWdZ_v3Uj

 

Attach a hose to the bleeder and place it in a bottle with some brake fluid. The end of the hose should always be in the fluid.
Hose from the bleeder first upwards and then into the bottle.

 

Attach a piece of clear tubing to the bleeder screw and run it into a jar with some brake fluid in it. As long as the end of hte tube stays submerged and you dont crank hte screw out so far it can suck air though the threads it wont suck any bubbles even if you are bleeding solo.

I remember on my Tacoma with ATRAC there was a procedure where the rear brakes would self bleed just from the booster pump if you cracked them open and started the truck. Fronts required standard work the pedal bleeding. I wonder if the 5th gen is similar? There is probably a how to around here somewhere...

 

Used this cheap harbor freight vacuum pump on my jeep JK, works like a charm. Did the whole job my big boy self in under an hour, just keep the reservoir topped up.

Less than $30.

 

I just did this 4 weeks ago for the first time..

very easy...

get a helper.....
1- suck as much as you can from the reservoir. (keep car off and do not push brakes)
2- put fresh fluid in reservoir above max.
3- start form front passenger , front driver, rear passenger , rear driver.
4- loosen the bleeder valve, attach the tube to the bleeder valve, turn ignition on (not running). open bleeder, and let your helper push pedal (not all the way to the floor, but down a bit and hold there). hold pedal , fluid will come out, close valve, let pedal go back. do that for about 200ml for each side... Make sure you keep adding fluid in the reservoir and do not let it go below min.
5- set level to max when done

the most important thing, is to not let the pedal off before you close the valve. and keep the reservoir full..

I tried to use a power bleeder, but could not connect the universal fitting..

This is how to do it in the service manual..

nothing special is required.....

really easy...

 

^^^
This.

I've been doing my own brakes, solo, for years, and this is how I do it. Don't let the reservoir take in air, just keep it topped off.

Start with furthest from the reservoir, probably the rear passenger, then the rear driver, then front passenger, then front driver.

 

Get a clean bottle like a Gatorade. Poke a small hole in the cap for a piece of vacuum hose to fit through. Run it to the bottom of the bottle. Fill a 1/4 of the bottle with brake fluid and cap it. Attach the vacuum hose to the bleed screw and break it free. Slowly pump the pedal. You should be able to see if all the air gets out. Close the bleed screw. Move to the next corner. Always keep an eye on the master cylinder, topping it off as needed. The fluid in the bottle will keep air from getting sucked in.

 

In the past, I’ve used a properly sized 2x4 and pumped the pedal, wedged the board between the pedal and seat, bled, closed, and repeated. Now I have a fancy pressure bleeder from Motive. So much better.

 

I am about to go this route too. Happy with the results? Did you do it solo? I figure I might need at least one person to keep an eye on the reservoir. Did you just go back and forth checking the reservoir never dipped below low?

 

@golfpilot beat me to it...

I have an old coffee can, back when they were 16oz cans, I just put a little new brake fluid in the bottom,
attach one end of the hose to the bleeder and drop the other one in the fluid/can and open the bleeder
make sure you keep the master cylinder topped off...it takes awhile, but when the bubbles stop just move to the next wheel

Not sure it matters, but I always do drivers front first, then passenger front, then passenger rear, and finish with the drivers side rear
idea being start closest to the master cylinder and work around

If you got something else to work on at the same time, it doesn't seem so long...

I've never used a power bleeder, or a kit...