Hayes bleed kit

[TrailJesus]

Wondering if anyone has a bleed kit just lying around they want to sell on the cheap.

Also wondering if you can use regular car DOT 4 brake fluid instead of what is supplied by Hayes in their bleed kit. You can PM me the answer thanks.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by integradriv3r

Wondering if anyone has a bleed kit just lying around they want to sell on the cheap.

Also wondering if you can use regular car DOT 4 brake fluid instead of what is supplied by Hayes in their bleed kit. You can PM me the answer thanks.

Hayes bleed kit is weak sauce, consists of a plastic bottle, small bottle of brake fluid and length of tubing. Ghetto it or by the Avid bleed kit.

Dean

[TrailJesus]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Hayes bleed kit is weak sauce, consists of a plastic bottle, small bottle of brake fluid and length of tubing. Ghetto it or by the Avid bleed kit.

Dean

Yeah I was looking at it and it looked pretty simple. So the avid kit will work? Sorry Dean total n3wb at this stuff.

[skate]

Originally Posted by integradriv3r

Also wondering if you can use regular car DOT 4 brake fluid instead of what is supplied by Hayes in their bleed kit.

Yes, go to auto parts store and pick up a big as bottle.

[2wheel_lee]

Depending on which Hayes bleed kit you get, some include a nice metal fitting that threads into the hole where the screw is removed in the lever. This fitting is worth its weight in gold! Yeah, you can fiddle with making a piece of the absolute right size hose fit around that area, but it's a pain in the butt. The bottle in the bleed kit is also useful.

Even though I have a few sets of Hayes Mags and El Caminos, I bought the kit for the El Caminos, and it works on both. Some of the other kits I've seen have a different metal fitting, and I don't know how well that works.

As said, you can use standard DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid.

Originally Posted by skate

Yes, go to auto parts store and pick up a big as bottle.

No point in buying a big bottle, unless you're going to bleed the brakes in your car. The fluid "goes bad" after the container has been opened for more than a month or so, so anything more than what you can use in about a month's time is wasted.

For the first time, I'd just spend the $25 and get the kit. Make sure you get a kit that works best with your levers. Later, just buy the fluid from the auto parts store, since you'll already have the kit.

[TrailJesus]

Lee are you talking about this piece? I'll stop by a shop tomorrow and hopefully they'll have the bleed kit. If you're going to be at the loop tomorrow Lee hopefully you can give me a tutorial on how the bleeding process is done correctly.

[Chewyeti]

to elaborate; brake fluid is amphoteric... meaning it draws in moisture from the atmosphere.... that is why you should only buy a small bottle unless doing your car.

[project_d]

I agree with Lee. Buy the kit, as it comes with the fittings. If I remember correctly, you use one type of fitting for El Caminos, Mags, and Comps, and another type of fitting for the Nines. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I live in HB, so if you need some help bleeding your brakes, let me know.

[TrailJesus]

Originally Posted by project_d

I agree with Lee. Buy the kit, as it comes with the fittings. If I remember correctly, you use one type of fitting for El Caminos, Mags, and Comps, and another type of fitting for the Nines. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I live in HB, so if you need some help bleeding your brakes, let me know.

Thanks your help would be much appreciated. If I am correct I met you at bikes and beers right? Your son rode down chutes? I'll get the kit and PM ya on Friday to see what time would be best for ya.

[2wheel_lee]

Jesse, that's the fitting that comes with most kits. It's different than the fitting that I have (look at the El Camino brake bleeding instructions on Hayes' web site). Nonetheless, I presume that fitting may work just as easily - I've just never used it though.

I'd suggest taking up project_d on his offer. Your first time doing it is a bit challenging, and it would really help to have someone around who's done it before. It is kind of an art to get all the bubbles out of the system. There is one stage of the process where you you may think you're ready to move on, but you have to be patient, and keep working the bubbles out.

Are you changing the line, shortening the line, or just bleeding the brakes because of an air bubble?

Also, if you are going to do it yourself - even with an experienced person watching - read the instructions five times. Also, make sure you have them where you can see them while you're working. There will be times while you're working where you won't be able to let go of the stuff in your hands, and you'll wonder what you need to do next.

You can view the instructions here: http://www.hayesdiscbrake.com/support_downloads.shtml

[TrailJesus]

Just bleeding because of air bubbles. Chris(sarboats) just offered to help me bleed them again. This time I will be there so I can understand the process so that next time I will be able to do it myself.

Thanks everyone for the help. (root beer, no drink for a while)