Apparatus and method for bleeding motor vehicle hydraulic systems

A device for bleeding a hydraulic system having a master cylinder connected by a hydraulic line to at least one slave cylinder having a bleed fitting valve, said device comprising:

• a container holding a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a bladder located within the container to separate a propellant from the hydraulic fluid;
• a depressable valve operable to selectively release the pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid through an opening in the container upon an operator manually depressing the valve;
• and
• a tube having a first end connected to the opening of the container and a second end adapted to be connected to the bleed the fitting valve so that upon operation of the valve the hydraulic fluid exits the container through the opening, travels through the tube to the bleed fitting valve, and travels through the slave cylinder to the hydraulic line to push air out through the master cylinder.

A method for bleeding a hydraulic system having a master cylinder connected by a hydraulic line to at least one slave cylinder having a bleed fitting valve, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a container holding a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid, a valve operable to selectively release the pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid through an opening in the container, a tube having a first end connected to the opening of the container and a second end adapted to be connected to the bleed the fitting valve;
• connecting the second end of the tube to the bleed fitting valve;
• and
• operating the container valve so that the hydraulic fluid exits the container through the opening, travels through the tube to the bleed fitting valve, and travels through the slave cylinder to the hydraulic line to push air out through the master cylinder.