SA Speedbleeder warning - and help
 

Well, bought set of 3 speedbleeders for my 1980 SA (disc/drum - rears only have one bleeder on pass side). Speedbleeder.com site spec'd the same bleeder for all three: SB7100. Well, to my surprise, REAR drum thread is different!! (see pic) OEM is actually THICKER than the spec'd Speedbleeder! (checking my parts book confirms diff part number btw fr disc and rear drum bleeders. Thank YOU Mazda....)

Have emailed them to complain - but has anyone else run into this and knows the CORRECT speedbleeder for SA rear drum?

Will post info if I get a correct substitute from them, but for now, fair warning about incorrect site listing!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Stu, the stock 80 rear drum bleeder uses a check ball under the bleed screw... would the speed-bleeder seat properly using the angled tip instead of the ball, even if the thread was right?

I dunno, 's why I'm asking.

Your the pioneer apparently.

I see people saying all the time, "Get the speed bleeders, they're great. OMG!".
They must of all had FBs. No one has ever made this complaint before that I
know of.

The SA always has some quirk in the parts, even between 79 and 80 years
sometimes.

This is why these will become collectible sooner than the FBs, because they are
harder to maintian and keep runnning due to parts incompatiblities.

SA rule!

:D
tg - only you could turn a speedbleeder issue into a "Thumbs-Up" for collecting SAs! You got sunshine coming outta yer butt hole brotha!

Pioneer indeed. Thanks for check-ball warning Glen - yah, noted in the parts manual... AFTER I pulled the OEM bleeder. The Optimist in me hopes it stayed put (check ball). Will it conflict with proper Speedbleeder? ook. Good Q.

Reached Speedbleeder folks today and they are sending another version that is wider - will let everyone know what outcome is.

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

OK - update-
received replacement speedbleeder valve for rear drum!
Good News:
-fits perfect!
Bad (??):
-will it interfere with the CHECK BALL that is normally behind the stock bleeder? (per DivinDriver above). Have a call in to Speedbleeder on this -will follow up with results and hopefully a useful new part number...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

do you guys have a speed bleeder on the slave cylinder as well or do they not fit or something

The Motive pressurized bleeder kit is the best damn thing I've used to bleed brakes ever. It pushes fluid and air out, and draws fresh fluid in all in one. I love that thing.

Only 1 person needed and no dicking with speed bleeders.

http://store.motiveproducts.com/bleeders-c15.aspx

Would you mind giving out the part number for the Speed Bleeder you used in the rear? I've run into the same problem as well a few years ago. Just bled the rear in the old way and used the Speed Bleeders up front.

The clutch slave cylinder uses the same size bleeder as the front calipers, so I just stuck the third Speed Bleeder there.

Solved
 

OK - with apologies for the delay, Speedbleeder supplied me with another model bleeder for the REAR DRUM/SA

It is:

SB8100

this is WIDER than the front spec-d bleeder on their website (I have let them know too so hopefully they will correct this....). So to be clear, the _web-recommended_ Speedbleeder ONLY fits the FRONT discs!

Some notes:
- the SA drum (don't know about FB drums) cylinder (referring to the piston/valve assy inside the drum housing that pushes the pads against the drum when hydraulic pressure applied) has a "check-ball" (essentially a wee ball bearing) behind the bleeder valve. When test fitting the (proper SB8100) I accidentally pushed the ball back into the cylinder so it would not come out. THIS BALL MUST BE REMOVED TO USE THE SPEEDBLEEDER. Since I damaged mine, I just popped off the drum cover, removed the 2 pad tension springs - which releases pressure against the cylinder - permitting me to swap out the cylinder with a Beck-Arnley replacement. The aftermarket cylinders DO NOT HAVE the BALL so problem solved. Frankly, this was so easy (and I am NO mechanic), and the part so cheap ($20) that its easier than trying to figure out how to remove the ball from the OEM cylinder while still attached...
magnet? remove and shake it out??
- do FB drums have a Ball?? worth confirming before you try to swap!

Anyway - works like a bandit now. Amazing/simple device that makes bleeds/flushes a one-man breeze!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

I got the one man bleeder system from Harbor Freight. The price was right. They say not to use these types of bleeder systems with cars that have Anti-lock brakes, they they work great for our cars.

http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-f...der-92924.html