Vacuum Pump Brake Bleeding

[Longroof79]

I bought some speed bleeders for the calipers but couldn't find them for the wheel cylinders. One of the speed bleeders stripped so easily I thought it was made out of plastic. The speed beeders are hard to find and are $22 so I'm going to see if they will replace the stripped one. With the Milty-vc I tried the teflon tape which was useless but the grease seemed to help. Then my grandson showed up and he pumped the brakes

The bleeders for the rear brake cylinders are smaller than the front ones. I'm glad your helper showed up. He probably didn't mind helping out his old grandpa.

 

[Longroof79]

Here is a pic of the box. This tool attaches to a bottle of brake fluid and pushes the fluid from the bleeder screw to the master cylinder.

Just like other methods to bleed brakes, start at the furthest bleeder screw from the master cylinder and work toward closest. View attachment 125896

Thanks for posting that. I can't say I've ever heard of that product before. It looks interesting, though.

 

[DRIVEN]

I'm hesitant to use one of those reverse bleeders on a used system because all the crud settles at the lowest points and I don't want to send it upstream. On a brand new, clean system it might be a different story. I used a Phoenix Injector on a new clutch master/slave that was fighting every other method.

I have been using a Mityvac like this for years. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFN9WC/?tag=gbody-20
Seems to do a good job. A little air is bound to sneak past the threads but overall it does a good job.

 

[Bitterman]

That's a good point on old systems. Dont want crud going upstream. I was skeptical on how it would do when I first heard of the tool but I have had success with it. It's an easy one man system which helps me since I work on my car alone at night.

I've heard that reverse bleeding systems could also help bleed anti lock bracks better through the antilock pump. I have just heard this as a rumor and have not done the legwork to track down if this is legit. Theory is that the pump restricts fluid going from the master to the calipers but going from the caliper to the master is unrestricted. Again, not sure on this. Anyone???

 

[Bitterman]

pontiacgp, did not mean to hijack your thread. My bad.

I have tried gravity bleeding brakes before and the fronts were easy, but I could not get the rears to bleed out same as you. Not sure if I'm just not patient enough. I've heard some proportioning valves can cause issues when gravity bleeding. I waited an hour on one of my cars and did not get a single drop out of the rear bleeders. It had the stock proportioning valve.

 

[pontiacgp]

pontiacgp, did not mean to hijack your thread. My bad.

you didn't, it's all about brake bleeding and anything anyone tosses onto the thread about the subject is welcomed and appreciated... 🙂

 

[MrSony]

After a dealership I worked at for two months couldn't make my brakes work after 9 days of having my car (among other stupid sh*t they did) they fired me. Bled em myself in two hours with a hand vacuum pump to get fluid to the bleeders. It was from harbor freight and exploded after I was done. I did the hose in bottle of fluid method to minimize air pumping the pedal myself. Still work great 2 years and 15,000 miles later.

 

[pontiacgp]

After a dealership I worked at for two months couldn't make my brakes work after 9 days of having my car (among other stupid sh*t they did) they fired me. Bled em myself in two hours with a hand vacuum pump to get fluid to the bleeders. It was from harbor freight and exploded after I was done. I did the hose in bottle of fluid method to minimize air pumping the pedal myself. Still work great 2 years and 15,000 miles later.

if you spent 2 hours bleeding brakes you have more patience than I have.... 🤔

 

[MrSony]

if you spent 2 hours bleeding brakes you have more patience than I have.... 🤔

It was February and 15*. The clear tube it came with was hard as a rock. :L

 

[pontiacgp]

Steve,
I've used the vacuum pump method for years, but believe it or not, I've been using speed bleeders lately. The bleeders have a coating on the threads that allegedly help eliminate air getting past the threads....sort of acting like Teflon tape. I've actually found that method to be quite effective. I just use a length of hose into a small container. I get in the car and pump the pedal myself. . No muss, no fuss.

I sometimes use the Mity-vac on occasion. Sometimes it works okay, sometimes not as well.
I've always wanted to make (and try) a pressure bleeder using a small garden sprayer. It seems like a good method.

Having my morning coffee it just dawned on me, I had complained that a speed bleeder stripped it threads, turns out is was my fault. I have 1980 Camaro calipers and 67 Chevelle wheel cylinders but the speed bleeders I bought had metric threads....