Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work?
When vacuum bleeding what is to stop air from getting in around the threads of the bleed screw when you losen it? This would give a false reading of air in the system.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
Believe you are correct, also, unless you have the new O-ring type caliper seals, believe you can suck air through the caliper seals as well. In the past, many members have said you shouldn't attempt to bleed vettes with the vacuum pump method, and I agree. I first tried the pump on my '81 and never really got completely satisfactory results. Suggest the vacuum may be a good first step in the process, but I'd finish by using the old pump the pedal and hold method.
You may hear from some members who say the vacuum pump is OK, and others who will swear by what they call the gravity method. I tried both of these and still like the old two man (pump the pedal and hold) method the best.
You may hear from some members who say the vacuum pump is OK, and others who will swear by what they call the gravity method. I tried both of these and still like the old two man (pump the pedal and hold) method the best.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Inside every color vette there is a blue one trying to come out!
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
I don't know about vacuum bleeding but gravity bleeding sucks ! (figuratively speaking of course)....I tried the gravity method and they say after a half hour or so per caliper you should be good to go as long as you watch the master cylinder and keep it filled...It was like boiling water, but with no ressults....I finally resorted to the wife's foot method and they bled fine...the breaks that is, not the wife's feet. :crazy:
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (Skruball73)
Gravity bleeding always worked good for me. Make sure the bleeder isnt clogged and remove it entirley to get it flowin better. Physics wont fail you if you give it a chance. Must not let the master run dry. I stand by with a full qt bottle when bleeding the whole system. Its also important to bench bleed the master cyl first. If you keep getting air in but cant find no leaks, It could be the seals in the back of the master.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 1
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (thejaf)
I used the wife foot method to bleed my new Eclipse brakes a few weeks ago and won't do that EVER again. For about ten minutes nothing was coming out and I was getting pissed. Turned out she was pumping the gas and not the brake pedal! :crazy:
Don't know whats more sad - her pushing the gas pedal or me taking ten minutes to figure out why the heck the fluid wasn't flowin'!
-terry :bb
[Modified by terryrudy, 3:21 PM 12/11/2001]
Don't know whats more sad - her pushing the gas pedal or me taking ten minutes to figure out why the heck the fluid wasn't flowin'!
-terry :bb
[Modified by terryrudy, 3:21 PM 12/11/2001]
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Oneida WI
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
The vacuum brake bleeder kit I got from a local parts store came with a type of grease you put on the threads. I have used it on my other vechicles and it works pretty good. I haven't tried it on the vette yet.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,475
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (Tom Johnson)
i tried the "mighty vac" brake bleeder kit on my vette with zero results. the gravity method didn't seem to work either. i used the "wife" method with 100% satisfaction. the might vac has only worked on one brake job in three and that was my son's 89 corolla.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 65,981
Likes: 15
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
A while back someone posted a method to make a master cylinder cap that allowed a person to pressure inject brake fluid. I never did that but seems like it could be a good idea.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (terryrudy)
Don't know whats more sad - her pushing the gas pedal or me taking ten minutes to figure out why the heck the fluid wasn't flowin'!
-terry :bb
UNBELIEVABLY FUNNY
[Modified by terryrudy, 3:21 PM 12/11/2001]
-terry :bb
UNBELIEVABLY FUNNY
[Modified by terryrudy, 3:21 PM 12/11/2001]
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Corvallis OR
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
I think I blew about 2 qts of fluid before it occured to me that the vac method was not working. Kept getting air, and the pedal never firmed up. Put the kid on the brake, and 2-3 times per caliper was all it took. Got a thousand uses for the vac pump, but bleeding brakes is not one of them.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
I have a really good vacuum pump and it sucks. I never had luck. I modified a spare cover by installing a nipple to install my air line. I set the regulator at about 10 psi, clip the air line on and start bleeding. It really works well. How hard is it to buy another cover, solder a fitting on then hook up a air line?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
Likes: 0
From: Deep East Texas
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (terryrudy)
I been bleeding brakes using the two guy method for years... I never could make the gravity method work till I got in a bind about a year ago because there wasn't a helper available so I decided to try gravity one more time... Worked like a champ! I'll be doing it that way in the future. Never could make a vacuum bleeder work though.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 170
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From: Bartlett TN
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (KJL)
Vacuum bleeding has not worked on my vehicle. I am like above with the wife foot method. Always works. Best of Luck! :yesnod:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 1
From: Wylie TX
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work?
I have a MitiVac pump and I've used it on several cars, all with success. There are usually some air bubbles which can be seen in the pump line from leaking around the threads, but those go into the pump reservoir, not the brake line.
After the first time I used it, I drove around a bit and checked the pedal feel and it seemed fine. But, I then used the wife foot metod to see if it would make a difference. It didn't, and every time I've blead breaks since, I've been satisfied with the results.
After the first time I used it, I drove around a bit and checked the pedal feel and it seemed fine. But, I then used the wife foot metod to see if it would make a difference. It didn't, and every time I've blead breaks since, I've been satisfied with the results.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
Re: Does Vacuum Bleeding Brakes Really Work? (Easy Mike)
I've used the mity-vac and had good results everytime. No matter which method is being used it still takes some time. I never can get help when I need it for two person jobs.
