Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire bleeding brakes by yourself

I was looking at a vacuum pump to change the brake fluid in my truck. I ran across this video that shows how to do it with just a hose and a pop bottle. Is this actually possible? When you let up on the brake, what keeps it from sucking dirty fluid back through the hose instead of through the brake line? I watched a similar video where he set the bottle on top of the axle. That would make it even easier to suck dirty fluid back in. I'm no mechanic but I've always been taught that you need 2 people if you don't use a vacuum pump.

I’ve bleed beaks like that a lot. I didn’t see any sucked back in that I recall.

I use one of those things that pressurizes the reservoir at the master cylinder.

Been many years since I worked a shop, but then we used a pressurized back bleeder.

Wasn't a pop bottle but I have used that method in the past and it worked just fine.

I got Corky The Retard lives across the holler, he helps me bleed brakes and other brain-dead tasks.

He'll rake my whole front yard for a popsicle.

A cinder block leaned on the brake peddle also works, but it's pretty slow. I might try this at the next brake project.

Make your own pressure bleeder with a 1 gallon garden sprayer and a few other parts. Vids on the tube.

ok, that made me laugh

Pop bottle works. It is slow with one person.

If only you had a spare KitchenAid mixer.

A vacuum bleeder costs less than the sprayer, unless you have an old one lying around.

I've bled brakes many times in the past by myself using a hand held vacuum pump attached to a bleeder valve. The last time I tried this method it didn't work because air was leaking around the bleeder valve threads even though I used grease that was supposed to seal the threads. I finally gave up and used the gravity method to bleed the brakes. You just put a transparent plastic line on the bleeder valve, run it to a clear cup, loosen the valve and let the fluid drain. When the fluid is clean and free of bubbles tighten the bleeder valve. Just remember to keep the master cylinder full of brake fluid.

I think the Harbor Freight bottle bleeder is like $5 - just a smaller version of the pop bottle above. I never had any luck with it though and ended up buying the vacuum pump. I've used it enough on various things that I've got my money out of it.

I like pressure vs vacuum.

Yeah i know there is a good joke in there,

LOL, is corky willing to hitchhike up here cause I got an entire yard a poop to pick up, then I need someone to throw it at the antifa guys.

Oh yes I almost forgot I have been bleeding brakes like that for years, going to be doing that today on my sons truck.

Swinging wrenches on vehicles sucks....
But it needs ta be done......
I would rather cut grass....
That's how much wrenching on vehicles sucks to me....


And cutting grass really sucks........

I've done it with a large syringe and some tubing.

This is the way I do it. Especially with antilock brakes. Crack all 4 and let them bleed. Keep the master cylinder full, and done.


Clyde