Was dead set against those cheap vacuum bleed kits until one saved my butt last Tuesday

Had a 2002 Civic with a mushy brake pedal that wouldn't bleed no matter what I did with the old two-person method. Buddy handed me a $12 plastic vacuum bleeder from AutoZone and I laughed at him. Hooked it up and got a massive air bubble out of the rear caliper in about 3 minutes flat. Anyone else got a cheap tool they swore off but now keep in their box?

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_butler26d ago

Took me a decade to admit my dad was right about something, that hurts.

mason.brian26d ago

That $13 vacuum pump I bought for a brake job is now my go-to for bleeding everything, including lawn mower tires.

the_susan26d ago

My dad still brings up the time I spent $60 on a "pro-grade" bleeder kit that broke on the first use. Meanwhile that cheap pump from Harbor Freight has outlasted three of my actual cars. I used it last week to inflate a pool float and it worked better than my mouth ever could. Now I just keep it in the glove box in case I get a slow leak at the grocery store.