Last week in our installment of Tool-Time Tuesday we talked about Tool Kits. This week we are covering everything you need to know about vacuum bleeders. 

Most mechanics, whether they are the average joe wrenching on the weekend or a full time mechanic, tend to work alone. We all have buddies who come over to help and drink our beer, but there is some jobs that just require two people. One of those jobs is bleeding brakes. The traditional method of pumping up the brakes with the brake pedal and cracking the bleeder can’t be done by a single person. 

Before you go calling your significant other or buddy, check out vacuum bleeders. These nifty devices allow you to bleed your brakes without the assistance of another person. 

How Vacuum Bleeders Work:

Just as the name implies, they work with vacuum. What happens is a vacuum is applied through hose that connects onto the bleeder screw. You loosen the bleeder screw which allows the vacuum to pull fluid and bubbles through the line. After you see the bubbles come through, you close the bleeder screw. Then just turn off the vacuum. They work incredibly well and cause less mess than traditional pedal pumping bleeding. 

Besides using a vacuum bleeder to bleed brakes, you can also use them on hydraulic clutches. Another good use is if you have to change your master cylinder, you can suck all the extra brake fluid out of the reservoirs to minimize the mess. 

Styles Of Vacuum Bleeders:

Just like any other tool, there is different styles and price levels on these bleeders. The most basic version, which is usually has the cheapest price point, is hand operated. With this version, you simply pump the vacuum up by hand. 

The easier and usually more expensive version is operated by air. An air hose from a compressor is hooked to the tool, which then creates a vacuum. These have an on/off switch for turning the vacuum on and off. This style is nice as there is less effort on the mechanics part. 

Another style is somewhat of a hybrid between the two. This looks like a garden sprayer used for killing weeds. These you pump up by hand, but hold that vacuum in reserve so you don’t have constantly pump by hand. 

The style you choose all depends on your preference and budget. This is definitely a tool that’s recommended to pick up, as they will solve a lot of headaches for you.