I attended a swap meet yesterday, and there was a vendor demonstrating/selling a vacuum brake bleeder kit. I liked what I saw, but wanted to hear from the FORUM as to Pros and Cons of vacuum or pressure brake bleeding, and what "kit" have you used, and what "kits" would you recommend?
Thanks
John

I have a gun style unit I got at Sears, when they were still stores with their own tools.   It is OK in a pinch, but I still prefer the old fashioned way of a partner in the seat working the pedal.  This does not mean the first thing is to pump em up!!!!!!!!!   

BTW, if you try to use the vac gun on a system with residual valves it does not work right.

When I tried, I got never-ending air bubbles. Finally went the old fashined way as Gene did. With that said, it still took forever to get an acceptable pedal. I do have the Hydroboost and the mating Mustang master with TWO bleed valves. It may have just been coincidental, but I never got a good bleed until I finally made a jar with TWO holes in the cap for both the bleeders at the same time.

Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2026-03-22 17:39I attended a swap meet yesterday, and there was a vendor demonstrating/selling a vacuum brake bleeder kit. I liked what I saw, but wanted to hear from the FORUM as to Pros and Cons of vacuum or pressure brake bleeding, and what "kit" have you used, and what "kits" would you recommend?
Thanks
John

I have one of the pistol type. I have used it with nominal success. Constantly having to check the master...seems to use more brake fluid than the old fashioned two-man system.
I have gone back to the old way.

I have a pressure bleader with the tank and hoses that go on the MC, works fine usually,but most of the time much faster and easier the old fashioned way if you have a pedal pumper handy.

I have always used mean ol Mr. Gravity.  I first open the right rear, tube on the bleed and wait.  Do the same with the rest of the system. I put some 50s and 60s on the radio and open a beer.  This only works when the master is above the rest of the system.  There has been a couple of times that the trusty pumper needed to be called in but mostly it was good.  She is familiar with the up/down senario.....:<)

  I use a 2 foot long piece of clear plastic hose that fits snugly over the bleeder screw. Make sure the hose is higher than the bleeder screw, crack the bleeder open and wait until there's no bubbles. I have one of those hand held vacuum bleeders that works okay, but I still finish the job using the gravity method.

I have an old pressure bleeder with the round tank and the adapters for master cylinders.  It works quick, but I find that I always spill fluid and I am not excited about doing that on a clean restored vehicle.  I hate the mess it makes of the paint.