Relearning an old brake bleeding trick that actually saved me time

I've been bleeding brakes the same way for almost 20 years using a helper pumping the pedal. But yesterday I was working alone on my '04 F-150 in the shop and didn't have anyone around to help. I remembered reading about the old jar and hose trick my grandpa used to do. You just put a hose on the bleeder screw, stick the other end in a jar with some brake fluid, and crack it open. Then you pump the pedal a few times yourself and the fluid cycles through without letting air back in. It worked way better than I thought and I got the whole job done in 45 minutes flat. Has anyone else gone back to an older method and been surprised it still holds up?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_flores29d ago

Oh man yes, I had the exact same thing happen a couple years back. I was trying to bleed the clutch on my old S10 and my usual helper was gone for the weekend. I remembered my dad showing me that jar trick when I was a kid and I felt dumb for not trying it sooner. It's just so simple and honestly it's kind of hard to mess up, you know? I mean, I'll probably still grab a helper when I can, but for those solo jobs that trick is a lifesaver and I don't know why I ever forgot about it.

jana_shah28d ago

you know what's kind of funny @emma_flores, that jar trick reminds me of when I was helping my neighbor with his old Ford Ranger and we spent like an hour trying to find a second person to hold the pedal. ended up using a broom handle to prop it down and it worked fine but felt so janky. I swear half the battle with these old trucks is just figuring out what random household item you can use instead of a real tool. still, beats paying a shop a hundred bucks for something you can do with a pickle jar and some tubing.

spencer98128d ago

Yo but nobody's talking about how that broom handle trick is probably safer than having a buddy who isn't paying attention. Had a friend let off the pedal too quick once and got fluid sprayed all over my face. A broom handle won't flinch or get distracted. Way more reliable than some of my friends honestly. That jar setup plus a stick is basically a one man operation. Did you ever drop the pedal and lose all your progress with the broom handle?