Showerthought: my brake bleeds went from 40 minutes of cursing to 12 minutes flat, and I blame one $8 part
Three weeks back I got fed up with how long it took me to get a firm lever on Shimano hydros, so I switched from the syringe push method to a gravity bleed with a little hose clamp holding the cup steady. My average time on a rear brake went from about 40 minutes down to 12, and I stopped getting air bubbles hiding in the caliper. Half the guys in my area swear the vacuum bleeder is the only way and that gravity is for lazy hacks with too much time on their hands. Am I crazy for thinking the cheap way actually gives a better lever feel, or has anyone else timed this and seen the same thing?
Man I feel this in my soul. I did the same thing last summer after fighting a rear XT brake for like an hour with the syringe, just sucking air back in every time I pulled the plunger. Switched to hanging the bike from a hook, cup on the lever, crack the bleeder and just let gravity do the work while I drink a beer. My lever feel got WAY more consistent too, no more spongy spots that show up two rides later. The vacuum guys act like you need NASA gear but half of them are the same dudes re-bleeding every month. The $8 clamp trick is smart, I was just zip tying the cup to the bar like a caveman.