How to Bleed Your Car Brakes? (Part 2)

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In 10. How to Bleed Your Car Brakes? (Part 1), I discussed about changing the brake fluid by bleeding the brake system. I specifically talked about the crucial first steps. Today, I will take up the other steps to complete the procedure.

STEP 4

Open the hood and take a look at the fluid level found in the brake master cylinder reservoir. It is the link to the brake master cylinder, and most of the time, it is a plastic canister. You can also check your owner’s manual for the location. If your fluid level did not reach the “full” line in the reservoir, add new fluid. It is vital that you have the right kind of fluid for your car as shown in step 1.

While the brake bleeding is going on, make sure that the master-cylinder cap is not screwed and it is just on top of the reservoir. Brake bleeding should be done in the right sequence. The usual is that you bleed the brake that is further from the master cylinder. Well, that is the usual but sometimes a few vehicles does not follow the same order. To make sure, refer to your factory manual.grey hatchback

STEP 5

Put the appropriate end of a part of clear tubing normally used is a ¼ inch in diameter firmly over the edge of the bleeder screw of the first brake you are working on. Place the other edge in the catch container. You can improvise and make use of anything like a soft drink can or any plastic bottle. Be certain that the tubing is a bit lengthy so that you can suspend the catch container on top of the bleeder screw. This will hold any air trapped inside the tube from slipping back to the caliper.

STEP 6

Now, after you turned off the engine, call on your assistant and ask him to press the brake pedal many times till he feels firm resistivity. He should be able to announce to you that it is resisting underfoot when it finally did. Keep the pressure on the brake pedal.

STEP 7

Ask your assistant to continuously maintain the pressure on the pedal, open the bleeder screw just a little bit. Fluid will move over the clear tube and the pedal will start touching the floor. Let him to go on stepping on the pedal until it reaches the floor.

STEP 8

Even before the pedal drops to the floor, tell your assistant to say “down,” or anything that describes the pedals position. After hearing that, close the bleeder screw as fast as you can. Examine the master cylinder reservoir’s fluid level. Put a bit more fluid to top it up.

STEP 9

Do steps 6 to 8 five times at that wheel location up until a surge of fluid starts flowing into the clear tubing without air bubbles.

STEP 10

Next thing to do is to do steps 6 to 9 and do the other brakes left undone and perform the correct sequence. This means staying away from the wheel outermost distant from the master cylinder to the one nearest and so forth.

STEP 11

After doing all the four brakes, ask your assistant to again step on the brake pedal and suddenly release. Check the movement of the fluid inside the master-cylinder reservoir. Should there be a significant fluid outburst, bubbles are still present in the system. You have to do the bleeding procedure all over again to take out the trapped air.  A little disruption in the fluid shows a good bled brake system.

STEP 12

Make sure that all bleeder screws are secure. Tighten them well but be careful not to snap them off even before you put back the car’s wheels. Then, you are so done! Good job!

Chaney’s Collision Center can help you to bleed your brake system along with other car concerns. Chaney’s Collision Center uses state-of-the-art equipment to repair and diagnose car problems. To schedule a car maintenance, please contact Chaney’s Collision Center at (623) 915-2886.