How to Bleed Your Brakes
Created on: 2016-05-19
The procedure for bleeding brakes and includes some tips that will help you complete the task easily and safely.
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step 1 :Checking Brake Fluid
- Locate the master cylinder reservoir
- Remove the cap and make sure the fluid is topped off
- Add the appropriate fluid as needed
- Leave the cap off and proceed to bleed the brakes at the farthest corner from the master cylinder (right rear)
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step 2 :Bleeding the Rear Brakes
- Find the bleeder screw
- For drum brakes, the bleeder screw can be found at the top of the wheel cylinder on the backside
- Have an assistant press the brake pedal three times
- Have an assistant hold the brake pedal down
- Open the bleeder screw
- Wait for the fluid to stop
- Close the bleeder screw
- Have an assistant press the pedal three times
- Have an assistant hold the brake pedal down
- Open the bleeder screw
- Wait for a steady stream of fluid with no air bubbles or burping
- Repeat the process for the next farthest bleed screw (left rear)
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step 3 :Bleeding the Front Brakes
- Periodically check the brake fluid level
- Refill the master cylinder as needed
- For disc brakes, the bleeder screw can be found on the caliper above the brake hose
- Have an assistant press the brake pedal three times
- Have an assistant hold the brake pedal down
- Open the bleeder screw
- Wait for the fluid to stop
- Close the bleeder screw
- Have an assistant press the pedal three times
- Have an assistant hold the brake pedal down
- Open the bleeder screw
- Wait for a steady stream of fluid with no air bubbles or burping
- Repeat the process for the other side
- Refill the master cylinder as needed
Tools needed
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Brake Fluid
10mm Wrench
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Start by opening your hood and locating your master cylinder reservoir. You want to make sure that the fluid is topped off, otherwise, add the appropriate fluid.
Leave the cap off and start bleeding the brakes from the farthest corner to the master cylinder. In this case, the right rear. Use a drain bucket or similar catch pan under each corner of the vehicle to catch the brake fluid when you bleed. The rear brakes require an 8mm box end wrench to bleed.
The bleeder screw is located at the top of the wheel cylinder for drum brakes right on the back side of the backing plate here. Have your friend inside the car press the pedal three times and inform you when they're holding the pedal down.
At this point, you'll open the bleeder screw, wait for the fluid to stop coming out, close it, and have them pump the pedal again. Pump it up. When you have a steady stream of fluid with no air bubbles or burping, it's time to move on to the next farthest bleeder screw from the master cylinder, being the left rear.
Repeat the process on the other side in the rear. Pump it up. Be sure to periodically check that your brake fluid isn't running low. Do not run the master cylinder out of brake fluid. Now, we'll move on to the front right.
On your front disk brakes, the bleeder screw will be located just above the brake hose on the back side of the caliper. The front brakes require a 10mm box wrench to bleed. Repeat the same process you did in the rear. Pump it up.
Our bleeder screw is clogged, but as long as we can get fluid, I'll pass the threads to release air. The bleeding process should still work. Finally, we'll bleed the left front. Pump it up.
Again, our bleeder screw is clogged. As long as we can get fluid coming out, the bleed will work. When you finish bleeding, make sure your brake fluid is topped off. Reinstall the cap.
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