How To Bleed Brakes

By Jenna Litchfield
Bleeding brakes you say? How on earth do you do that? Bleeding brakes it really quite simple and easy to do, after all the worrying you will think that it was extremely easy!
You will need two people to be able to complete the bleeding of the brakes as some one will need to be next to the brakes and one will need to be pumping the brakes inside the car.
You will usually need to bleed the brakes if air gets into the brake lines, this causes the brakes to not be as responsive as they used to usually becoming soft and squishy as you are braking however if enough air gets into the brake lines it can cause a complete brake failure and we definitely do not want that!
Basically bleeding your brakes is to open a small valve that is near the caliper and allow some of the brake fluid to escape.

Things you will need to learn how to bleed your brakes:
Two people
Jack and jack stands
Brake fluid which is available from most car part stores always select the brake fluid most relevant to your car, ask for assistance if you need it.
Socket set or wrench and a rag.
Brake cleaner
Plastic tubing and a bottle for the excess brake fluid to be disposed in

So how do I bleed those brakes of mine?
Ok first of all you will have to jack your car up, preferably on a flat service, using jack stands to hold the car up as well, as sometimes jacks can give way.
A good idea is to pull the handbrake up and position the gear to be in 1st as well as putting blocks behind the wheels for extra safety.

Remove the wheels of the specific brake you are doing e.g. front or back.
Behind that you will find the brake set up, the rotor and the caliper or drum brake.

Now open your hood and make sure that you have enough brake fluid in your reservoir, if not top it up with the brake fluid that you have bought, however do not ever at any time let it become empty during bleeding as this can suck more air through the lines.

Now you will be locating a little bleeder screw which is behind your brake caliper and rotor, you will need to undo it but not yet with either a wrench or a socket and place the plastic tubing over it and then insert the tube into the bottle so the brake fluid can drain down into the bottle and not all over your brakes and other parts of your car.

With one hand holding the bottle and the other one on the socket or wrench instruct the other person helping you to pump the brake three times then hold it, after they have instructed they have pumped the brakes loosen the bleeder screw, and the brake fluid should fall out into the tubing and down into the bottle as if it were "bleeding".
The person should feel the brake pedal falling to the floor as the brake fluid escapes tell them to keep there foot on the brake pedal and not release it.
The valve only needs to be open a few seconds if that for the brake fluid to escape, so after the brake pedal has fallen to the floor, tighten the bleeder screw again.
Now they can release the brake pedal, now you will need to check the waste brake fluid for air bubbles, and check the brake fluid reservoir to make sure it is topped up.
If there are any air bubbles in the brake fluid continue to bleed the brakes until there is no more which can be about ten to fifteen times then move on to the rest of the brakes.

When finished all the wheels, tighten the bleeder screws and spray the bleeder screw and all other parts that may have been dripped on with brake cleaner then dry with the rag.

Then you are finished bleeding your brakes, put your wheels back on and lower the car back down to the ground, remember it is in first and you may have put blocks behind the wheels.
Now you know how to bleed brakes however remember if you cannot complete the bleeding of your brakes or need help at all; please seek the advice and help of a qualified mechanic.

See Also:
More information on how to bleed brakes

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