How to Bleed Brakes

Your brakes are possibly the most important part of your vehicle, playing a critical role in keeping you safe on the Queens roads. Part of properly maintaining your vehicle is regular brake service, including inspections and repairs from time to time. You may have come across the term “bleeding your brakes,” but what does this mean?

In short, it’s a process that releases excess air trapped in your brake system so the brakes continue to work properly. You can do it yourself from home by following a few simple steps, but it’s important that you follow them to the letter so you don’t accidentally damage your brakes. The service team at Major World has everything you need to know about how to bleed brake lines in the guide below.

Why is Bleeding the Brakes Important?

So, why should you bother with bleeding your brakes? As you drive your car more frequently, the moisture resistance of your brake fluid will start to wear down and start absorbing water. The braking system will also start to get air trapped in it over time. Excess water and air inside the brake system will cause the brake pedal to feel “soft” or “spongy” when you press down on it, which makes the brakes less effective. When you bleed your brakes, you let the excess air and fluid out of the system to firm up the brake pedal.

How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself

The first thing you should do if you want to bleed your brakes from home is to gather the necessary materials: brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder and tubing, and an assistant to help you. Then, just follow these instructions:

1. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you’ve gotten the correct brake fluid, since there are many different types for different vehicles.
2. Bring your car to solid, level ground, and jack it up. Then, remove your wheels.
3. Find and loosen the four caliper bleeding screws – if they don’t loosen immediately, spray the screws with penetrating oil and wait 30 minutes. Don’t twist hard with the wrench – if you do and the screw snaps, contact our service center right away so we can take care of things.
4. Slowly tighten the screws again.
5. Pop open your car’s hood and check the master cylinder reservoir’s brake fluid level. You’ll want to leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed while you’re bleeding the brakes, but make sure the cap is still resting on top of the reservoir.
6. Start by bleeding the brake furthest from the master cylinder (double-check with your owner’s manual to make sure it doesn’t require a different order).
7. Secure the end of a piece of clear tubing – around ¼ inch in diameter – over the first bleeder screw. Then, put the other end of the tubing into a receptacle like a plastic bottle.
8. This is where it’s important to have an assistant. Ask your assistant to pump the brake pedal several times (with the engine off), until they feel resistance pushing back against the pedal. Make sure they’re keeping pressure on the pedal, and open the bleeder screw a bit. You’ll see fluid start to move through the tube and the pedal will start dropping closer to the floor.
9. Have your assistant notify you right before the brake pedal reaches the floor. As soon as they tell you, close the bleeder screw immediately and inspect the fluid level in the master fluid reservoir. If it’s dropped below the appropriate level, add more brake fluid.
10. Repeat the previous two steps about five times at the same bleeder screw, or until the fluid stream no longer has any bubbles.
11. Repeat the above steps on the other three bleeder screws, starting with the screw further away from the master cylinder and ending with the one closest to it.
12. Ask your helper to apply the brakes once you’re done bleeding them, and keep an eye on the master cylinder reservoir. If you see the fluid bubble significantly, then there’s still air trapped in the system and you need to repeat the bleeding process.
13. Re-tighten each of the bleeder screws. You’re all set!

Get Brake Service at Major World!

Now that you know how to bleed your brake lines, you might be interested in our other service tips and tricks! If you’d rather that a professional bleed your brakes for you, go ahead and schedule a service appointment with Major World so we can take care of it for you. We’ll have you back on the Bronx roads in no time! You can also contact our service center with any questions, or for more information about the services we offer.