How to Bleed Brakes

Your brake system is one of the most important safety systems on the roads, so it’s important to maintain your brakes properly. Brake bleeding is one of the crucial services that will keep your vehicle running smoothly for miles to come in Naperville. While the process isn’t difficult, it can be fairly time consuming. But, our service department at River View Ford would be happy to take care of the heavy lifting for you! Let’s get into the basics of how to bleed brake lines.

Benefits of Bleeding Brakes

First off, what is bleeding your brakes? This process involves releasing any air or moisture that’s trapped in your braking system. Both air and moisture can build up in your system during your everyday commutes in Montgomery, and this can cause your brakes to feel either “soft” or “spongy” when you press the pedal. After your service, your brakes will feel much firmer.

How to Bleed Brakes by Yourself

If you’re a fan of DIY car care, learning how to bleed brakes by yourself is perfectly feasible. However, you’ll need to block out a good deal of time and gather the right supplies.

1. Find brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder and tubing, and an assistant to help you. Check your owner’s manual if you’re not sure what brake fluid you need.
2. Jack your car on a solid, level ground. Remove the wheels.
3. Loosen the four caliper bleeding screws to make sure they are in good shape, but be careful not to damage the screw. If the screws seem stuck, spray with penetrating oil and wait 30 minutes to try again. Once you’ve successfully loosened the screws, tighten them back up.
4.  Pop the hood and check the master cylinder reservoir’s brake fluid levels. Leave the cap unscrewed throughout the process – but don’t lose it!
5. Place one end of a clear ¼ inch tubing segment over the first bleeder screw and place the other end over a catch container. The catch container should be at a lower height than the screws, so be sure your tubing is long enough,
6. Ask your assistant to pump the brake pedal several times until they feel resistance. Open the bleeder screw, and fluid will flow down the tubing.
7. Your assistant will maintain pressure on the pedal as you bleed the brakes, alerting you before their foot reaches the floor. Then, close the bleeder screw.
8. Double check the fluid level in the master fluid reservoir. If it has decreased, add more fluid.
9. Repeat the process at least five times on each bleeder screw, or until the fluid stream doesn’t have bubbles in it.
10. Repeat the process on the remaining bleeder screws. You want to move from the screw furthest from the master cylinder to the screw closest to the master cylinder.
11. When you’re done, check your work. Ask your assistant to apply the brakes and quickly release the pedal. Watch the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If it bubbles, you should repeat the process. If the fluid only moves slightly, you’re done!
12. Tighten each bleeder screw until it’s secure, put the wheels back on, and lower your car to the ground.

Get Quality Brake Service at River View Ford

Learning how to bleed brakes is a valuable skill, but it can take a lot of effort for even the most skilled home mechanic in Yorkville. If you’d like to get a quality brake service from a professional, schedule your service appointment with River View Ford. Our team can restore your brakes, perform any other maintenance or repairs that you need, and share tips on how to prevent vehicle damage, so contact us today with any questions or check out our current service specials!