How to Bleed Brakes

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or you’re simply interested in learning about the various maintenance tasks that go into ensuring that your car has a long lifespan out on those Shreveport, Bossier City, or Stonewall area roadways, the experts here at Rountree Ford have provided you with this brief step-by-step guide detailing how to bleed brakes.

In the event that air gets into your brake line, it will get trapped and seriously reduce your brakes’ ability to work properly. It can even cause your brakes to fail entirely. As a result, it’s necessary to open the system’s pipes and hoses in order to get rid of that air. Read on to learn how to do this properly.

The Necessary Supplies

Before getting started, remember to take a look at your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find out the right type of brake fluid for your car. Here are the items you’ll need when bleeding your brakes:

• Brake fluid
• A box-end wrench
• A turkey baster
• A clean rag
• Clear plastic tubing
• Two disposable bottles or jars

You’re also going to need an assistant. The following procedure should be performed about every three years.

Step 1: See to it that the Master Cylinder Reservoir is Emptied and Refilled

The master cylinder reservoir is under the hood directly behind the brake pedal. You should be able to recognize it by the fact that it has a black cap. Take the turkey baster and use it to remove the old brake fluid. Pour the fluid into one of the jars or bottles. Once you have it all out, wipe the reservoir out with the clean rag and pour in the new brake fluid. Make sure you pour it in to the fill line.

Step 2: Get the Fluid Flowing

To get the brake fluid flowing through the system, all you have to do it pump the brake pedal about 15 times.

Step 3: Jack Up the Car

Lifting the car is necessary because the bleeder valves are located behind the brake system on each tire. Here’s where you’re going to need that assistant. Have him or her sit inside the car while you lift it.

Step 4: Get Ready to Drain Bleeder Bolt

Now that the car is up, the next step is to hook the clear plastic tubing to the bleeder bolt that’s the farthest from the reservoir. The other end of the tubing goes in the second bottle or jar that already contains two to three inches of the new brake fluid.

Step 5: Drain Bleeder Bolt

To get the old fluid into the tube, have your assistant push down on the brake pedal. Once they’ve done this, turn the bolt a quarter of the way. Close the valves when the old fluid stops dripping into the jar. Your assistant can take their foot off the brake at this time. This process needs to be repeated until clean brake fluid begins to run out of the tube.

Step 6: Repeat

Perform steps four and five on the other three tires.

Step 7: You’re all Done

Make sure all parts are secured and lower the vehicle.

Schedule Your Regular Maintenance with us Today

Feel free to send us an email or give us a call if you have questions about the above steps for bleeding your brakes. If you’re in Shreveport, Bossier City, or Stonewall and you would like our team here at Rountree Ford to perform this procedure for you, contact us to set up an appointment today.