How to Bleed the Brake Lines After a Front Brake Job
You can save time and money by changing brake pads and rotors at home, instead of taking your car to a shop. When you are done replacing the brakes, it is imperative to remember to bleed the brakes. The process of bleeding the brakes gets the air out of the brake lines and keeps the brakes functioning properly. You will need a helper when bleeding the brakes at home.
Things You'll Need:
- 10 millimeter wrench
- Rubber gloves
- Leave the car on the jack after finishing the brake job. Ensure that there are blocks behind the back wheels to keep the car from rolling. Put on the gloves.
- Begin on the side that is furthest from the master cylinder, which is usually the passenger side. You only need to bleed the brakes on the wheels that you serviced; so if you only opened a brake line on the front wheels, you do not have to bleed the rear.
- Locate the bleeder valve, which looks similar to a small bolt that can be twisted with a wrench. Place the 10 millimeter wrench on the bleeder valve and tell your assistant to push the brake pedal all the way down.
- Twist the bleeder valve to open up the lines once the brake pedal has been pressed to the floor. Ask your assistant if there is any pressure in the brake system; there should not be any pressure once the lines are opened all the way.
- Tell your assistant to pump the brakes to let out the air in the system. The first few times pushing the brake pedal, air may the only thing that comes out of the valve. Pump the brakes until a little bit of liquid starts to drain out.
- Lock the bleeder valve by turning it in the opposite direction. Tell your assistant to release the brakes.
- Instruct your assistant to begin pumping the brakes again to build up pressure. After a few seconds, twist the bleeder valve a little until some liquid begins coming out. Pumping the brakes forces more air through the lines. You should hear the air coming out right before more of the brake fluid begins to leak.
- Repeat steps six through seven to make sure all the air is removed from the brake system. Any air left can cause brake failure while driving on the road. When there is a solid stream of brake fluid without any air before or in it, the air is removed from the system. Ensure the bleeder valve is tightened completely.
- Move to the other side of the car and repeat steps three through eight to bleed the brake system on the opposite wheel.