Tips on Bleeding Your Automotive Brakes

No matter the reason why, you now need to bleed the air out of your vehicles brake system. Perhaps you had a broken line or maybe a wheel cylinder popped and drained all the fluid and now after repairs you need to get the air out of the entire system. I am going to describe a way to do this that avoids all that pedal pumping and opening and closing of the brake bleeder screws.

Go to your local tool and hardware supply store. What you are looking for is a hand pumped oil can. The kind to get is the one that uses your index and middle finer to operate it. The thumb operated kind will work but the finger operated kind is better. Make sure the oil can has a flexible spout as well.

Next acquire some flexible plastic tubing. About 3 to 4 feet is plenty. The opening on the end of this tubing should be about one quarter of an inch. You can probably get this tubing in aquarium supplies or the medical goods suppliers. That kind is made of latex and is super stretchy. Pick up a quart size bottle of brake fluid while you are at it.

Let us assume it is the rear wheels that need bled of air and filled with brake fluid. First, push the flexible tubing over the spout end of your oil can. Once firmly on, fill the oil can with fresh clean brake fluid. Now, you want to start at the wheel farthest away from the master cylinder. The master cylinder is usually on the drivers side firewall so the farthest wheel is the right rear wheel. Break loose the bleeder valve to begin with. You do not want to go any farther until this valve is broken loose. Once it is loose immediately snug it back down and then break loose the brake line nut itself. This will allow you to pull the line completely away. Now fit the other end of you flexible tubing over the end of the line. Now slowly and steadily begin pumping your oil can.

The brake fluid will be pumped into the line and up to the master cylinder. The nice thing about this procedure is that the air is steadily pushed out as well. The air will emerge and escape through the master cylinder. And following the air will be the brake fluid. Fill the master cylinder about half way. Now strip the flexible tubing from the steel brake line and thread the nut back into the brake cylinder and then open the bleeder valve. When brake fluid begins dripping out of the bleeder valve, the wheel cylinder is full, the air is gone and that is one line fully bled.

Time to do the other side. Again, make sure you break loose the bleeder valve first. Snug it back down and then remove the brake line. Refill your oil can and fill this side exactly as you did the other. You can be sure the line is fully purged of air when the master cylinder is three fourths full. Replace you brake line and open the bleeder until brake fluid begins coming out and re-close the valve.

If the front wheels of your vehicle are also in need of bleeding you must again start with the wheel farthest away from the master cylinder. The right wheel. Bleed it, and the the drivers side wheel and you will be done and your brakes should be much improved.

This very same procedure will work on bleeding hydraulic clutch systems as well. Be sure and always use clean fluid when bleeding brake and hydraulic systems. Brake fluid especially is prone to absorb water. And water in the brake fluid leads to corrosion in the entire system. Corrosion or rust, will gradually pit cylinder pistons, degrade O-rings, and destroy brake lines leading to sudden brake failure.