Instructions on Bleeding a Brake System

The braking system on all vehicles is designed to stop the vehicle by applying the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is pushed in, the brake fluid will pressurize against the cylinder inside of the brake caliper. This causes the caliper cylinder to push inward against the brake pads. The brake pads then compress to the outer and inner sides of the brake rotor to stop the vehicle. As the brake pads wear down, the more brake fluid is needed to compress the brake pads to the brake rotors.

Instructions

1

Park the vehicle in a safe work area that has a level surface. Open the hood and secure the hood in place.

2

Remove the cap from the brake fluid reservoir. Stick the brake fluid removal syringe inside of the reservoir and suck out all of the old brake fluid. Dispense the old brake fluid into the catch pan.

3

Fill the brake fluid reservoir back up with the proper type of brake fluid for your vehicle. Check your owner's manual for the appropriate type of brake fluid to use in your vehicle. Then, put the cap back on the reservoir and close the hood.

4

Jack up the front of the vehicle and place the jack stands under the front jacking points. Lower the vehicle onto the stands.

5

Crawl under the front of the vehicle and locate the brake fluid bleeder screws that are behind the brake calipers on the driver-side and passenger-side wheels. Slide the catch pans under the brake calipers and slowly unscrew the bleeder screws on both calipers with the proper-size open-end wrench until the brake fluid begins to come out.

6

Crawl out from under the vehicle and get in on the driver side of the vehicle. Push the brake pedal all the way down and hold it down. Then release the brake pedal.

7

Crawl back under the driver-side front and inspect the brake fluid that is coming out of the bleeder screws. If the brake fluid looks like the new brake fluid that you poured in, then go ahead and tighten the bleeder screws back up tight. If the brake fluid still looks old, continue to compress the brake pedal in and out until the fluid looks new.

8

Jack the front of the vehicle back up and remove the jack stands.

9

Go back to the top of the engine and recheck the brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir. If the fluid level is low, add more brake fluid to the reservoir until full.

10

Jack up the rear of the vehicle and place the jack stands under the rear jacking points of the vehicle. Lower the vehicle onto the stands.

11

Repeat the same steps above for bleeding the brake fluid on the rear brake calipers. Then jack the vehicle back up and remove the jack stands.

12

Recheck the brake fluid and add more brake fluid if necessary to fill the brake fluid reservoir up to the fill line. Screw the cap back on and close the hood.