How Can I Bleed the Brakes After Changing the Master Cylinder on a 1997 Jeep?

1997 Jeeps, regardless of model, use power brakes. The power brake system allows you to press a pedal into the power booster adding to the stopping power, which compresses the piston in the master cylinder sending fluid to the brakes. Replacing the master cylinder or any part of the system in the Jeep will cause air to become trapped in the line. When replacing the master cylinder or brake booster, flush the brake system and bleed the brakes.

Instructions

Flush the Brake Lines

1

Siphon out any brake fluid in the master cylinder using a turkey baster or similar device. If you have just replaced the part, no fluid should be present. Fill the reservoir to the fill line with DOT-3 brake fluid.

2

Raise the vehicle one wheel at a time with a jack while removing the tires using a lug wrench. Place the jack under the axle and raise the vehicle up. Loosen the lug nuts and remove the tires. Set them to the side. Place a jack stand under the frame of the vehicle and remove the jack.

3

Loosen all four bleed screws. Disc brake bleed screws are located on the caliper facing the engine. Drum brake bleed screws are located on the back of the drum above the axle.

4

Have an assistant press down on the brake pedal and hold the pedal in place. Tighten the bleed screws and release the pedal. Repeat this process until the fluid coming out of the bleeders is clean. While processing, make sure to keep the brake fluid reservoir full.

Bleed the Brakes

5

Bleed the passenger rear brake first, as it is the furthest from the reservoir, to ensure all the air is evacuated from the line without air bubbles just shifting around in the system. After the passenger rear, bleed the driver rear, then the passenger front and finally the driver front.

6

Place one end of the plastic tubing onto the bleed screw and the other end submerged in the clear plastic container partially filled with brake fluid.

7

Have the assistant depress the brake pedal. Loosen the bleed screw and watch for air bubbles to come out of the end of the tube. Once the flow of bubbles or fluid stops, tighten the screw. Release the brake pedal. Repeat the process until you see no bubbles come out of the rubber tubing for at least three times. Fully tighten the bleed screw. Watch the fluid level to make sure it remains at least half full at all times.

8

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the other three tires as outlined in Step 1.

9

Replace each wheel and the lug nuts. Going one wheel at a time, raise the vehicle to remove the jack stand and lower the vehicle to the ground.

10

Tighten all the lug nuts to factory specifications upon lowering the vehicle.