How to Bench Bleed a Master Cylinder in a Chevy Silverado

The rough and tough Chevy Silverado line consists of the 1500, 2500 and 3500 models. When replacing the brake master cylinder in a Chevy Silverado, you should bench bleed the new one before you install it. It only takes about 10 minutes and will make sure there isn't any air in the system that can, in turn, get pumped into your brake lines. These instructions apply to any model year.

Instructions

1

Remove the old master cylinder before you bench bleed the new one. It sits prominently on the driver's side of the engine compartment to the right of the engine. You can clean and reuse the old reservoir or get a new one (some master cylinders come with one).

2

Set the new Chevy Silverado master cylinder in a vise on your work bench or table. Clamp it into place, ensuring that it's level; this helps make sure air pockets don't form during the process. Remove the supplies that came in your bleeder kit and set them out, so you can inventory what you have.

3

Install the reservoir onto the replacement cylinder, if it's not already done. Find the two fittings that came with your kit and screw them into the outlets on the side of the cylinder. Insert the two lengths of plastic tubing from the kit into the fittings, then bend them up so they aim into the brake fluid reservoir.

4

Cut the hoses so they stick halfway down into the reservoir. Clip the two tubes to the lip of the reservoir to keep them in place, so you don't end up allowing air into the system or spraying brake fluid everywhere.

5

Fill the Chevy Silverado's reservoir with fresh brake fluid. Put enough fluid into the reservoir to fill it just short of the maximum fill line. The hoses should extend down into the fluid to make a temporary hydraulic system.

6

Pump the piston on the master cylinder to push the brake fluid through it and into the hoses. Do this by inserting the screwdriver into the cylinder and pushing it against the piston to start pumping the fluid. The fluid will recycle back into the reservoir, but that's okay since you used fresh fluid.

7

Watch for the air bubbles coming out of the hoses and into the brake fluid in the reservoir. Keep pumping until all the air is out of the cylinder and bubbles no longer appear. If the hoses that came with your kit are black, you might want to buy clear ones to help you see the bubbles better.

8

Keep the hoses in the reservoir and remove the cylinder from the vise. Now you can install the primed master cylinder into your Chevy Silverado.