How to Bleed Brakes

There are many facets of automotive service and maintenance. There are also a variety of vehicle components that require regular attention. Car brakes are one of the most important! Not only do brake pads and rotors require regular replacement to give your Chevrolet vehicle stopping power, but they also require other maintenance, such as being bled. Luckily, we’re brake repair experts here at Ryan Chevrolet!

One common, often-overlooked brake repair that needs to be done if there’s air trapped in your car’s brake system is bleeding brakes. Looking for information on how to bleed brakes by yourself? The process itself isn’t overly complicated, but it can be time-consuming. As such, we highly recommend scheduling brake bleeding service with us. But if you’d like to give this maintenance task a go yourself, read on to learn what you need to know.

Why is Bleeding the Brakes Important?

Bleeding the brakes may sound like a serious or scary procedure, but it’s not. It is, however, important to be precise and patient when completing this repair.

Why do brakes need to be bled? Over time, brake fluid’s moisture resistance wears down, and the fluid starts to absorb water. During this process, air can also get into the brake system, causing the brake pedal to feel “soft” or “spongy” when you press it. Bleeding the brakes helps remove trapped air, giving your brake pedal a firmer feel and you more confidence on the roads of Williston and New Town. That said, let’s dive into how to bleed brakes now!

How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself

If you want to try DIY bleeding your Chevrolet vehicle’s brakes at home, you’ll need:

•  Brake fluid
• A box-end wrench
• A fluid holder and tubing
• An assistant to help you — (this is not a one-person job)

After you’ve gathered the materials you need, follow these steps:

Step 1:

Check your owner’s manual to ensure you have the right brake fluid for your vehicle. There are many different brake fluid types, so it’s important to know which one is right for your vehicle. Looking for recommended replacement intervals for brake fluid? That information should also be in your owner’s manual.

*Remember: we’re always here to answer your questions. Contact us at Ryan Chevrolet with any questions along your brake bleeding process!

Step 2:

On solid and level ground, jack up your car. Next, remove all the wheels.

Step 3:

Locate the four brake caliper screws, and loosen them. Don’t force them, though. If they’re stuck, spray them with penetrating oil and wait about half an hour. If the screws strip or snap, do NOT attempt any further repairs. Bring your vehicle to our service pros right away.

Step 4:

If you’ve managed to loosen the screws, it’s time to tighten them again. Bleeding your brakes is a slow process, and you need to bleed one brake at a time; the other three screws will all need to be tight to avoid air bubbles getting into the brake system, thereby nullifying any progress you’ve made thus far bleeding your brakes.

Step 5:

Check the master cylinder reservoir’s brake fluid level in your engine bay. Make sure your car has the appropriate amount of fluid. While you’re bleeding the brakes, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed but still resting on top of the reservoir.

To start bleeding your brakes, you’ll want to bleed the brake furthest from the master cylinder, but your vehicle may require a different order than others. You can check your owner’s manual or ask one of our technicians for guidance.

Step 6:

Secure the end of a piece of clear tubing (about 1/4 inches in diameter) over the first bleeder screw.

Put the other end of the tubing into a receptacle of some sort, such as a plastic bottle. You can also purchase a cheap brake bleeding kit from any auto store — or order one online — that’ll have these items.

Tip: you will need tubing that’s long enough to place the catch container above the bleeder screw’s height. This way, any air caught in the tube won’t move back into the brake caliper!

Step 7:

For this step, you’ll need someone else to help you. Be sure your car engine is off for this step, too.

Ask whoever helps you pump the brake pedal inside the vehicle several times until they feel resistance pushing back against the pedal. Then, tell them to keep the pressure on the pedal.

With your helper keeping the brake depressed, open the first bleeder screw a bit. Fluid will move through the tube, and the pedal will start dropping closer to the floor. Make sure your assistant continues to apply pressure.

Step 8:

Have your helper notify you right before the pedal reaches the floor. When they do, close the bleeder screw immediately. Then, inspect the fluid level in the master fluid reservoir. You may need to add fresh fluid.

Step 9:

Repeat the previous two steps about five times at the same bleeder screw or until the fluid stream no longer has any bubbles.

Step 10:

Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 on the other three bleeder screws in the correct order — starting with the screw further away from the master cylinder and making your way to the one closest to it.

Step 11:

After you’ve finished bleeding your brakes, instruct your helper to apply the brakes, then quickly release the pedal. At the same time they do that, observe the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid is bubbling significantly, there’s still air in the system, and you’re not done yet. However, if the fluid is moving only slightly, you’ve bled the brakes fully.

Step 12:

Before putting the wheels back on your car, tighten each of the bleeder screws. Do NOT use all of your strength — apply just enough pressure to be sure they’re secure.

Schedule Brake Service or Brake Bleeding in Minot!

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about how to bleed brake lines near Bismarck, we hope that you feel confident enough to repeat the procedure yourself! That said, we recognize that for a majority of Minot-area drivers, scheduling brake bleeding service at our service center is much easier and less time-consuming. So go ahead and make a service appointment now if you feel ready for your vehicle to be pampered by Chevrolet-trained technicians who are experts in all manner of brake repair tasks!