How to Bleed Brakes

From time to time, air can get trapped inside your brake lines and disrupt your car’s performance. You can solve this problem by scheduling a service to “bleed your brakes”, or you can simply learn how to bleed brakes by yourself. The process isn’t difficult, but flushing out all the air bubbles can take time and patience. Learn the basics of how to bleed brakes below, and learn more service tips and tricks with our experts at Bell And Bell GMC.

Why Is Bleeding the Brakes Important? 

Before we dive into how to bleed brake lines, how do you get bubbles in your brakes anyway? Brake fluid breaks down over time, and this process allows air and moisture to get into the brake system. Because your brake lines no longer have the pressure you expect, you might not get the usual response when you push the pedal. If your brakes feel “soft” or “spongy” on the North Myrtle Beach roads, that’s a good indication that you need to bleed the brakes. 

How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself 

For all the DIY enthusiasts in Conway, learning how to bleed brakes by yourself is fairly straightforward. You’ll just need new brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a catch container and tubing, and an assistant to help you. If you’re not sure what type of brake fluid you need, ask our service center or just check your owner’s manual. Here are the steps on how to bleed brake lines: 

Step 1: 

On solid and level ground, raise your car with jacks and remove all of the wheels. 

Step 2: 

Locate the four caliper bleeding screws and loosen them. If they won’t loosen, spray with penetrating oil and wait 30 minutes to try again. Don’t proceed if any of the screws strip or snap, and visit the service center instead.

Step 3: 

After you make sure that all screws can be loosened easily, tighten them again. You’ll only be working with one brake at a time.

Step 4: 

Open the hood and check the brake fluid level on the master cylinder reservoir. Add more fluid if needed. Unscrew the master cylinder cap and leave it resting on top of the reservoir. 

Step 5: 

Start by bleeding the brake furthest from the master cylinder, unless your owner’s manual states otherwise. You can also talk with our technicians for advice based on your make and model.

Step 6: 

Grab a piece of clear tubing that is ¼ inches in diameter. Place it over the first bleeder screw and leave the other end hanging into a catch container, like a plastic bottle. The tubing must be long enough that you can place the catch container above the bleeder screw’s height.

Step 7: 

Call in your assistant for help. Ask them to get in the car with the engine off and pump the brake pedal several times until they feel resistance. While they maintain pressure against the pedal, you’ll open a bleeder screw.

Step 8: 

Your assistant will notify you just before the pedal reaches the floor. Once that happens, close the bleeder screw. Look at the master fluid reservoir and add new fluid if needed.

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 most cases, you’ll start with the screw furthest away from the master cylinder and move to the one closest to it. 

Step 11: 

Once you’ve finished up with all of the bleeder screws, ask your assistant to apply the brakes as you watch the master cylinder reservoir. As they will release the pedal, you’ll watch for any bubbling in the reservoir. If you notice a significant amount of bubbling, you’ll want to bleed the brakes again to remove the excess air. If the brake fluid only moves slightly, you should be good to go.

Step 12: 

Tighten each of the bleeder screws and then put the wheels back on. You’re ready to hit the roads in North Myrtle Beach! 

Schedule Your Next Brake Service at Bell And Bell GMC!

While you can always learn how to bleed brakes yourself in Myrtle Beach, sometimes it’s easier to let our service team take care of the job for you! We’re always happy to be of service at Bell And Bell GMC, so don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule an appointment with our team today.