Feel easy to complain about your brakes not functioning well enough. Then there goes your mechanic tell you he will have to bleed brakes to get you going. The first time I heard these words, it sounded wired but that what it is. It is a procedure that you have to take now and then to keep you stepping on proper functioning brakes.
When you step on the brakes, there is a series of process that starts with pumping the brake fluid from the master cylinder through the brake lines. The fluid continues till it squeezes the discs or shoes make contact with the brake drums to eventually slow the car down.
However, over time the effectiveness of the brakes can be hindered by certain external interactions such as rust, moistures, and air in the system. Over time you need to bleed the brakes to get the car brakes functioning to full potentials. In summary, to bleed the brakes means getting the air out of the system.
Brake fluid is like blood to the brake system hence the name of the procedure. It is a procedure you can undertake with just a little nack for technical stuff.
Procedures Bleed Brakes Yourself
Below are the steps to bleed brakes yourself.
Step 1
Every car has requires a specific brake fluid. You can easily get the right brake fluid at your nearest auto part dealer or order online.
Step 2
Jack up your car on a solid using for jacks. Remove all the tires. Be sure to consult your manual for the appropriate direction to do this.
Step 3
Locate all the screws to bleed the brakes. Loosen screws halfway (ensure to be gentle and apply oil or an anti-rust to make losing them easier) Note do not loosen the screws to a point that will allow air in. Because you will be bleeding one at a time.
Step 4
Open the engine compartment and check the brake master cylinder reservoir. If the level goes below the point marked as full, then you will need to top it up using the right fluid from step 1. Do not replace the cover yet because it needs to be that way as you bleed the brakes. Check the manual for the brakes to bleed first. Typically you bleed the brakes farthest fo the cylinder first but some cars are different.
Step 5
Fix one end of the clearing tube ( ¼-inch tube). Put one end of the tube into a container and the other over the bleeder screw of the brakes you decide to bleed first. Ensure to keep the container at a higher positing in comparison to the bleeder screw.
Step 6
Instruct your assistant to pump the brakes severally with the engine off. The assistant should do this until the pedal is active.
Step 7
While the assistant keeps the pressure on the brakes open the screw to bleed the brakes small amount. This will push out the fluid through the tube as the pedal is pressed towards the floor. instruct the assistant to indicate when the pedal is completely lowered.
Step 8:
When the pedal is completely lowered, quickly close the bleeder screw. Then go and check the master cylinder reservoir’s fluid level. Add brake fluid if there is a need to top it.
Step 9
Repeat the steps at least five times on the same wheel until you completely rid the air from the tube.
Step 10
Do the same for all wheels. start from the wheel closest to cylinder to those farthest from it
Step 11:
now you have bled all the brakes on the wheels. Instruct your assistant to apply full pressure on the pedal and release the pedal again while you observe the movement of fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If you notice many eruptions in the fluid, this means that there is still air in the system. Meaning you didn’t bleed the brakes correctly and it has to be done again.
Step 12
Else double-check the bleeder screws and tighten with slight effort. Then proceed to reinstall the wheels. Congrats you have successfully been able to bleed your brakes in steps.
That’s how to bleed the car brakes. I know it is probably a lot for you to start off on your own but with help as assistance, you might be able to get this done easily.
