How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself
If you want to try bleeding brakes yourself, you'll need the correct brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder, some ¼ inch clear tubing, and a friend to help you. Then, follow these steps:
Step 1:
Make sure you have the correct brake fluid for your make and model by first checking your owner's manual. There are many different kinds of brake fluid, so it's crucial to use the right type for your vehicle. Your owner's manual will also recommend the proper replacement intervals for brake fluid.
Step 2:
Park your car on level ground. Jack up your car and remove all the wheels.
Step 3:
Next, locate the four caliper bleeding screws and loosen them. If they don't immediately loosen, don't twist them hard with the wrench because you could break them! Instead, spray the screws with penetrating oil like WD40 and wait for about 30 minutes before trying again. Then, try to loosen them. If the screw still doesn't loosen, don't go any further. Stop and make a service appointment at our service center near San Francisco.
Step 4:
Once the screws are loosened, re-tighten them by hand (not too tight). Bleeding your brakes is a slow process, and you must bleed one brake at a time. The other three screws need to be tight to avoid creating air bubbles.
Step 5:
Pop your hood and inspect the master cylinder reservoir's brake fluid level to ensure it has the appropriate amount of fluid. While you're bleeding your brakes yourself, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed and resting on top of the reservoir. Usually, you should begin with the brake furthest from the master cylinder, but check your owner's manual for the correct order.
Step 6:
Put the end of your clear tubing over the first bleeder screw. Put the other end of the tubing into a tub or plastic bottle. You can also purchase a simple brake bleeding kit from the East Bay MINI Authorized Service Center parts center. The tubing should be long enough to place the catch container above the height of the bleeder screw. That way, any air caught in the tubing won't move back into the brake caliper.
Step 7:
You'll need your helper for this next step. With your car engine off, ask your assistant to pump the brake pedal a few times until they feel resistance against the pedal. Then, ask them to keep pressure on the pedal while you unscrew the bleeder screw a little. Fluid will move through the tubing, and the pedal will begin dropping closer to the floor. Make sure your helper keeps pressure on the brake pedal.
Step 8:
Ask your friend to tell you immediately before the brake pedal reaches the floor. When they do, close the bleeder screw immediately. Then, check the brake fluid level in the master fluid reservoir to see if you need to add more brake fluid.
Step 9:
Repeat the previous two steps about five times each on the same bleeder screw or until the fluid stream is entirely free of air bubbles.
Step 10:
Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 on the other bleeder screws in the correct order (according to your owner's manual).
Step 11:
After you've finished bleeding your brakes yourself, ask your assistant to press down on the brake pedal and release it quickly. As they do that, monitor the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid is bubbling significantly, you still have air in the system, so you're not quite finished. If the fluid is moving just slightly, you're done!
Step 12:
Before putting the wheels back on your vehicle, thoroughly tighten each bleeder screw, but don't overtighten them! Only tighten them enough to be sure they're secure.
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If you'd rather have the auto pros at our service center handle the job, reach out to us! We are conveniently located near Livermore and are always happy to help! Check out our service specials for opportunities to save, and contact us today!
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