Proper care and maintenance will ensure that the brakes on your vehicle are always providing you with maximum stopping power on Cherry Hill-area roads. Among the many brake service tasks we handle in the service center here at Acura Turnersville is brake bleeding. Why do you have to bleed the brakes? Air can get trapped in your car’s brake system, which can make the pedal feel spongy and reduce the effectiveness of your brakes. Bleeding the brakes is a way to release the air from the brake lines. The process itself is fairly easy, but it can be time-consuming and difficult to do if you aren’t mechanically inclined. While we recommend that you schedule an appointment with our certified technicians when you are in need of any brake service, knowing how to bleed brake lines is something every Turnersville driver should know. Find out how to bleed brakes, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our service team.
Why Knowing How to Bleed Brakes is Important
Brake fluid is a critical part of the brake system in your car and you should check the brake fluid level on a regular basis. Over time, the moisture resistance of brake fluid wears down, and the fluid will begin to absorb water. Air can also get into the brake system, causing the brake pedal to feel “soft” or “spongy”. Bleeding the brakes is a way to remove any trapped air, which will give your brake pedal a firmer feel and ensure that you get the stopping power you need on the roads in and around Medford.
How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself
If you are interested in learning how to bleed brakes by yourself, you’ll first need to have some brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder and tubing, and an assistant to help you. Then, follow these steps to find out how to bleed brakes by yourself:
Step 1:
Consult your owner’s manual to find out what type of brake fluid your vehicle requires. There are several different types of brake fluid, so it’s important to know which is right for your vehicle.
Step 2:
Park your car on solid and level ground, then jack up the vehicle and remove all of the wheels.
Step 3:
Find the bleeding screws on all four calipers and loosen them. If they don’t loosen immediately, don’t force them. Instead, spray the screw with penetrating oil and wait about 30 minutes. Then, give it another try. If the screw strips or snaps, don’t go any further — bring your car to our service center right away.
Step 4:
After loosening all of the screws, tighten them up again. Bleeding brakes is a slow process and you need to work at one caliper at a time; the other three caliper screws need to be tight to avoid air bubbles.
Step 5:
Pop the hood and check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir to ensure that your car has the appropriate amount of fluid. When bleeding the brakes, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed but still resting on top of the reservoir. To bleed the brakes, you will typically start with the brake caliper furthest from the master cylinder, however some vehicles may require a different order. Check your owner’s manual or ask a technician 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 an inexpensive brake bleeding kit from just about any local Maple Shade-area auto store — or you can order one online — that will have these items. The tubing needs to be long enough that you can 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:
Make sure the car engine is off, and ask your assistant to pump the brake pedal several times until they feel resistance pushing back against the pedal. Instruct them to keep pressure on the pedal. Meanwhile, open the bleeder screw a bit. As fluid moves through the tube, the pedal will start dropping closer to the floor. Make sure your assistant continues to apply pressure.
Step 8:
Have your helper notify you immediately before the pedal reaches the floor. When they do, close the bleeder screw right away. 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 moving 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. While they do that, watch the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid is bubbling significantly, there’s still air in the system and you’re not quite done. However, if the fluid is moving only slightly, you’ve bled the brakes fully.
Step 12:
Tighten each of the bleeder screws. Again, don’t use all of your strength — just apply enough pressure to make sure they’re secure. Then, put the wheels back on the car.
Get Expert Brake Service at Acura Turnersville!
The team at Acura Turnersville will be happy to fill you in on how to bleed brake lines, but if you’d rather have a professional do the job, you can count on our experienced technicians. The prices at our service center in Turnersville are very competitive, and we offer rotating service specials and coupons that can help you save even more. If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call at (856) 317-6580.
