How To Bleed Brakes (Step-By-Step Guide + 3 FAQs)

Does your brake pedal feel spongy? 
Does it take longer than usual to stop your car? 

Over time, brake fluid can lose its moisture resistance. This causes air bubbles to develop inside the brake fluid and reduce its performance. 

But, don’t worry. 
You can fix this with brake bleeding. 

In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to bleed brakes and highlight what you need to be aware of when you go about doing it.

We’ll also cover some FAQs, including the different ways to bleed brakes and when bleeding brakes is not the solution to fix your car brakes. 

This Article Contains 

• How To Bleed Brakes (Step-By-Step)
• 3 FAQs On Bleeding Brakes 
  • What Are The Other Ways To Bleed Car Brakes?
  • When Do I Need To Bleed My Car Brakes?
  • When Is A Brake Bleed Not The Solution?

Let’s brake in!

How To Bleed Brakes (Step-By-Step)

Bleeding your car brakes correctly requires the right technical know-how. 
If you’re unsure, it’s best to call a certified mechanic who can perform the brake service for you.

But if you wish to do it yourself, here’re the steps to bleed brakes: 

• Step 1: Get The Right Brake Fluid
• Step 2: Mount The Car And Remove The Tires
• Step 3: Loosen The Bleeder Screw
• Step 4: Check The Brake Fluid Level 
• Step 5: Cover The Screw Opening With Tubing
• Step 6: Get An Assistant To Engage The Brake Pedal
• Step 7: Repeat On Each Brake 
• Step 8: Observe The Master Cylinder Reservoir

Note: We’ve covered the two-person manual method here, but there are other methods to bleed brakes as well. 

However, before we dive into these steps, there’re a few precautions to observe.

Precautions For A Brake Bleed:

• Never work on the brakes right after a drive. Brake lines and the brake fluid in them can be very hot.
• Always wear latex gloves while dealing with brake fluid as it can be carcinogenic. 
• Don’t let your brake fluid come in contact with the brake pads or brake rotor. It can lubricate the brake pads and decrease brake efficiency.
• If you spot a brake line leak, ask a mechanic to fix it first.
• Never reuse old brake fluid. It may contain impurities that can corrode critical parts of your brake system.
• Clean up spills as quickly as possible as brake fluid can eat away your car’s paint.

Now, let’s dive into how to bleed brakes: 

Step 1: Get The Right Brake Fluid 

The most common fluid is DOT 3, but you should always consult the owner’s manual to get only the specific brake fluid type your vehicle needs. 

Good-quality brake fluid isn’t expensive, and you can easily find it at an auto parts store. You may require two or three 12-ounce cans of clean brake fluid to bleed your brake system.

Step 2: Mount The Car And Remove The Tires

Jack up your vehicle on a level, solid ground (preferably a garage floor or driveway). 

Here’s how: 

• Place four jack stands at the jacking points shown in your owner’s manual. 
• Get a tire iron to remove the lug nuts from your tires. 
• Remove the tires and wheels to expose each brake caliper assembly or brake drum.

Step 3: Loosen the Bleeder Screw

Locate each of the four caliper bleeder screws (also called a bleeder valve or caliper bleed screw). You’ll typically find the bleeder screw at the bottom of the brake caliper assembly in a disc brake. 

In drum brakes, it’s on the rear of the backing plate (attached to the wheel cylinder inside the drum.) 

The size and location of a hydraulic brake bleeder valve may vary according to the make and model of your vehicle.

Here’s what you do next: 

• Use a box wrench to loosen the bleeder bolt gently. If it resists, don’t twist the wrench too hard. 
• Spray the bleeder bolt with penetrating oil and let it soak for 30 minutes. Then, attempt to unscrew it again. 
• Once you’ve loosened each bleed screw, place them back again. 

You’ll bleed one brake at a time, so every other caliper bleed screw should be closed to prevent air bubble entries into the brake system. 

Note: If you snap off or strip a bleeder bolt, stop immediately and call for professional help. 

Step 4: Check The Brake Fluid Level

While bleeding brakes, ensure that the brake fluid reservoir stays full at all times. 

To do that: 

• Lift your car’s hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir.
• Open the master cylinder cap and add fresh brake fluid if the brake fluid level is lower than the maximum mark. Use only the recommended brake fluid here. 
• Keep the master cylinder cap unscrewed but still in place to prevent further air bubbles if the fluid level falls.

Step 5: Cover the Screw Opening With Tubing

Fit one end of clear plastic tubing (¼-inch in diameter) over the first bleeder screw.

You should start with the most distant brake (passenger rear wheel) from the master cylinder, but some cars require a different order. Check that in your owner’s manual or ask your dealer’s service department.

Now, put the other end of the plastic tubing into a disposable bottle containing some clean brake fluid. This’ll prevent air from being sucked back into the brake caliper, wheel cylinder, or brake master cylinder.

Step 6: Get An Assistant To Engage The Brake Pedal

Ensure that your car’s engine stays off while you bleed brakes. 

Here’s how you should bleed the brake: 

• Ask your assistant to pump the brake pedal several times and then hold the pedal halfway to the floor. If pushed too far, it can drive the secondary piston of the master cylinder across sediments or deposits that can damage piston seals and cause leaks.

Tip: Place a small block of wood underneath the brake pedal to prevent pushing the pedal more than halfway to the floor. 

• Next, have your assistant yell out “Pressure” when the pedal is down.  
• Use the brake bleeder wrench to open the valve. The hydraulic brake will force air and old brake fluid out of the brake line, into the jar.
• Just when the pedal nears the floor (and touches the wooden block), the assistant should yell “Down.”
• Immediately close the bleeder valve.
• Ask them to release the pedal and wait for them to say “Up.”
• Repeat this process several times until no more air bubbles come out with the fluid.

Step 7: Repeat On Each Brake 

After you’ve bled your first brake successfully, repeat Step 6 for the remaining brakes. 

In most cars, a brake bleeder sequence starts with the passenger rear wheel, the driver rear wheel, the passenger front, and finally, the driver front. However, always follow your owner’s manual for the correct sequence. 

Also, check the fluid level in the cylinder reservoir after working on each brake bleed. Top it up with clean brake fluid if necessary.  

Once done, securely close each bleed valve and fill up the cylinder reservoir with fresh brake fluid. 

Next, reinstall the wheels and lower your car to the ground. 

Step 8: Observe The Master Cylinder Reservoir

Ask your partner to press down the brake pedal firmly and then release it abruptly. 

Observe the motion of the fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. A slight agitation in the brake fluid indicates that you’ve done the job right. 

However, if you notice a significant fluid eruption, the brake system still has some air bubbles. In that case, you‘ll have to repeat the brake bleeding procedure. 

Let’s go over some questions on bleeding brakes next. 

3 FAQs On Bleeding Brakes 

Here’re answers to some of the common questions you might have: 

1. What Are The Other Ways To Bleed Car Brakes?

Other brake bleeding methods include: 

• Pressure Bleeding: A pressure bleeder regulates the brake fluid pressure in the master cylinder reservoir and pushes fresh brake fluid through a hose. 

• Vacuum Bleeding: Requires a specialized vacuum pump to remove the old brake fluid by attaching the pump’s suction end to the bleed valve. 

• Reverse Bleeding: The brake system is bled by forcing the air up and out of the cylinder reservoir. This method is ideal for ABS brakes.

2. When Do I Need To Bleed My Brakes?

A hydraulic brake system works by applying hydraulic pressure as liquid can’t be compressed. However, when air bubbles enter a brake line, and you push the brake pedal, it only compresses the air, with minimal force reaching the brake pads. 

When that happens, you get spongy brakes, and you’ll have to bleed them out. 

Here’re the other situations when a brake repair requires bleeding your brakes: 

• When it takes longer than usual to stop your car
• Leaking in a brake line
• Worn out brake pads 
• If you’ve used the brake too much and for too long
• If you’ve changed any of the brake system components like a brake line, caliper pistons, master cylinder, etc. 
• As a part of car maintenance

3. When Is A Brake Bleed Not The Solution?

Certain brake issues aren’t linked to any air bubble trapped in the brake system. 

These include: 

• A firm brake pedal feel, yet the ABS isn’t working. The problem could be with the ABS module. 
• If brakes make noise, the issue could be the brake rotor or brake pad wear. 
• If brakes tend to lock and the brake pedal doesn’t return to the neutral position quickly.
• If your ebrake isn’t working efficiently. The issue could be with the brake lever cable.