How to Bleed Brakes?

Close-up of car brake discs and pads on a white background.

Certified GM Service

The brake system on your car, SUV, or truck is made up of a variety of components that work together to provide the optimum stopping power you need on Ellerslie-area roads and beyond. That’s why it is so important to ensure that your brake pads, rotors, and calipers are always functioning properly.

In some circumstances, air may get trapped in the brake system, which will make the pedal feel “spongy” and negatively affect your stopping power. In order to release the trapped air, you’ll need to know how to bleed the brake lines. While we strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment at the Capital GMC Buick Service Centre to have our expert technicians take care of this, we believe knowing how to bleed brakes is important information every Edmonton driver should know. Learn more about how to bleed brakes by yourself in this guide from our certified service team.

Why is Bleeding the Brakes Important?

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” when you press it. Bleeding the brakes helps remove any trapped air, giving your brake pedal a firmer feel, while providing the full stopping power needed to keep you and those around you safe on the roads in and around Millwoods.

How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself

If you want to try bleeding your brakes at home, you’ll need the following:

Brake fluid
A box-end wrench
A fluid holder and tubing
A car jack and four jack stands
An assistant to help you

Once you are ready, follow these steps on how to bleed brakes by yourself:

Step 1: Check your owner’s manual to find out what type of brake fluid your car requires. There are many different types of brake fluid, so it’s important to know which is right for your vehicle.
Step 2: Park the vehicle on solid and level ground, jack up your car and remove all of the wheels.
Step 3: Locate the four caliper bleeding screws and loosen them. If they won’t loosen immediately, don’t try to 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 Centre right away.
Step 4: Once the screws are loosened, tighten them again. Bleeding your brakes is a slow process and you need to bleed one brake at a time; the other three screws need to be tight to avoid air bubbles.
Step 5: Open the hood of the vehicle and check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir to make sure your car has the appropriate amount of fluid. While you’re bleeding the brakes, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed but still resting on top of the reservoir. To start, you’ll want to bleed the brake furthest from the master cylinder, but your vehicle may require a different order. You should check your owner’s manual or ask a technician for guidance.
Step 6: Secure the end of a piece of clear tubing 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 a cheap brake bleeding kit from any local Edmonton auto store. 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 your helper to keep pressure on the pedal. Meanwhile, open the bleeder screw a bit. Fluid will move through the tube and the pedal will start dropping closer to the floor. Make sure your assistant continues to apply pressure throughout this process.
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, as 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, ask your helper to apply the brakes, then quickly release the pedal. While this is going on, 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 fully bled the brakes.
Step 12: Tighten each of the bleeder screws. Again, don’t use all of your strength – just apply enough pressure to make sure that they are secure.

Get Brake Service at Capital GMC Buick!

Knowing how to bleed the brake lines on your vehicle can help ensure your safety on Edmonton roads. If you’d rather leave the job of bleeding your car’s brakes to the professionals, the team at Capital GMC Buick is here to help. We provide expert brake service and you can rely on our skilled technicians to get the job done right. Please contact our Service Centre if you have any questions or concerns.

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