How to Safely Bleed Your Brakes

Proper brake maintenance is crucial to your vehicle’s performance, and brake bleeding is an essential aspect of this process. Whether there’s air lodged in your brake system, or you’re curious about how to bleed brakes, this guide is for you. While our service team at Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Princeton is always available for professional assistance, we believe it’s beneficial for every Princeton driver to understand how to bleed brake lines.

Why Is Brake Bleeding Necessary?

The concept of bleeding your brakes may seem intimidating, but it’s a routine part of your car’s upkeep. Over time, brake fluid loses its resistance to moisture, leading to water absorption. This can cause air to enter the brake system, resulting in a “spongy” brake pedal. Bleeding the brakes effectively removes this air, leading to a more responsive brake pedal.

How to Bleed Brakes by Yourself

If you’re feeling adventurous and wish to bleed your brakes at home, gather the following: brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder, some tubing, and a willing assistant. The steps for how to bleed breaks by yourself are as follows:

1. Refer to your owner’s manual to ascertain the correct brake fluid for your car. Various types of brake fluid exist, so it’s crucial to use the right one. Visit our page on brake fluids to learn more.
2. Secure your car on flat ground and jack it up. Then, remove all wheels.
3. Identify the four caliper bleeding screws and attempt to loosen them. If they don’t budge, apply penetrating oil and wait about 30 minutes before retrying.
4. Retighten the screws. Remember to bleed one brake at a time to prevent air bubbles.
5. Inspect the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. Ensure it’s filled to the appropriate level. Leave the cap unscrewed but resting on the reservoir while bleeding the brakes.
6. Attach a clear tubing to the first bleeder screw, placing the other end into a plastic bottle or similar container. The tubing should be long enough to allow the container to be above the height of the bleeder screw.
7. With the car engine off, have your assistant pump the brake pedal until they feel resistance. They should maintain pressure on the pedal while you slightly open the bleeder screw.
8. As the pedal descends closer to the floor, close the bleeder screw. Check the brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir and refill if necessary.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 about five times on the same bleeder screw or until the fluid stream appears bubble-free.
10. Repeat the process on the other three bleeder screws, starting from the one furthest from the master cylinder.
11. After bleeding, ask your assistant to apply and release the brakes quickly. If you observe minimal fluid movement in the master cylinder reservoir, you’ve successfully bled your brakes.
12. Finally, tighten the bleeder screws and reattach the wheels.

Experience Professional Brake Service at Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Princeton

If your brake pedal feels spongy, it might be time to bleed your brakes. Although this is a task you can perform at home, our expert team at Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Princeton near New Brunswick is ready to help. What’s more, our rotating service specials make your Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Princeton break service affordable! Contact us today to schedule your appointment!