How to Bleed Brakes

Why We Bleed Brakes

Knowing how to bleed the brakes of your car is vital to the car's health. The million-dollar question, of course, is why do we go through the process of bleeding brakes?

Well, the process is all about getting out the old brake fluid to put in the new. Most importantly, bleeding is about removing air bubbles from the brake fluid that pop in the more the brake pedal is pushed and released. Those air bubbles, if left unchecked, can lead to problems for brake function.

Once a year, when you change the brake pads, or if you've noticed your brakes have gone soft while driving, it's a good time to bleed your car's brakes.

Top Strategies on How to Bleed Brakes

There are several strategies on how to bleed your car's brakes, some of which you can do alone while others it's best to have a partner to work alongside you. Remember, if you ever get stuck, or run into complications, be sure to get the assistance of professionals.

Method 1:  A good way to do it alone is to let gravity do most of the work.  Open up the screw to the bleeder and let the fluid drip down into a bottle or bucket you place underneath the car. For a more controlled drip, you can funnel the air-bubbled brake fluid through a small hose.

Method 2: The fluid might just need a little push. Have a buddy sit in the car and pump the brake to get the fluid moving. Don't pump the pedal with too much force, or you might end up with more air bubbles!

Method 3: The vacuum method. If you can't drip or pump it out, time to pull out the big guns. A vacuum bleeder can be easily attached to the valve to suck out all those air bubbles and get the job done smoothly.

When You Need Help Bleed Your Brakes 

Once the brakes have been bled dry, you've cleaned up and reloaded on fresh brake fluid; your brakes should be good as ever. If, after bleeding your brakes, the pedal still feels too soft, it may be time to have the car checked more thoroughly.

Your local mechanic will be able to help assess what's going on and help come up with a solution to keep your car braking smoothly for years to come.