It is essential to learn how to do some of the basic car repair and maintenance practices. This helps you save time and money as you do not have to go to the mechanics’ shop to fix the issue. But how do you bleed breaks yourself without the help of another person or an expert? Read on to discover the different ways you can achieve this goal. There are different ways to bleed brakes without the help of other people.
Sometimes, you might have to bleed your brakes urgently because they have the tell-tale signs of an ‘air invasion’. Some of the top signs to look for include:
- Your brakes are softer than they used to be
- Your breaks feel spongy or springy. The pedal won’t feel consistent and the pressure you need to apply to the brake changes haphazardly during the braking process
- You have to pump the brakes a couple of times before they bite
Using Gravity to Bleed Your Brakes
It is possible to bleed brakes by yourself without special tools. This takes time and will work for someone who is not in a hurry. It is also perfect for people with modern vehicles with high master cylinders that are above wheel levels. When using the gravity bleed brakes alone method, proceed as follows:
- Identify the bleed screw and nipple on the brake cylinder you want to bleed
- Get a clean container to catch the brake fluid that will begin dripping once you loosen the bleed screw
- Place the container beneath the bleed nipple and open the bleed screw to get the brakes bleeding
- Since there is no way to tell if the bubbles are gone or not, let the brake fluid flow for around 15 to 20 minutes or until it flows in a steady unbreaking stream to indicate no bubbles
- A better alternative is to replace most of the fluid in the reservoir with new clean fluid and only bleed your brakes until clean fluid flows through
- In this case, siphon the old fluid off the master cylinder to leave a very little amount that will quickly flow through the brake line
- Top up the reservoir with new clean brake fluid
- Start bleeding your brakes from the brake caliper furthest from the reservoir
- Bleed until you see clean fluid dripping through the nipples
- Close the nipple and repeat for all other calipers before topping up the master cylinder reservoir to max level
Pumping the brake pedal a couple of times adds pressure to the system and could make any bleeding process fast by making the bake fluid and air bubbles flow through the system faster. You will lose more brake fluid though.
Check this too: Why is My Car Losing Brake Fluid?
Using a Bottle to Bleed Brakes
This is pretty simple, just as the gravity method is, only that it is much faster and easier. It is also great since you get to bleed brakes without a vacuum pump, making it affordable for most people.
- Make the bottle using a clean jar or a bottle that has a lid.
- Get a transparent hose that will conveniently fit into the brake bleeder nipple. A good choice would be the aquarium air tubing.
- Alternatively, buy the setup at a cost.
- Drill a hole in a jar’s lid if you want to make the bottle yourself. The hole should be big enough to squeeze the hose in a way that no air gets in.
- Once done, drill a second hole on the lid to pour in enough fluid to cover the end of the hose.
- Hook the hose to the bleeder and open it.
- Top off the master cylinder and pump the brake pedal a few times
- Check the hose and ensure it is filled with fluid but without any bubbles.
- Close the bleeder and repeat the same procedure with all the wheel ensuring that you top up the master cylinder every time
Using a Vacuum Pump (Brake Bleeder Kit)
Using a vacuum pump brake bleeder kit is probably the fastest way to bleed brakes without a partner. However, it is also the most expensive. Ever wondered how bleed brakes one person hacks work? Well, it can be achieved using the vacuum pump. All one needs to do is have the vacuum pump. This resembles a kid’s squirt gun. However, in this case, instead of squirting the water as with a kid’s toy, the vacuum pump sucks in air or fluid. Fortunately, the pumps can be used for other automotive functions, which means that they are affordable in the long run.
- Unlike the two methods already discussed above, this technique requires one to suck the air and fluid from the caliper with brake fluid.
- The vacuum pump’s input should be hooked to the bleeder nipple with the output hooked to a collection bottle.
- Fill up the master cylinder and suck out the old fluid and air through the valve. You’ll know you’re done when you no longer see air bubbles in the vacuum pump’s clear hose.
- Close the bleeder afterward before moving to the next wheel and repeating the process
- Remember to top up the fluid in the reservoir as you go by
General Tips to Consider when Bleeding Brakes Alone
Regardless of the technique, you decide to go for, there are basic procedures that you must follow. These will guarantee your safety and ensure you do this right from the start.
- Prioritize your safety. Ensure the car is parked on a dry and flat surface. Next, have the chocks on wheels before opening and securing the hood. Finally, lift the car using a jack and secure it in place before removing the wheels.
- Remove the old brake fluid. Start by uncapping the master cylinder and remove the old fluid using the most convenient method available. When bleeding the master cylinder, ensure there is some fluid left.
- Add new brake fluid to the master cylinder and keep the cap off or loose to promote airflow. Remember always to replace the cap every time you add new brake fluid. Always check for proper matching and reference to the owner’s manual.
- Decide which wheel to bleed and handle one wheel at a time. It is always advisable to start with the wheel that is furthest from the master cylinder.
- Find the brake bleeder valve, which is a small screw with holes. The bleeder valve is located on top of the brake caliper.
- Get the connections right. This could be with the vacuum pump or bottle.
- Open the bleeder valve using a brake bleeder wrench before pumping out the old fluid. Keep checking the master cylinder as the brake bleeds out. It should not be dry.
- Close the brake bleeder valve and repeat the procedure
- Fill the master cylinder.
- Put back the wheels on the vehicle before lowering the vehicle back to the ground safely.
- Test the brakes. Ensure they feel firm and not spongy to confirm that they are working appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions
People will always have a few concerns about bleeding their vehicles. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions.
How do you get the air out of your brakes without bleeding
There is no practical way to get air out of your brake system without using one of the bleeding approaches outlined above. The air in the system has to go somewhere meaning you must open the bleed valve – which is in essence bleeding.
How do you bleed brakes overnight?
The gravity bleeding approach is a practical way to do a bleed overnight – if you open all the bleed screws on all your tires at a go. You will, however, still need to refill your reservoir on time to avoid draining everything and introducing more air into the system. There is no need to do it overnight since even the gravity or DIY bottle method can do a bleed within minutes or hours.
Why are my brakes still soft (spongy) after bleeding
It is possible that proper brake fluid flow was hindered when the air got into the brake lines. This makes the pedals feel soft and spongy. You may need to flush the brake fluid again, taking caution not to let in any unwanted air. Other causes of this happening include using the wrong brake fluid, probably one that is contaminated. Ensure you get the right quality of brake fluid. It is also possible for this to happen when the wrong bleeding technique is used.
Check this too: Best Brake Line Flaring Tool
Will brakes eventually bleed themselves.
While bleeding is a pretty common maintenance practice that will be done several times throughout your car’s lifespan, it helps to note that you have to prioritize doing it when the vehicle shows signs needing you to. Note that brakes never bleed themselves, and expecting them to is dangerous. They will actually get worse over time.
Bleeding your brakes every time you change brake pads is a good way to do regular maintenance on the system and keep your braking system working at its optimal.