How to Bleed Brakes

Responsive brakes are one of the keys to feeling safe behind the wheel of your vehicle. Still, when you start noticing that you’re pushing harder and harder on the brakes to get the appropriate amount of force to stop your car, it could leave you feeling a little concerned. More often than not, squishy brakes result from excess air in the brake lines of your automobile. Fortunately, with a few easy steps, you can remove air buildup from your brake lines and get your car ready for the roads of Coatesville, Downingtown, and Lancaster, PA. While simply pumping your brakes could help solve the issue, it’s likely that you’ll need a more thorough procedure to restore your brakes. That’s why we’re here with this list of tools and a comprehensive guide on how to bleed your brakes, created by the team at Kia of Coatesville. After you’ve read through this article, you’ll be a brake-bleeding buff.

Brake Bleeding Tools

To start off your brake bleeding journey, let’s first talk about a list of devices you’ll need to complete this job correctly. Most importantly, you’ll want to have a brake bleeder wrench nearby. If you don’t own this tool or don’t feel like spending the money on it, a combination wrench will also work in its place. However, be sure that the wrench properly fits onto the bleeder screw. Additionally, you’ll need brake fluid, a jar, some malleable hose, and a friend or family member who’s eager to help out! At any point, if you feel like you might not be prepared to tackle this kind of job, get in touch with an experienced mechanic. By choosing to stop by a service center, you’ll prevent causing unnecessary damage to your automobile, which could end up costing you extra money on repairs or replacements.

Identify the Brake Bleeder Nozzle

After you’ve search through your garage and located all the correct tools to bleed your brakes, let’s get going! Due to the placement of the brake screw on the back of your brakes, it’s best to jack up your vehicle, so you have a clear view of what you’re working with. Once you’ve found the screw, grab the wrench and loosen the nozzle. If you find that the screw won’t budge, try out some WD-40 or Brake Free fluid to avoid damaging the brake bleed nozzle. Now that you’ve unscrewed the cap, tighten it slightly until you’re ready to begin bleeding.

Steps to Brake Bleeding

Congrats! Now that you’ve got all the tools, you’re ready to start bleeding! Take the small piece of flexible hose we mentioned before, put one end over the bleeder screw, and place the other end inside your trusty glass jar. To prevent a huge mess, pour some extra brake fluid into the jar before starting the procedures. Have your friend jump inside the car and pump the brakes slowly. Ask them to tell you whether the brake is up or down while they’re pressing. While they’re holding the brake down, unscrew the brake nozzle and allow the fluid to drain through the hose and into the jar. Tip: To be extra safe, check to see that your vehicle is correctly jacked up and properly blocked, so it won’t roll away while you’re working. That way, there won’t be any trips to the emergency room.

How to Bleed Your Brakes

Now that you’re actually bleeding your brakes, take a look at the fluid pouring into the jar. Notice any tiny air bubbles? If so, that means that there was air blocking the brake lines and causing that spongy feeling when braking. After the fluid stops, tighten the screw back onto the nozzle, and ask your assistant to stop pumping the brakes. Duplicate this process on both brakes until you stop seeing air bubbles. Once you’re finished, replenish the master cylinder with brake fluid until it meets the “full” line.

Schedule Your Brake Bleed Appointment Today!

At Kia of Coatesville, there’s nothing more important to us than the safety of drivers near Coatesville, Downingtown, and Lancaster, PA. So, if you notice that your brakes feel a little less sensitive than normal, head on over to our advanced service facility to have your brakes bled. To arrange your appointment, simply stop by our repair center, contact one of our representatives, and schedule your reservation today!