With the right tools, a little know-how and some patience, bleeding your brakes is actually pretty easy. But before we delve into how, let’s get acquainted with the brake system itself. The brake rotors and the brake pads are what actually do the stopping. The brake calipers squeeze the pads to the rotors, causing the vehicle to slow when the brake pedal is depressed. And, the simple hydraulic system, which connects the pedal to the caliper, is what needs to be bled. That’s because if air is present in the system, mushy brakes are the result.
A Simple Brake Bleeding Tutorial
Since you’re bleeding air from the system, you always need to start with the wheel farthest away from the master cylinder. Basically, while your partner pumps the pedal, you need to loosen the caliper bleed screw until air bubbles out. While the pedal is still depressed, tighten the screw. Do this on all four wheels, working your way from the farthest to nearest tire, and you’re done.
Whenever you’re performing a brake job, it’s a great time to add some upgraded components. Companies like EBC brakes and Brembo brakes make some great performance brake parts like drilled and slotted rotors (the best when it comes to online brake rotor reviews) and stainless steel brake lines. Couple these upgrades with some ceramic brake pads from a company like Hawk Brake Pads, and you’ll be stopping like a racecar! The great thing about aftermarket brakes is that whether you’re shopping Honda Accord brakes, F150 brakes or even Toyota Corolla brakes, you can put some performance into the pedal of any daily driver.
Installation Tips
If you don’t have a “partner” to pump the pedal while you bleed, there is a way to bleed alone. The Phoenix Systems brake bleeder tool is a revolutionary device that allows one person to bleed the entire brake system in minutes. Grab this and the following tools and you’re ready to bleed:
- Jack
- Wheel chocks
- Lug wrench
- Small wrench for bleeder screw
- Rags
- Replacement fluid
Selecting the Right Brake Bleeding Tools to Bleed Your Brakes
By attaching to the brake caliper bleeder screws, the Phoenix System quickly and easily pumps the trapped air up (the way it wants to go anyway) and out through the master cylinder. Now, you can bleed your brakes without straining that already precarious father/child balance.
