How to Bleed the Brake Pump?
3 Answers
The method to bleed the brake pump is: 1. Remove the dust cover on the bleeder valve of the wheel cylinder, prepare a transparent hose, connect one end to the bleeder valve and the other end to a plastic container; 2. One person steps on the brake pedal several times inside the car, then presses it firmly until it doesn't move, while another person loosens the bleeder screw on the wheel cylinder outside the car, allowing air to escape along with the brake fluid; 3. Repeat the above steps until no air bubbles are visible in the expelled brake fluid. The brake pump is an essential component of the braking system, primarily responsible for pushing the brake pads, which then rub against the brake drum.
I've been running an auto repair shop for over a decade, and bleeding brake calipers requires careful operation. First, fill the brake fluid reservoir and tighten the cap – it's easiest with two people working together. One person sits in the car repeatedly pumping the brake pedal until it becomes firm and can't be pressed further, then keeps their foot firmly planted. The other person attaches a clear hose to the brake caliper bleeder valve, with the other end inserted into a waste oil container, then slowly loosens the bleeder valve with a wrench. At this point, dirty fluid mixed with air bubbles will squirt out. Wait until the fluid flows smoothly without bubbles before tightening the bleeder valve. Only then can the person in the car release the brake pedal and pump it again. Repeat this process for each wheel in the following order: right rear, left rear, right front, left front. Finally, ensure the fluid level in the reservoir remains above the midpoint. Never attempt this alone – improperly bled brakes will feel spongy, creating serious driving hazards.
Last time I replaced the brake pads myself and the brakes felt spongy, so I followed the tutorial on the auto repair forum to bleed the air. First, I bought the same model brake fluid and a transparent plastic tube, then filled the reservoir up to the MAX line. Started the car and had my wife sit in the driver's seat while I crawled under the car, starting with the right rear wheel. She pressed the brake pedal hard and shouted 'Pressed!', I loosened the caliper screw, and instantly the fluid with bubbles sprayed into the catch bottle. When the flow turned clear after about three seconds, I tightened the screw, and she released the pedal. Repeated this five times until no bubbles appeared, then moved on to the left rear wheel. Wore gloves and goggles throughout, and laid old newspapers on the ground to catch any spills. The two of us worked together and finished in an hour. During the test drive, the brakes immediately regained their firm feel, saving me three hundred bucks compared to the repair shop.
