What are the operating steps for replacing brake fluid?
2 Answers
Operating steps for replacing brake fluid: 1. Place the vehicle on an inspection pit or lift it with a jack, have one person underneath the vehicle, remove the rubber dust cap from the drain port, and connect both ends of a prepared transparent hose to the drain port and the waste oil collection bottle respectively; 2. Use a wrench to loosen the drain port screw counterclockwise, while the person in the vehicle repeatedly presses the brake pedal; 3. At this point, brake fluid will spray out from the drain port. Pay attention to the fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir and add new brake fluid as the level drops; 4. Once the discharged fluid becomes clear, tighten the drain port screw; 5. The person in the vehicle repeatedly presses the brake pedal to its highest point and holds it down without releasing, while the person underneath loosens the drain port screw. After all the brake fluid is discharged, tighten the screw and notify the person in the vehicle to release the pedal. Repeat this operation several times until no bubbles are present in the discharged brake fluid; 6. Continue to add new brake fluid to the reservoir as the level drops, then have another person repeat steps 1 to 3 above.
Last time I changed my car's brake fluid by myself, and the whole process was quite rewarding. First, I had to gather the right tools: new brake fluid that meets the vehicle's specifications, a jack to lift the car, a wrench to open the bleeder valve, a collection bottle, and a hose to drain the old fluid. After preparing everything, I parked the car on a level surface for safety, then lifted the body and secured it with stands. I started with the left rear wheel because it's the farthest from the reservoir: connected the hose to the caliper bleeder valve and placed the bottle underneath to catch the old fluid. Slowly opened the valve to let the fluid drain; remember to keep adding new fluid to the reservoir while draining the old to prevent it from running dry, which could draw in air. Air in the system can make the brakes feel spongy or even fail, which is extremely dangerous. After finishing one wheel, I moved to the right rear, right front, and left front, repeating the process—all wheels need to be done. Once everything was done, I pumped the brake pedal a few times to check for air bubbles. Hearing the fluid moving sound means it's good. Brake fluid absorbs moisture, lowering its boiling point, which can cause brake failure during high-speed driving. Generally, it should be replaced every two years or 20,000 miles—don't skimp on this small expense for safer driving.
