Perform a Brake Fluid Flush in 11 Steps

• Posted on Autos.com Editor
• in Auto Repair
• on October 7, 2013

To flush your brake fluid is an essential step in the long-term maintenance of your vehicle. It may not always be listed in the vehicle’s owner manual, but it should be done every two years. Performing a brake fluid flush, even though brake fluid will never go bad in a vehicle, can assist your car in performing better by releasing built-up moisture from the system.

When brake fluid becomes contaminated due to moisture it allows dirt to enter the brake system that directly affects the performance of the system. Changing brake fluid can prevent future high cost brake repairs. Although changing a vehicle’s brake fluid can be technical, it also can be performed at home with another person according to the following steps.

Items to Prepare for the Brake Fluid Flush

1. Clear the hose. This is done to fit the brake bleeder valves
2. Container to hold the brake fluid
3. Turkey baster
4. Brake bleeder wrench
5. Car jack
6. Spray brake cleaner
7. New brake fluid according to your vehicle make/model

Beginning the Process of Flushing the Brake Fluid

1. Use break cleaner to clean the cylinder (master)
2. Drain the old fluid with a turkey baster after opening the master cylinder
3. Fill new fluid in the cylinder
4. Lift up your vehicle with the car jack for easier access to the brake system
5. Start with one wheel at a time
6. Slowly loosen the bleeder valve slightly by using the brake bleeder wrench
7. Ask an assistant to press the brake pedal slowly until it is completely pressed all the way down
8. As the brake pedal is being pressed, let the old fluid drain off from the brake system into the container after opening the brake bleeder valve
9. Immediately close the valve as soon as the pedal is down
10. Repeat steps 7 to 9 until all the fluid is clear, which may take filling the master cylinder a few times
11. Repeat the above process with the next wheel as well

Different Types of Braking Systems

Cars which have anti-lock brakes have a slightly different, because this type of system is generally pressurized:

1. Turn the vehicle on
2. Ask an assistant to press the brake pedal
3. Turn off the vehicle
4. Have person rest the foot on the brake pedal
5. Let the bleeder valve open
6. Drain the fluid for a few seconds
7. Close the valve
8. Add more fluid to the master cylinder
9. Repeat process until fluid is clear
10. Step on brakes several times to release the pressure on the brake system to ensure that the level of brake fluid increase in the master cylinder
11. When the fluid stops rising, the process is complete

One-person brake bleeding kits are sold at various online or local automotive centers, if you don’t have anyone to assist you with the above steps. Taking the necessary time to maintain your vehicle’s brake system can not only save you money and extend the life of your vehicle, but it can save you from an accident caused by a bad brake system.