The mechanical term ‘Brake bleeding’ is described as the removal of air bubbles from the hoses and pipes in the brake lines that transport the brake fluid. It is very important for motorists, especially young mechanics, to know how to bleed brakes properly. No worries if you can’t do this because immediately after you finish reading this article, you will know the thorough process of how to bleed brakes without bleeder valves and also “how to get air out of brake lines without bleeding.” Let’s move on.
Bleeding brakes are very necessary because air bubbles caused by the presence of brake fluid can reduce the effectiveness of your vehicle’s brakes. Therefore, it is important you get educated on this subject in case you find yourself struggling with this issue. As you already know, you cannot comfortably drive a car that has a malfunctioning brake system.
The effect of air bubbles in your vehicle not only reduces the efficiency of your brakes but can also damage other major parts of the brake system. It is advisable that vehicle brakes continuously undergo bleeding at an interval of at least two years to keep the brakes at optimum efficiency.
A step-by-step guide on how to bleed brakes without bleeder valves
Before we proceed, you need to know that a bleeder valve is a screw-type component of the braking system fitted to the brake caliper; this component helps remove any trapped air or liquid from the break line of your vehicle’s brake system. The bleeder can either be manually or automatically operated. Bleeding your vehicle brakes is quite easy as long as you have the necessary mechanics tools, and you pay rapt attention to this guide.
There are various methods to adapt to how to bleed the brakes of your vehicle. There is the vacuum bleeding method, the pump and hold method, the gravity bleeding method, and the pressure method. The different bleeding methods are used for different vehicles depending on the best recommendation.
Make sure you put on protective gear like a cover-all or hand gloves, for instance, to protect your skin from getting damaged by the brake fluid due to the corrosive properties of the fluid. A detailed process on how to bleed brakes by yourself without using a bleeder valve is as follows:
First and foremost, you need to make sure that your master cylinder has a high brake fluid content to carry out this process successfully; this will prevent your master cylinder from draining out. You can now start the process by jacking up your vehicle. Make sure the jack is well-placed on a solid platform to prevent the vehicle from dropping.
Jack your car up to a moderate level that will enable you to easily work under the car. It is very important that you take this step seriously. Failure to properly do this might endanger your life.
When you have successfully and properly jacked up your vehicle, you can remove all the wheels of your car. Then crawl under the vehicle to locate the bleeder screw, it is usually fixed on each of your brake calipers. Purchasing an under-hood work light can be of great help if you need to perform this process at night. After locating the bleeder screw, use a wrench to loosen the screw completely. You can apply grease on the screw to enable you easily loosen it.
Then, completely remove the brake caliper from the wheel. After that, use a plier to assist you in detaching the brake caliper from the brake line connected to it. Put the end of the brake line into a can containing old or new brake fluid. You will need an assistant to help you continuously apply pressure to the brake pedal while you observe the behavior of the fluid in the can.
As pressure is being continuously applied to the pedal, you will notice the exit of old brake fluid from the brake line. You will also clearly see the bubbles coming out if there are any. Continue this process until you see no bubbles coming out of the break line. Ensure that the master cylinder is always filled with a new recommended brake fluid as you carry out this process. This is a very important step.
After doing that, remove the old brake fluid from the brake caliper and fill it up with a new one. Please ensure you are applying the recommended brake fluid meant for your vehicle. Also, make sure it is of high quality. You can use a brake fluid color to determine if it is a new one or a high-quality fluid. Using low-quality brake fluid has negative effects on the brake system.
Now, gently fix the brake line into your brake caliper. Then, reassemble it back to the brake system of your vehicle. Please make sure the bleeder screws are properly fixed and the brake system is tight. You can turn the brake disc around to observe its movement; it should not be very difficult to turn. Ensure that your brake caliper is facing straight up when you are attaching the brake line.
Do not face the caliper down so that the brake fluid poured into the caliper does not pour out. Repeat this process for all the wheels of your vehicle.
Please do not apply a lot of effort while reassembling the brake system in order to prevent any damage. After doing this, you can now fix the wheels of your car. Make sure you also tighten the screws of the wheels. Using this process can save you some money from buying new calipers. You can now gently lower your vehicle with the jack. Then fill up the master cylinder to the maximum gauge with your new brake fluid.
There you have it! You have been able to successfully bleed the brakes of your car without using bleeder valves, and guess what? You did it all by yourself. Now you know how to bleed brakes without bleeder valves. It’s simple and easy. I am sure you feel the same way, too. You can now take your car for a ride to see if the brakes of your vehicle are now very efficient.
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How To Get Air Out Of Brake Lines Without Bleeding
The various bleeding methods mentioned above are mostly used when there is an issue of a loose brake pedal, signifying that there might be air bubbles in the brake lines. You should know that driving with air in brake lines is considered dangerous. Therefore, I will also guide you on how to get the air out of brake lines without bleeding:
Locate the bleeder. You can find the bleeder at the back of the brakes. Get a flexible hose and attach the hose firmly to the edge of the first bleeder. Get a can and puncture it on its top. Fix the other end of the hose inside the hole on the can. Make sure the can is not leaking.
Connect the hose and the can at a close distance from the position of the master cylinder located in the right rear of the tire.
Turn off the engine before you begin pumping out air from the brake lines. Make sure the hand brake is in park mode. Also, fill up the master cylinder of your vehicle with brake fluid. Get an assistant to help you press your brake pedal several times and then hold the pedal down. While the pedal is down, open the bleeder.
Go to your wheel’s right rear and carefully turn the bleeder to a half level in order for brake fluid to escape. Tell your assistant to pump the brakes continuously. Monitor the reservoir; do not allow the fluid in it to be at a very low level.
Repeat the same process for the Left rear, left front, right front, and right rear wheel of your vehicle. It is advisable that you repeat the process three times for each wheel, especially for the front wheels.
Lastly, check the master cylinder’s cap and ensure that it is well-tightened. You can now test run your vehicle to see if there is an issue with the brake system.
To properly carry this out, you need to be equipped with the right standard tools that’s why I strongly recommend that you purchase the HTOMT 2 in 1 Brake Bleeder Kit
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FAQs
Can you bleed brakes without using a bleeder screw?
In case you were wondering. Yes, of course, it is very possible to do this if the bleeder screws of your vehicle are rusty and crusty. You can either use a pressure or gravity bleed method to achieve this. It is a simple process. You can start at the brake that is nearer to the master cylinder. Ensure the master cylinder is at the maximum gauge. If you want to change the old fluid, remove the whole fluid from the master cylinder, and replace it with a new fluid.
Can you bleed brakes from the brake line?
Most definitely, you can bleed the brakes of your vehicle from the brake line. You have to detach the brake line fixed to the brake caliper. After that, put the end of the brake line inside a can containing brake fluid. Then then you get an assistant to help you apply pressure on the brake pedals of your vehicle. As the brake pedal is being pumped, you will notice a release of brake fluid and air bubbles, if any. Always ensure that there is enough fluid in the master cylinder.
Why is my brake pedal soft after bleeding?
Some factors can affect the efficiency of the brake system by allowing air in brake lines after bleeding the brakes of your vehicle. These factors include; the use of contaminated brake fluid, there might be a leakage in the brake system, or it can also be a result of the bleeding technique you used. This is why it is important that you carefully perform the bleeding process in order to prevent the unnecessary stress of repeating the process all over again.
Allowing the brake fluid in the master to get completely exhausted can also be one of the causes of this problem.
What would cause the brakes not to bleed?
If your vehicle’s brakes do not bleed during the bleeding process, it can be due to one of the following reasons; a damaged bleeder screw, a torn or worn-out hose, or a faulty or wrongly fixed brake caliper. It is wise that you properly check your brake system for faults before you start the bleeding process.
How long does it take to bleed brakes using the gravity bleeding method?
The gravity method of bleeding brakes is quite an easy procedure to perform. However, you might need assistance to pull off this method successfully. You will need about 30 minutes to be able to finish this bleeding process. It is often seen as an effective method of bleeding your brakes.
By adopting the gravity bleeding method, you can learn how to bleed brakes without a helper. This method is used by a lot of motorists and mechanics that know how to bleed brakes.
Final Words
Bleeding brake is a DIY skill that every motorist should acquire. I hope now you know how to bleed brakes without a bleeder valve and get the air out of brakes without bleeding. It is a simple process that anyone can do if faced with a loose brake pedal. Please try as much as possible to heed the safety rules when carrying out this task. I am glad you’re now enlightened on the concept of the brake bleeding and how it works.
I sincerely hope that this article has been very helpful to anyone out there reading this. All the best!
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