How to bleed brakes using the " One person " method

[x34460]

thank you for a great tutorial.

an effective method with almost no cost involved.

THANKS!

[backyardmech]

@x34460 No problem X34460. That's the great thing about this method; all you need is a clear plastic bottle, a tie-rap, and a piece of tubing.

[LiarNoseOnFire]

What a load of unnecessarily complicated work,,,,!!!

If you need to bleed your Brake System, go out and get a Gunsuns Eezibleed Kit,,,,!!!

If your local mechanic/DIY/Parts Workshop doesn't stock this, send for one on-line from UK,,,,!!!

Cheap, Easy to use, Comes with various Brake Fluid Reservoir screw caps for different cars,,,,!!!

Simply fill up the Bottle provided with new Fluid, connect the other pipe provided with the kit to your spare wheel and simply go round each wheel in turn,,,,!!!

[boodoo76]

great idea

[backyardmech]

@boodoo76 Thanks, it is a great method Boodoo - I didn't invent it, but I do it a lot.

[kind1st]

Do I leave the cap off the master cylinder while doing this?

[DVeck89]

I have a 99 Chevy malibu that the drivers side front brake doesn't release all the way sometimes (disc brakes btw). So the pads wear down very quickly and also causes some shake in the steering wheel at speed. When I replace the pads, the caliper cylinder is extremely difficult to retract (the other side retracts easily using a large c-clamp). Any idea why this is? The ABS system stopped working long ago btw; long before this started happening.

[backyardmech]

@DVeck89 Sounds to me like you have a bad brake caliper DVeck. I have a video called "How to find out if you have a sticking caliper or bad flex hose". You may want to watch that. The problem in that video was a bad flex hose.

[LookieLoudLou]

What about cars with ABS - I read you can't do this and need a power bleeder?

[backyardmech]

@LookieLoudLou I never heard of that Lou. The vehicle in this video has ABS and the brakes bled fine. The ABS unit is in-line with the standard brake system so it shouldn't make any difference.

[seeaclip]

Thanks for your help!

[seeaclip]

Great video, Thank You. Was that a Honda Odyssey? That's the car I will be working on.

[backyardmech]

@seeaclip Thanks Seaclip. Yes, it's a 1998 Odyssey.

[iulixxx]

Can you tell me please how do you drain the old fluid?

[backyardmech]

@iulixxx It's a lot of work to completely change the fluid. Instead, I would use a turkey baster , suck the old fluid down to the minimum level of the master cylinder, and add new fluid. Use the vehicle for a week so the new fluid will mix with the old, then do it again. Almost as effective but a lot less work; you'll end up with almost completely new fluid. Careful not to go below the 'minimum' mark on the master cylinder reservoir though Iuli - or you may have to bleed the whole system.

[ricebike]

@backyardmech

yea, but you'll still have to evacuate the old fluid out of the bleeders... water collects down there & the fastest way to get rid of that plus some crud that settles is to do it this way... or risk having a bad caliper or wheel cylinder down the road

[backyardmech]

@ricebike True enough Ricebike - if you want to get rid of all the old fluid, this is the way to go.

[georgecarra]

T H A N K

Y O U

VERY VERY VERY

MUCH.

Your a champion mate.

Your explaining was clear and precise.

Bless you.

[backyardmech]

@georgecarra Glad it helped George !

[georgecarra]

@backyardmech Cheers Mate !

[iulixxx]

very useful....thanks

[backyardmech]

@iulixxx No problem - glad it helped Iuli.

[backyardmech]

@hp11208 Thanks HP

[tommygunz2012ify]

Its a hose not a pipe!

[TheHortond]

If you elevated the bottle above the bleeder valve then the air bubbles would float up and there would be less chance of them getting sucked back into the system. The rest of your technic is perfect and will work for bleeding or changing the fluid all together. Good job.

[backyardmech]

@TheHortond Thanks - makes sense to me Hortand . I'll try raising the bottle next time to see if it requires less 'pedal pumping'

[alessare]

do I have let the reservoir lid open or close when im bleeding?

[backyardmech]

@alessare Leave it open Alessure, check it regularly and add fluid so it doesn't go below the minimum level, and when you are finished bleeding, put the lid back on.

[bellborja]

thank you - you had the best video for me.

[backyardmech]

@bellborja Glad it helped Bellborja

[tigertruckerman]

any chance you can do a video on removeing fuel rail and injectors, would be great

[backyardmech]

@tigertruckerman I'm actually going to do one in the spring Tigerman; on a project SUV I picked up. In the meantime, I'd check out Ericthecarguy - he's got a lot of good videos on here.

[tigertruckerman]

your the man .

[backyardmech]

@tigertruckerman Thanks TigerTruckerman



[UberStarFkr]

Thank you for the video! I had it all pretty much down (even made my own bleeder tool using a glass jar) but the last bit I was always lost on. Now I know the line is bled completely when there is absolutely no air bubbles showing in clear pipe. Now I can do it right this time :D

[backyardmech]

@UberStarFkr glad it worked out for you.

[beefcakes8528]

what if i just have really dirty brake fluid? should i replace that and if so, whats the best way to do it? just like this?

[backyardmech]

@beefcakes8528 You could, but that's a lot of work just to change dirty fluid. I would buy a turkey baster at the Dollar store, suck the old fluid down to the minimum level of the master cylinder, and add new fluid. Use the vehicle for a week so the new fluid will mix with the old, then do it again. Almost as effective but a lot less work.

[backyardmech]

@backyardmech Be careful not to go below the 'minimum' mark on the master cylinder  reservoir Beefcakes - or you may have to bleed the whole system.

[beefcakes8528]

@backyardmech thanks man! i really appreciate it. keep up the good videos. and is that accent irish..?

[backyardmech]

@beefcakes8528 Glad it helped - and it's a Cape Breton accent (Eastern Canada )

[ah77ed]

should i repeat this for every side

[backyardmech]

@ah77ed If you think you may have air in more than 1 brake line then yes. What I usually do is bleed the line at the wheel i was working at . Then I'll pump the brake a few times. It feels soft, then I'll bleed the other lines.

[mudgee2010]

Great video hope to see more ty for help

[backyardmech]

@mudgee2010 Good to hear you like it Mudgee.

[801Jord]

This is the best video on bleeding brakes that ive seen. I just replaced my calipers and a ton of air got into my lines. Thanks for the video man! Saved my ass since i dont have someone to do a two man bleed job. hah

[backyardmech]

@801Jord Good to hear Jord - that's why i started putting these videos up.

[DreDiego]

I agree with opsvideo2008----you have the best video of all these do yourself bleed brakes. Good job man

[backyardmech]

@DreDiego Thanks - glad it helped !

[backyardmech]

Your welcome Opsvideo; after many frustrating attempts over the years to get air locked in brake lines out - this method has been pretty much fool proof.

[niterbum]

@backyardmech do you replace the master cylinder cap before you start pumping the peddle or leave it off?

Thanks

[backyardmech]

@niterbum Leave it off Niterbum until you are finished pumping. The last thing you do before taking the car for a test drive will be replacing the cap. And your welcome .

[opsvideo2008]

Man, I have seen many videos on brake bleeding, and have to say yours is the best so far in terms of the simple equipment used, precautions taken, effectiveness and ease of understanding. I like your practical use of cable-tie and grease to prevent air from being sucked in. Thanks for posting it up.