What is what does it mean to bleed brakes?

Bleeding your brakes is the process of removing air bubbles from your brake lines. Air in the brake lines can make your brakes feel spongy and reduce their effectiveness. This is because air is compressible, unlike brake fluid. When you press the brake pedal with air in the lines, some of the force is used to compress the air instead of applying pressure to the brake calipers.

Here's why bleeding your brakes is important and when you might need to do it:

• Why Bleed Brakes? Air in the brake lines leads to a soft or spongy brake pedal feel and reduced braking performance. This compromises safety.
• When to Bleed Brakes:
  • After replacing any part of the brake system (e.g., brake lines, calipers, master cylinder).
  • If the brake pedal feels spongy.
  • If the brake fluid level has been allowed to get too low, potentially introducing air into the system.
  • As part of routine maintenance, typically every 2-3 years.
• How it works: Bleeding involves opening the bleeder screw located on each brake caliper while someone pumps the brake pedal. This allows the old fluid and any trapped air to escape. The bleeder screw is then tightened before the pedal is released to prevent air from being sucked back into the system. This process is repeated until clear, bubble-free fluid emerges.
• Important Considerations:
  • Always use the correct type of brake fluid specified for your vehicle.
  • Follow the proper bleeding sequence (typically starting with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder).
  • Be careful not to introduce more air into the system during the bleeding process.