How to Bleed Brakes

How to Bleed Brakes on a Chevy Silverado

When it comes to your car’s brake system, there are a lot of different kinds of repairs needed to keep it in good condition, such as brake bleeding. When there’s air trapped in the brake system, it needs to be released. But how do you bleed your brakes? Although the process isn’t that complicated, it can take a while if you don’t know how to bleed brakes on a Chevy Silverado or any other model. We recommend scheduling a service appointment to save you some time and hassle, but we think every Hudson driver should know how to bleed brakes on their Chevy Silverado.

Why is Bleeding the Brakes Important?

Over time, brake fluid loses its moisture resistance. Afterward, it’ll begin to absorb water. Air can get trapped in the brake system, resulting in a “soft” or “spongy” brake pedal. When you bleed the brakes, you’re removing the trapped air and giving the brake a less spongy feel.

How Do You Bleed Your Brakes at Home?

If you want to try bleeding your brakes by yourself, you’ll need brake fluid, a box-end wrench, a fluid holder and tubing, and an assistant to help you. After you’ve gathered the materials you need, follow these steps on how to bleed Chevy Colorado brakes or whatever model you own:

Step 1:

Refer to your owner’s manual to make sure you have the right brake fluid for your car. Your owner’s manual will tell you exactly what type of fluid to get, as well as the suggested replacement interval.

Step 2:

Make sure your car is parked on a flat, level surface. Then, use a jack to raise it. Remove all four wheels.

Step 3:

Locate the four caliper bleeding screws. Loosen them, but don’t remove them! If they don’t immediately loosen, spray the screw with penetrating oil. Wait about 30 minutes, then try again. If the screw strips or snaps, stop immediately—and bring your car to our service center for attention.

Step 4:

Once the screws have been loosened, tighten them once again. Again, bleeding car brakes is a time-consuming process. You need to bleed one brake at a time, and the other three screws should be tight so air bubbles don’t form.

Step 5:

Open the car hood and look at the master cylinder reservoir’s brake fluid level. Your car should have the correct amount of brake fluid. When you’re bleeding the brakes, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed, but don’t completely remove it from atop the reservoir. Generally, you’ll want to bleed the brakes that are furthest from the master cylinder first, but you may need to follow a different order. Check your owner’s manual or simply bring your car in for a technician to inspect it near Saugerties.

Step 6:

Take a piece of clear tubing that’s about ¼ inches in diameter, and secure it over the first bleeder screw. The other end of the tubing can be placed in a plastic bottle or something similar. There are brake bleeding kits that you can purchase from an auto store or online store, and they have the items you need to complete the process. The tubing should be long enough that you can place the catch container above the bleeder screw’s height. You don’t want the air that’s released to travel back into the brake caliper.

Step 7:

The next step will require help from someone else. First, double-check that the engine is off. Ask your assistant to apply the brakes a few times, or at least until they feel a force pushing back against the brake pedal. Ask them to keep the pressure on the pedal. Then, open the bleeder screw enough to let the fluid move through the tube. The pedal will drop closer and closer to the floor, but your assistant should keep applying pressure.

Step 8:

Ask your assistant to let you know right before the pedal actually reaches the floor. When they notify you, close the bleeder screw immediately. Check the fluid level in the master fluid reservoir, as the fluid level may need to be topped up.

Step 9:

Repeat steps 7 and 8 until the fluid stream is free of any air bubbles.

Step 10:

Then, repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 on the other three bleeder screws in the correct order. Again, start with the screw further away from the master cylinder, then move to the ones closest to it.

Step 11:

Once the brakes have been bled, ask your assistant to apply the brakes and then release the pedal right away. In the meantime, keep an eye on the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If you can see any bubbling, then there’s still air in the brake system. So, you’re not done yet. If the brake fluid moves a bit, but you don’t notice bubbles, then you’ve completed your task.

Step 12:

Tighten all four of the breeder screws before putting the wheels back on your vehicle. Don’t brute-force the screws, but tighten them enough to make sure they’re secure.

Learn How to Bleed Chevy Colorado Brakes at Sawyer Chevrolet, Inc.

As you can see, bleeding car brakes isn’t overly complex, but it can be daunting to make sure all of the air has been released. Save yourself time and hassle by scheduling a service appointment in Catskill, near Windham! Our service technicians know how to bleed your brake lines quickly and efficiently. In the meantime, browse our service specials. If you have any further questions on how to bleed Chevy Colorado brakes, contact our service team.