Base Brake System

STANDARD PROCEDURE - BASE BRAKE BLEEDING





NOTE: When bleeding the brake system, some air may be trapped in the brake lines or valves far upstream, as far as ten feet from the bleeder screw. Therefore, it is essential to have a large volume of brake fluid available when bleeding the brakes to ensure all the air gets out.

The base brake system can be bled with or without a pressure bleeder. Refer to Pressure Bleeding Method or Manual Bleeding Method below.

PRESSURE BLEEDING METHOD
Before removing the master cylinder cover, wipe it clean to prevent dirt and other foreign matter from dropping into the master cylinder.

CAUTION: Use Bleeder Tank Special Tool C-3496-B, or equivalent, with Reservoir Cap Adapter, Special Tool 6921, to pressurize the brake system for bleeding.

Follow pressure bleeder manufacturer's instructions, for use of pressure bleeding equipment.

Pressure Bleeding Front Brakes
When bleeding the front brakes it is necessary that both halves of the caliper assembly be bled individually. This procedure should be followed to ensure that the caliper assembly is adequately bled.





1. Attach a clear hose onto bleeder screw located on the top of the inboard half of the front caliper assembly. Put open end of clear hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.

CAUTION: Just cracking bleeder screw often restricts fluid flow. This will result in a slow and weak fluid discharge, and will NOT get all the air out of the hydraulic system.

2. Open bleeder screw on inboard half of the front caliper assembly at least ONE FULL TURN or more.
3. Bleed 4 to 8 ounces of brake fluid through inboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. When an air-free flow is maintained in clear plastic hose with no bubbles present in container, a good and complete brake bleed is indicated.
4. Close bleeder screw, and remove hose. Torque inboard bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).





5. Attach clear hose on bleeder screw located on the top of the outboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 above on outboard half of the caliper assembly. Then close the bleeder screw on the outboard caliper.
7. Remove hose from bleeder screw, and torque the bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).
8. Again attach clear hose to bleeder screw located on the top of inboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
9. Again repeat steps 2 and 3 above on the inboard half of the caliper assembly. Then close the bleeder screw on the outboard caliper.
10. Remove hose from bleeder screw, and torque the bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).

Pressure Bleeding Rear Brakes
1. Attach a clear hose onto the bleeder screw located on the top of the caliper assembly. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.

CAUTION: "Just cracking" the bleeder screw often restricts fluid flow, and a slow, weak fluid discharge will NOT get all the air out.

2. Open the bleeder screw on the caliper assembly at least ONE FULL TURN or more.
3. After 4 to 8 ounces of fluid has been bled through the brake system. And an air-free flow is maintained in the clear plastic hose and no bubbles are present in the container, this will indicate a good bleed.
4. Close the bleeder screw, and remove hose. Torque the bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).
5. Attach the clear hose on the bleeder screw of the next caliper assembly to be bled, and put open end of hose in container.
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 above on the caliper assembly. Then close the caliper bleeder screw.
7. Remove hose from bleeder screw, and torque bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).
8. Test drive vehicle to be sure brakes are operating correctly and that pedal is solid.

MANUAL BLEEDING METHOD

NOTE: Manual bleeding of air from the hydraulic brake system on this vehicle is not the preferred method. Manual bleeding may not ensure all air is adequately eliminated from the hydraulic brake fluid.

In the event a pressure bleeder is not available the hydraulic brake system can be manually bled. Use the procedures and steps listed below to ensure a good and complete bleeding of all air from the brakes hydraulic fluid can be obtained using a manual bleeding procedure.

NOTE: When manual bleeding, be sure to monitor the fluid level in the master cylinder so it stays at a proper level keeping air from re-entering the brake system through the master cylinder.

Manual Bleeding Front Brakes
When bleeding the front brakes it is necessary that both halves of the caliper assembly be bled individually. This procedure should be followed to ensure that the caliper assembly is adequately bled.
1. Attach a clear hose onto bleeder screw located on the top of the inboard half of the front caliper assembly. Put open end of clear hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
2. Have an assistant pump the brake pedal three or four times and hold it down before the bleeder screw is opened.

CAUTION: "Just cracking" bleeder screw often restricts fluid flow. This will result in a slow and weak fluid discharge, and will NOT get all the air out of the hydraulic system.

3. Open bleeder screw on inboard half of the front caliper assembly at least ONE FULL TURN or more.

NOTE: When the bleeder screw opens, the brake pedal should drop to the floor. Release the brake pedal only after the bleeder screw is closed.

4. Close the bleeder.
5. Repeat the above steps until 4 to 8 ounces of brake fluid is bled through inboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. When an air-free flow is maintained in clear plastic hose with no bubbles present in container, a good and complete brake bleed is indicated.
6. Torque inboard bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).
7. Attach clear hose on bleeder screw located on the top of the outboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
8. Repeat steps 2 through 6 above on outboard half of the caliper assembly.
9. Again attach clear hose to bleeder screw located on the top of inboard half of front caliper assembly being bled. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
10. Repeat steps 2 through 6 above on the inboard half of the caliper assembly. Then close the bleeder screw on the outboard caliper.
11. Remove hose from bleeder screw, and torque the bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).

Manual Bleeding Rear Brakes
1. Attach a clear hose onto the bleeder screw located on the top of the caliper assembly. Put open end of hose into a clear container partially filled with fresh clean brake fluid.
2. Have an assistant pump the brake pedal three or four times and hold it down before the bleeder screw is opened.

CAUTION: "Just cracking" the bleeder screw often restricts fluid flow, and a slow, weak fluid discharge will NOT get all the air out.

3. Open the bleeder screw on the caliper assembly at least ONE FULL TURN or more.

NOTE: When the bleeder screw opens, the brake pedal should drop to the floor. Release the brake pedal only after the bleeder screw is closed.

4. Close the bleeder.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 until 4 to 8 ounces of fluid has been bled through the brake system and an air-free (no bubbles) flow is maintained in the clear plastic hose. This will indicate a good bleed.
6. Torque the bleeder screw to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.).
7. Attach the clear hose on the bleeder screw of the next caliper assembly to be bled, and put open end of hose in container.
8. Perform steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the caliper assembly.
9. Test drive vehicle to be sure brakes are operating correctly and that pedal is solid and not spongy.