Brake Service: How to Bleed Brake Lines

A full brake service includes checking and potentially replacing all of the individual components of the braking system. Driving the streets of target_city_1%% gradually wears the brake pads and rotors over time, but those are not the only components that need occasional maintenance. What actually actuates the brakes themselves is brake fluid, which is what hydraulically boosts your pedal pressure to enable the quick and effortless stopping power one expects in a Mercedes-Benz. 

Brake Service: How to Bleed Brakes

Brake fluid is extremely reliable at doing its job, but over time air can seep into the brake lines that hold the fluid, reducing the efficiency of the fluid. This can lead to spongy pedal feel, and over extreme periods of time, a drop in brake performance. Bleeding the brakes removes air from the system, returning crisp pedal feel and full brake performance. Here we will discuss how to bleed brakes, though the easiest option is certainly to schedule service with one of our expert technicians. Either way, you will be back to cruising the streets of Hamilton in no time.

Brake Service: How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself 

To do brake bleeding at home in the Mercer County area, these are the materials it will require: 

• Brake fluid
• Box-end wrench
• Fluid holder and tubing
• An assistant to help you complete the bleeding process 

Gather these items and your assistant, and you’re ready to begin.

Step 1: 

Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to confirm you have the correct type of brake fluid. In addition to ensuring you have the right type of brake fluid for your vehicle, the owner’s manual will also include the brake fluid replacement intervals.

Step 2: 

Place your vehicle on level ground, and jack it up on jackstands. Remove all four wheels.

Step 3: 

Once the vehicle is in the air and you have access to the brake, locate all four caliper bleeding screws. Loosen these, and if the screws don’t begin to loosen immediately, do not apply much force. Spray penetrating oil on the stubborn screw in question and wait thirty minute to try loosening it again. If any screw snaps or strips, do not continue — bring your car to our service center right away.

Step 4: 

Once all the caliper bleeding screws are loosened, tighten them again. This is a slow and often tedious process, normally performed by experienced Mercedes-Benz of Princeton technicians, but it is something you can do yourself. We will bleed one corner of the brake system at a time, with the other three screws tightened to prevent air seeping in.

Step 5: 

Open your vehicle’s hood, and check the brake master cylinder’s fluid level. When you are bleeding the brakes, leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed, but resting on the reservoir’s top. Now we can begin: start with either the brake furthest from the master cylinder, unless a different starting point is specified by the owner’s manual. In any case, you can always contact the Mercedes-Benz of Princeton service center with any questions you may have.

Step 6: 

Firmly attached the terminus of a roughly ¼ inch diameter length of plastic tubing over the first bleeder screw. The other end of this tube goes in a container such as a plastic bottle. Another option is to buy a brake bleeding kit from any auto parts store, in person or online. Such a kit would have all required items. The tubing must be long enough so that whatever you are using as a catch receptacle at the other end of the tube can be placed above the bleeder screw’s height. This ensures air caught in the tube can’t re-enter the caliper. 

Step 7: 

An assistant is required for this step. While there are auto-bleeder devices available, most who do their own brakes simply have a friend help them. With the engine off, have your assistant pump the brake pedal until they feel the resistance of the pedal pushing back. Once they feel that resistance, have them continue to apply pressure steady-on, while you open the bleeder screw a bit. Fluid will begin rising up the tube, allowing the pedal to inch closer to the floor. Have the assistance continue to apply pressure.

Step 8: 

Tell your assistant to tell you the moment the pedal reaches the floor. When it does, close up the bleeder screw quickly. Take a look at the fluid level in the master fluid reservoir, as a top-off may be required.

Step 9: 

Repeat steps 7 and 8 five times on that same bleeder screw, or until bubbles are no longer in the fluid stream. 

Step 10: 

Once the first brake corner is complete, repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 on each of the remaining bleed screws on other corners of the vehicle, in the order specified by the owner’s manual. 

Step 11: 

Once the brakes are bled, have your assistant press the brake pedal and then quickly release it. After you’ve finished bleeding your brakes, take a look under the hood at the master fluid reservoir, while instructing your helper to apply the brakes, then quickly release the pedal. If the fluid produces a significant amount of bubbles, more bleeding is required.

Step 12: 

Remember to re-tighten all of the bleeder screws. Apply just enough force to ensure they are secure. Re-install the wheels, lower your vehicle back onto the pavement, and the job is done!

Allow us at Mercedes-Benz of Princeton to Service Your Brakes

Now you know how to bleed brakes by yourself, with the help of an assistant. Knowing how to bleed brake lines reveals why most owners leave it to the professionals at Mercedes-Benz of Princeton to perform this tedious yet important task.Consult our service specials for opportunities to save on service. If your brakes feel spongy, you know who to call! While you’re here, take a moment to learn about the color of transmission fluid!