How to change brake fluid [AUTODOC TUTORIAL]

How to change brake fluid on a car – replacement tutorial

To change the brake fluid on most cars you will need:

                      New brake fluid of a suitable type
                    
                      Tools to loosen the bleeder screw
                    
                      A wrench to remove the wheel fasteners
                    
                      A syringe to extract the brake fluid from the expansion tank
                    
                      A brake bleeder
                    
                      You will also need a car lift or jack with jack stands and wheel chocks
                    
                      Alternatively, you can place the vehicle on a ramp or over an inspection pit

Buy tools

Please note!

Changing the brake fluid is essential for the proper functioning of the braking system
There are several types of brake fluid such as DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, and DOT 5.1
Every vehicle uses a particular brake fluid type
The fluids vary in composition and properties
They also have different lifespans
It is very important to use appropriate brake fluid

1.

Access the expansion tank and pump out of it as much old fluid as possible

Please note!
There are several ways to change the brake fluid; the following method is the easiestIt is suitable for vehicles both with and without ABS or its equivalentsIt is not suitable for cars whose braking system uses a hydraulic pressure accumulator. Changing the brake fluid on this type of vehicle requires special equipment
2.

Remove the strainer that prevents dirt from entering the tank
3.

Rinse it, dry it, and put it back in place

AUTODOC recommends:
Take care to prevent dirt from entering the expansion tank
4.

Pour new brake fluid into the reservoir
5.

During replacement, constantly check the fluid level and top it up from time to time
6.

Extract the old fluid from the tank and fill it with new fluid

Important!
Change your brake fluid in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended scheduleOnly use new brake fluid
7.

Use the brake pedal and brake master cylinder to force any remaining old fluid out of the circuits
8.

Start bleeding the system from the longest brake circuit which extends farthest from the tank

Important!
For left-hand drive vehicles, the most distant point is the rear right wheelThe order of bleeding depends on the brake line lengthTake into account the location of the ABS unit and its distance from the brake master cylinder
9.

Access the bleeder screw on the right rear wheel and clean it

Please note!
The procedure for brake system bleeding varies depending on whether you have someone to assist youWhen bleeding the brake system on your own, you will need a special tool. It has a check valve that prevents air from entering the system when the pedal is released
10.

Position the brake bleeder close to the caliper
11.

Place a wrench on the bleeder screw and then connect the hose of the brake bleeder

The brake bleeder includes:
a tight rubber element, which is fitted over the bleeder screwa transparent hose for monitoring the fluid’s condition and the presence of air bubbles in ita check valve that only allows fluid to flow in one direction
12.

Slightly loosen the bleeder screw and press the brake pedal several times

Important!
When the brake pedal is pressed and the bleeder screw is loosened, brake fluid flows through the transparent hoseWhen the pedal is released, the check valve keeps the fluid in the brake bleeder and its level is compensated
13.

Visually assess the condition of the brake fluid in the hose: new fluid is always lighter than old fluid
14.

Check that there are no air bubbles and tighten the screw
15.

Check the brake fluid level in the expansion tank and top it up if necessary
16.

Disconnect the brake bleeder hose from the caliper, remove the tool, and clean the working area
17.

Tighten the fasteners to the manufacturer's specified torque
18.

Perform the procedure on all calipers in order of decreasing distance from the expansion tank
19.

Top up the brake fluid reservoir to the maximum level
20.

Make sure the cap is clean, then screw it on

Caution!
Let’s consider changing brake fluid using a jack and with the help of an assistantThe assistant sits inside the car to press the brake pedal at your signal
21.

Loosen the bleeder screw and check whether brake fluid is flowing
22.

Tighten it and give the assistant a signal
23.

The assistant presses the brake pedal, which creates pressure in the system
24.

Slightly loosen the bleeder screw to allow brake fluid to flow under the action of the brake master cylinder
25.

At the same time, the assistant should keep the brake pedal pressed
26.

Tighten the bleeder screw and ask your assistant to release the brake pedal
27.

Brake fluid flows out of the bleeder screw and a new portion of it is supplied from the expansion tank

Be careful!
If the brake pedal is pressed and released while the bleeder screw is loosened, air will enter the system
28.

Ensure that the wheel mounting surface and the mating surface on the wheel rim are smooth and clean
29.

Treat the surfaces with an anti-corrosion agent
30.

Repeat the steps on each wheel of your car, following the recommended order