How to bleed and replace brake fluid by manual flush without special tools or bleeding kits

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  • OVERALL DIFFICULTY INDEX: 2/10
  • IF YOU HAVE NO TOOLS, YOU PAY $25 TO GET THEM FOR THIS JOB
  • IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE YOU SPEND 1 HOUR TO CARRY OUT THIS JOB
  • SAFETY: AVOID SKIN CONTACT WITH THE FLUID.​
BEFORE YOU START
  • Two persons are required for this job.
  • Vehicle manufacturers do not recommend to use the brake pedal for the brake circuit bleeding. This method is however safe if performed properly and require no brake bleeding kit or vacuum machine.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.

Why to flush and replace the brake fluid: symptoms of aged brake fluid that has been left unreplaced for years

Brake fluid is a hydrophilic liquid that "catches" humidity and becomes contaminated with water along years.
This is indeed a very small quantity of water, but the presence of little water is enough to deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid as it results in a compressible oil / water mix (emulsion) also containing fine air bubbles.
Below are the symptoms of an aged brake fluid:
  • Color of the brake fluid turns red and dark due to oxydation
  • Brake pedal becomes less firm
  • In extreme cases, your vehicle could pull to either left or right side upon braking at medium and high speeds
It is recommended to replace your brake fluid every 2 years, with a maximum possible interval of 5 years.
In case your brake pedal is getting firmer and harder to press, then you are experiencing a servo or vacuum issue, refer to the links at the bottom of this page to see how to diagnose and fix such problems.

Bleeding and replacing the brake fluid in one operation

Check which brake fluid suits your vehicle.
It's mentioned on the cap, knowing that as a general rule DOT 4 fluids are required for all the recent vehicles.
Use DOT 3 brake fluid for older cars (1970s and 1980s). 
Click below for more details about the brake fluids types:
Remove the filter of your brake fluid reservoir. Take care not to damage it if you use a tool. You may insert a small slotted screwdriver between the filter edge and the tank's body.​
The main tools that are needed for this manual brake fluid bleeding are a big syringe purchased at any pharmacy, a transparent tube and a transparent jar.​
​Fit a piece of transparent tube to the syringe and empty your brake fluid tank.​​
Put the liquid in the jar. Note how the brake fluid is brownish, denoting oxydation
Make sure to empty completely the brake fluid reservoir.
Always use a sealed fluid container to top up the brake fluid. Discard any open container you have.
Refill the brake fluid reservoir to beyond the "max" mark and keep it open. Note how the new liquid is transparent.
​
Prepare spanners of sizes 8,9,10, or 11. Most brake bleeding screws will be 8. it is not necessarily the same size on all four wheels of your vehicle.
Prepare the first brake cylinder by inserting the transparent tube into the bleeding screw and laying it down to the jar.
Follow the below order for the bleeding:
1- Rear Right brake
2- Rear Left brake
3- Front Right brake
​4- Front Left brake

Bleeding the brakes one by one with the help of a person inside the vehicle

Now the second operator is required and should sit inside the vehicle and open the windows to hear you.
Proceed as follows to bleed your brake fluid:
  • Loosen the brake bleeding screw just a little while instructing your helper to press the brake pedal with the engine off (first picture).
  • The pedal should be pressed as slowly as possible till the end. It should take at least 3 seconds.
  • DO NOT PRESS THE PEDAL FAST as this could result in the liquid emulsion at the bleed screw level.
  • If it is too hard, loosen a bit more the bleeding screw.
  • You will notice the brown liquid getting inside your transparent tube (second picture) up to the jar.
  • Now your helper has to tell you he/she reached the end. Tighten the screw and tell him/her to release the pedal.
  • THE PEDAL SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED prior to re-tightening the screw as this could pull air into the system.
  • Repeat the above 4 to 6 times before moving to the next wheel.
  • Replenish the brake fluid level in between two wheels (last picture).
  • DO NOT FORGET TO DO SO to avoid pulling air into the brake master cylinder.
  • Repeat the above on the remaining 3 wheels, following the brake bleeding order, then refill your brake fluid reservoir but keep the fluid level under the "MAX" mark of the tank.
You may also buy brake fluid bleeding kits here, some are pneumatic and require compressed air:
Final checklist:
  • Make sure you did refit the rubber caps to all four brake bleeding screws.
  • You should have collected a significant quantity of liquid i.e. used at least 3/4 of the new liquid container contents.
  • Refit the filter and tighten well the tank cap.
  • Turn On your engine and press the brake pedal twice prior to performing the test drive.

See also our other tips on brake fluids and braking systems: