Manual Bleeding Procedure

The time required to bleed the hydraulic system can be reduced if the master cylinder reservoir is filled with brake fluid and as much air as possible is expelled before the master cylinder is installed on the vehicle. Pumping the piston can evacuate the air from the piston cavities.
Power brakes require the vacuum reserve be depleted by applying the brakes several times with the engine off. Care must be taken to prevent brake fluid from contacting any painted surface.

1. Fill the master cylinder reservoir with brake fluid and keep the reservoir at least half full of fluid during the bleeding operation.
2. If the master cylinder is known or suspected to have air in the bore, then it must be bled in the following manner, before bleeding any caliper:
2.1. Disconnect the forward (blind end) brake pipe connection at the master cylinder.
2.2. Allow the brake fluid to fill the master cylinder piston bore until it begins to flow from the forward pipe connector port.
2.3. Connect the forward brake pipe to the master cylinder and tighten.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

2.4. Depress the brake pedal slowly one time and hold. Loosen the forward brake pipe connection at the master cylinder to purge air from the bore. Tighten the connection and then release the brake pedal slowly. Wait 15 seconds. Repeat the sequence, including the 15 second wait, until all air is removed from the bore.
^ Tighten the brake pipe tube nut to 16 Nm (12 ft. lbs.).
2.5. When clear fluid flows from the forward connection, repeat steps 1 and 2 to bleed the master cylinder at the rear (cowl) connection.





3. Individual brake calipers are bled only after all air is removed from the master cylinder. If it is known that the brake calipers do not contain any air, then it will not be necessary to bleed them.
3.1. Place a proper size box end wrench, or equivalent, over the brake caliper bleed screw.
3.2. Attach a clear tube over the screw.
3.3. Submerge the other end of the tube in a clear container partially filled with brake fluid.
3.4. Depress the brake pedal slowly one time and hold.
3.5. Loosen the brake caliper bleed screw to purge the air from the cylinder.
3.6. Tighten the brake caliper bleed screw and slowly release the pedal. Wait 15 seconds.
^ Tighten the brake caliper bleed screw to 12 Nm (106 inch lbs.).
3.7. Repeat the sequence (including the 15 second wait), until all of the air is removed. It may be necessary to repeat the sequence ten or more times to remove all of the air.
3.8. If it is necessary to bleed all of the brake calipers, the following sequence should be used:
3.8.1. Right rear
3.8.2. Left rear
3.8.3. Right front
3.8.4. Left front
3.9. Test drive the vehicle. Check the brake pedal for sponginess.
3.10. Ensure that vehicle exceeds 5 km/h (3 mph) for ABS modulator actuation (self-test). If after ABS modulation the brake pedal is spongy or soft, then re-bleed system until pedal is firm.