BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING

Tech Tips

If any work is performed on the brake system or if air in the brake lines is suspected, bleed the air from the brake system.

Note

Move the shift lever to P and apply the parking brake before bleeding the brakes.
Add brake fluid to keep the level between MIN and MAX lines of the reservoir while bleeding the brakes.
If brake fluid leaks onto any painted surface, wash off and remove the brake fluid completely.
If bleeding is performed with the engine running or the engine switch on (IG), DTC C1441 will be stored. Make sure to clear the DTCs when work is complete.

FILL RESERVOIR WITH BRAKE FLUID
1. Remove the brake master cylinder reservoir filler cap assembly.
2. Fill the reservoir with brake fluid.
  
  Brake Fluid
  
  SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
  
  Note
  
  Make sure that there is sufficient brake fluid in the reservoir.
BLEED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
Note
- If the master cylinder is reinstalled or runs out of brake fluid, bleed the master cylinder.
- To prevent brake fluid from damaging painted surfaces, cover any surrounding parts with a piece of cloth.
1. Using a union nut wrench, disconnect the 2 brake lines from the master cylinder sub-assembly.
2. Slowly depress the brake pedal and hold it*1.
3. Cover the 2 outer holes with fingers, and release the brake pedal*2.
4. Repeat steps *1 and *2, 3 or 4 times.
5. Using a union nut wrench, connect the 2 brake lines to the master cylinder.
  
  Torque:
  
  20 N*m { 199 kgf*cm, 14 ft.*lbf }
  
  Note
  
  Use the formula to calculate special torque values for situations where the union nut wrench is combined with a torque wrench Click here.
BLEED BRAKE LINE
Note
- Bleed the brake line of the wheel farthest from the master cylinder first.
- Add brake fluid to keep the level between the MIN and MAX lines of the reservoir while bleeding the brakes.
1. Depress the brake pedal several times, and then loosen the bleeder plug with the pedal depressed*1.
2. When fluid stops coming out, tighten the bleeder plug, and then release the brake pedal*2.
3. Repeat *1 and *2 until all the air in the fluid is completely bled out.
4. Tighten the bleeder plug completely.
  
  Torque:
  
  front bleeder plug
  
  8.3 N*m { 85 kgf*cm, 73 in.*lbf }
  
  rear bleeder plug
  
  11 N*m { 110 kgf*cm, 8 ft.*lbf }
5. Repeat the above procedure for each wheel to bleed the brake line.
BLEED BRAKE ACTUATOR

Note

After bleeding the air from the brake system, if the correct height or feel of the brake pedal cannot be obtained, bleed the air from the brake actuator assembly using the intelligent tester by following the procedure below.
1. Depress the brake pedal more than 20 times with the engine switch off.
2. Connect the intelligent tester to the DLC3, then turn the engine switch on (IG).
  
  Note
  
  Do not start the engine.
3. Turn the intelligent tester on and select "Air Bleeding" on the screen.
  Note
  - Refer to the intelligent tester operator's manual for further details.
  - Bleed the brake actuator assembly by following the steps displayed on the intelligent tester.
4. Bleed the air from the actuator according to "Step 1: Increase" on the intelligent tester display.
  
  Note
  
  Make sure that the master cylinder reservoir tank does not run out of brake fluid.
  1. Connect a vinyl tube to either one of the bleeder plugs.
  2. Depress the brake pedal several times, then loosen the bleeder plug connected to the vinyl tube with the pedal depressed*3.
  3. When fluid no longer comes out, tighten the bleeder plug, then release the brake pedal*4.
  4. Repeat steps *3 and *4 until all the air in the fluid is completely bled.
  5. Tighten the bleeder plug completely.
    
    Torque:
    
    front bleeder plug
    
    8.3 N*m { 85 kgf*cm, 73 in.*lbf }
    
    rear bleeder plug
    
    11 N*m { 110 kgf*cm, 8 ft.*lbf }
  6. Repeat the above procedure for the rest of the wheels to bleed the air from the brake lines.
5. Bleed the air from the suction line according to "Step 2: Inhalation" on the intelligent tester display.
  Note
  - Bleed the suction line by following the steps displayed on the intelligent tester.
  - Make sure that the master cylinder reservoir tank does not run out of brake fluid.
  1. Connect a vinyl tube to the bleeder plug at the right front wheel or the right rear wheel and loosen the bleeder plug.
  2. Operate the brake actuator assembly to bleed the air using the intelligent tester*5.
    Note
    - The operation stops automatically after 4 seconds.
    - At this time, be sure to release the brake pedal.
  3. Check that the operation has stopped by referring to the intelligent tester display and tighten the bleeder plug*6.
  4. Repeat steps *5 and *6 until all the air in the fluid is completely bled out.
  5. Tighten the bleeder plug completely.
    
    Torque:
    
    front bleeder plug
    
    8.3 N*m { 85 kgf*cm, 73 in.*lbf }
    
    rear bleeder plug
    
    11 N*m { 110 kgf*cm, 8 ft.*lbf }
  6. For the rest of the wheels, bleed the air in the same way as stated in the above procedure.
6. Bleed the air from the pressure reduction line according to "Step 3: Decrease" on the intelligent tester display.
  Note
  - Bleed the pressure reduction line by following the steps displayed on the intelligent tester.
  - Make sure that the master cylinder reservoir tank does not run out of brake fluid.
  1. Connect a vinyl tube to either one of the bleeder plugs.
  2. Loosen the bleeder plug*7.
  3. Using the intelligent tester, operate the brake actuator assembly while completely depressing and holding the brake pedal.
    Note
    - The operation stops automatically after 4 seconds. When this operation will be repeated continuously, allow an interval of at least 20 seconds between each bleeding operation.
    - When the operation is completed, the brake pedal will go down slightly. This is a normal phenomenon due to the opening of the solenoid.
    - During this procedure, the brake pedal will seem heavy. It is necessary to completely depress it so that brake fluid will come out of the bleeder plug.
    - Be sure to keep the brake pedal depressed. Never depress and release the pedal repeatedly.
  4. Tighten the bleeder plug, then release the brake pedal*8.
  5. Repeat steps from *7 to *8 until all the air in the fluid is completely bled out.
  6. Tighten the bleeder plug completely.
    
    Torque:
    
    front bleeder plug
    
    8.3 N*m { 85 kgf*cm, 73 in.*lbf }
    
    rear bleeder plug
    
    11 N*m { 110 kgf*cm, 8 ft.*lbf }
  7. Repeat the above procedure for the rest of the brakes to bleed the air from the brake line.
7. Bleed the air from the brake line again according to "Step 4: Increase" on the intelligent tester display.
  Note
  - Bleed the brake line by following the steps displayed on the intelligent tester.
  - Make sure that the master cylinder reservoir tank does not run out of brake fluid.
  1. Connect a vinyl tube to either one of the bleeder plugs.
  2. Depress the brake pedal several times, then loosen the bleeder plug connected to the vinyl tube with the pedal depressed*9.
  3. When fluid no longer comes out, tighten the bleeder plug, then release the brake pedal*10.
  4. Repeat steps *9 and *10 until all the air in the fluid is completely bled out.
  5. Tighten the bleeder plug completely.
    
    Torque:
    
    front bleeder plug
    
    8.3 N*m { 85 kgf*cm, 73 in.*lbf }
    
    rear bleeder plug
    
    11 N*m { 110 kgf*cm, 8 ft.*lbf }
  6. Repeat the above procedure for each brake to bleed the air from the brake line.
8. Finish "Air Bleeding" on the intelligent tester and turn the intelligent tester off.
9. Disconnect the intelligent tester from the DLC3.
10. Turn the engine switch off.
INSPECT FOR BRAKE FLUID LEAK
INSPECT FLUID LEVEL IN RESERVOIR
1. Check the fluid level.
  
  If the brake fluid level is lower than the MIN line, check for leaks and inspect the disc brake pads. If necessary, refill the reservoir with brake fluid to the MAX line after repair or replacement.
  
  Brake Fluid
  
  SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
CHECK AND CLEAR DTCS

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