Brake line flushes are a regular maintenance procedure that should be done on vehicles every 7,500 miles. When the brake lines are flushed, it removes any build-up of mud, dust, or other contaminants that can cause malfunctions or accidents down the road. In this article, we’ll show you how to do a brake line flush on your own car.
What is a brake line flush?
A brake line flush is a procedure that is often performed when a mechanic suspects that the brake line may be contaminated. The flush removes any contaminants from the brake lines and can help to prevent a brake failure.
To do a brake line flush, the mechanic first needs to remove the calipers from the wheels. Next, they will need to unscrew the wheel hubcap. Finally, they will need to remove the brake line bracket. The brake line flush procedure will then be performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to do a brake line flush
When your brake pads start to wear down, they can leave behind small bits of metal that can cause braking Malfunctions. To fix the situation, you need to do a brake line flush. Here’s how it works:
1. Remove the caliper and rotor from the wheel
2. Hose off the brake lines running to and from the calipers
3. Use a plunger type tool to push as much of the old brake fluid as possible out of each line
4. Put new brake fluid into each line and reattach hoses
5. Put the caliper back on and rotate the rotor so that it is facing frontward (assuming you are doing this procedure on the front wheels)
6. Replace any damaged or missing bolts on the caliper
7. Replace any damaged or missing bolts on the wheel
8. Reattach parking brake cable if needed
9. Drive your car around for a few rounds to make sure everything is working properly
10. Put everything back together and enjoy your freshly flushed brakes
What to do if you have a brake problem
If you’re having problems with your braking system, there are a few things you can do to try and diagnose the problem. One of the first things you can do is to flush your brake lines. This ensures that any debris or contaminants that may be blocking your brake lines is cleared out and makes the braking system work better. Here’s how to do a brake line flush:
1) Park your car in a safe location so you won’t get into an accident if your brakes fail.
2) Remove all of the parking brake cables.
3) Raise the front and rear of the car off the ground using ramps or jack stands.
4) Remove the wheel and tire.
5) Disconnect both hoses from the master cylinder (the large black reservoir).
6) Remove the bleeder screw on each side of the master cylinder (the small silver screw below each hose connection).
7) Carefully twist each hose until it comes free from its connection on the master cylinder. NOTE: If you have a dual-circuit Master Cylinder, be sure to twist both hoses in opposite directions before pulling them away from the master cylinder!
8) Gently pull each hose out of its connection
Conclusion
If you have recently replaced your brake pads and you are now experiencing sluggish or sporadic braking, it is likely that your brake line has become contaminated. To flush the brake line and restore normal braking performance, perform the following procedure: Park the car on a level surface with the parking brake fully engaged. Open the trunk lid.
Disconnect both negative cable clamps from each wheel. Loosen each wheel hubcap by turning it counterclockwise about 1/4 turn (1 full rotation). Remove the cover from the brake caliper. Push a thin object such as a screwdriver up through the forked opening in front of the piston to clear any debris lodged in between rotor and pad. Depress both pistons slightly so that brake fluid can flow into calipers. Replace cover, tighten wheel hubcaps, reconnect positive cable clamps, and close trunk lid.
If you have recently replaced your brake pads and are now experiencing sluggish or sporadic braking, it is likely that your brake line has become contaminated. To flush the brake line and restore normal braking performance, perform steps 1-5 above while driving at slow speeds in an area free of traffic until all fluid has been cleared from system