how do i bleed my brakes?

[clean]

is there a sequence of order for them? i just changed my rear left caliper cause the seal on the piston was gone, but i really dont know how to bleed them and i dont have a fsm. its for an s13 thanks

[thx247]

1. Clean all dirt from around the master cylinder fill cap, remove the cap and fill the master cylinder with brake fluid until the level is within 1/4 in. (6mm) of the top edge of the reservoir.
2. Clean the bleeder screws. The bleeder screws are located on the back of the brake backing plate (drum brakes) and on the top of the brake calipers (disc brakes). Some master cylinders and other brake components such as ABS modulators have bleeders located on them also.
3. Attach a length of rubber hose over the bleeder screw and place the other end of the hose in a glass jar, submerged in brake fluid.
4. Open the bleeder screw 1/2-3/4 turn. Have an assistant slowly depress the brake pedal.
5. Close the bleeder screw and tell your assistant to allow the brake pedal to return slowly. Continue this process to purge all air from the system.
6. When bubbles cease to appear at the end of the bleeder hose, close the bleeder screw and remove the hose. Tighten the bleeder screw to 61-87 inch lbs.(7-9 Nm).
7. Check the master cylinder fluid level and add fluid accordingly. Do this after bleeding each component.
8. Repeat the bleeding operation at the remaining components, ending with the one closet to the master cylinder.
9. Fill the master cylinder reservoir to the proper level.

[fleaf]

be sure to bleed the caliper farthest away from the Master cylinder first and then work your way to the closest. So...rear passenger, rear driver, front passenger, front driver.

[andrave]

wrong... wrong order for an S13 anyway.
Start with driver's side rear.

Also don't forget to tap the caliper to get out any trapped air bubbles, thats for those who replace the caliper.

[mrmephistopheles]

You could start by reading my braking FAQ in the FAQ forum.

Andrave: I was about to correct you, but in retrospect, you may be right, seeing as how the proportioning valve/distribution block hoohah is on the passenger side, thus leaving a longer path to the driver side.
That sounds right. I'll check the FSM and compare it to S14s too.

[thx247]

S13 w/out ABS is RL, RR, FL, FR.

S13 w/ABS is RL, RR, FL, FR- and then the front side bleeder on the ABS actuator, and then the rear side bleeder.

[andrave]

yeah my manual says start with driver's rear, my car is non abs though.
I know cause my dad helped me do it and he wanted to start with the pass. rear but the manual said otherwise.

[fleaf]

Originally posted by andrave
wrong... wrong order for an S13 anyway.
Start with driver's side rear.

Also don't forget to tap the caliper to get out any trapped air bubbles, thats for those who replace the caliper.

yea, sorry about the misinformation, I must've had a brain fart when I was typing. I was referring back to the FSM and saw that RL is first then RR, FL, FR :doh:

[thx247]

no worries fleaf, I've been bleeding my brakes the wrong way for a year now before I bothered to read the FSM about it. Funny thing is they work just great using the wrong method.

[clean]

thanks guys