Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Brake Bleeding: Service Precautions

When any part of the hydraulic system has been disconnected for service, air may enter system and cause spongy pedal action. Bleed the hydraulic system after it has been opened to make sure that all air is expelled.

Due to the diagonal braking system on this vehicle (LH front and RH rear on one circuit and RH front and LH rear on the other), bleeding the front brakes first allows for a shorter flow path for air entrapped in the replacement valve. Once the front brakes have been thoroughly bled, the only volume of air remaining to be eliminated in the upper section of the ABS valve is the air in the short sections of the rear brake tubes not accessible by the front brakes via the ABS valve.