How to Get Air Out of Brake Lines Without Bleeding: Step by Step Guide

Bryan Greene May 31, 2022

Your car’s braking system is one of the most important parts of a vehicle: that’s why it’s vital to take care of it and to promptly solve any issues.

The most common problem you can face is related to minuscule air bubbles that can form in many different ways. The most common is bleeding.

How to get air out of brake lines without bleeding

Bleeding is very effective, but it takes time and a lot of effort. That’s why there is another method, much easier and doable.

In fact, you can get the air out of brake lines without bleeding. Just by following these 10 steps, you can get air out of your brake lines.

How to Get Air Out of Brake Lines Without Bleeding

You can get the air out of brake lines without bleeding by following these steps:

Step #1: raise your vehicle

Raise your vehicle, remove the wheel and use a clean cloth to wipe off any crud or dirt from the area where the brake lines are attached to the car.

After you wipe the dirt from the area clean, you will need to dry it. You can either use a clean cloth or compressed air.

Step #2: find bleeder bolts

Bleeder bolts are a long cylindrical plug at one end of your brake line: it is used to relieve pressure inside the brake lines.

Step #3:loosen bleeder bolts and attach tubing

Loosen the bleeder bolt, then place tubing over the opening of the brake line and attach it to the bleeder valve using a wrench.

Step #4: have a friend apply brakes

Ask your friend to push down on the brake pedal several times. This will cause some fluid to come out of the line so that it can be flushed with fresh fluid.

Your friend needs to keep applying steady pressure so that every bit of old fluid is forced out of brake lines through the tubing and collected in the container.

Step #5: clean the bleeder bolt

Your friend can stop applying pressure on the pedals. You need to take off the tubing and clean the bleeder bolt with a cleaning cloth or compressed air.

Make sure you apply some lubricant around the area where the line connects to the car so that you don’t have any problems tightening it later when you are finished bleeding.

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Step #6:clean the bleeder bolt

After air has been removed remove the cap from the master cylinder reservoir and add brake fluid using a funnel slowly while you keep the pedal pressed.

After you have added brake fluid into your master cylinder reservoir, throw down the parking brake and wait for a few minutes.

Step #7: tighten & secure the bleeders

Tighten the bleeder bolts while still looking for air bubbles in the lines with your friend’s help: this will ensure that no air gets inside the lines again.

Step #8: repeat the process for every wheel

Once you have successfully bled out the air from one wheel, you have to repeat the same process for every other wheel.

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Step 9: fill your brake fluid reservoir

Check all your brake lines once again to make sure that there are no leaks causing air bubbles inside the lines.

Step #10: go for a test drive

Now that the air is removed, you can go for a test drive. After the test, check all your wheel cylinders to make sure that they are full of fluid.

How to gravity bleed brakes alone

Gravity bleeding is a method in which new fluid is introduced into the system while the old fluid is drained. The incoming fluid expels any air bubbles that may form.

If the brake system is heavily loaded from long and prolonged driving, it heats up and the heat is transferred from the brake pads to the brake pistons and from there to the brake fluid.

Read Also: Air in Brake Line Symptoms

Step 1: raise your vehicle above the ground

First, you need to raise your car. Make sure the car is secure before working on it. If you shake it slightly, you can see if it is holding steady.

When the car has been raised and is standing securely, you must remove the wheels. Use the wrench for this.

Step 2: find the brake fluid reservoir

Find and remove the top of the master cylinder reservoir. As a general rule, it is located in line with the brake pedal in the engine compartment.

Step #3: attach the plastic tubing

You will need to start with the brakes that are located furthest from the master brake cylinder: these are usually the right rear brakes.

Locate the brake line bleeder screw and slide the end of clear tubing over the screw nipple.

Dip the other end of the tubing into a container that is held above the fluid reservoir. This will prevent air from being sucked into the brake system.

Step #4: release the air bubbles

Loosen the bleed nipple screw with the wrench. While the hose is still attached, loosen the bleed screw. This opens the brake line and allows the fluid to flow.

Since the brake fluid reservoir is higher than the bleeder screws, gravity may cause a small amount of fluid to flow into the hose when the bleeder screw is opened.

This is a good sign that there are no obstructions in the fluid line. This process will take about 3 to 4 minutes, so you will need to be patient.

To speed up the process, take a wooden handle or a rubber mallet and tap the brake calipers several times. Check your brake fluid reservoir, it should be properly filled.

Step #5: close the bleeder and replenish brake fluid reservoir

Close the bleeder. Before removing the clear tube, close the vent screw to prevent air from entering.

The bleeder screw does not need much force to close.

A quick tug should be sufficient. Brake fluid will come out of the hose and you will have a rag ready.

Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. You will see that the level has dropped a little. Add more brake fluid to refill the reservoir. Do not let the brake fluid reservoir run dry.

close the bleeder and replenish brake fluid reservoir

If there are air bubbles in the previous fluid, repeat the above steps until the fluid is clean and clear.

Step #6: bleed the remaining brakes

Repeat this process for each other brake valve until all four are fully vented. Make sure the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir does not drop below ¼ cup.

Step #7: go for a test drive

Step firmly on the brake pedal to make sure it is nice and firm before starting the vehicle. Take the vehicle for a drive and slow down with a firm application of the brake pedal to test its work.