Air in brake line

Tiny
10POINTBOB
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 177,000 MILES
I let the brake fluid get too tow. Am I going to have to bleed the master cylinder?
Sunday, July 25th, 2021 AT 4:07 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This depends on how low it got and if you have air in the system.

Do you have a pedal that goes to the floor or a soft pedal? Here is a guide that helps with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-pedal-goes-to-the-floor

If there was still fluid in the reservoir then you should be fine. However, if you are concerned then here is a guide that will help with bleeding the system:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-bleed-or-flush-a-car-brake-system

However, the reason the fluid gets low is due to a leak or brake pads are low, so we need to check the pads and find out if they are worn out. It is not a good idea to just add fluid as that is an indicator or a possible issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-front-brake-pads-and-rotors-fwd

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-rear-brake-pads-and-rotors

Please run through this info and let us know if there are questions. Thanks
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Sunday, July 25th, 2021 AT 4:21 PM
Tiny
10POINTBOB
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Thanks for the info. I replaced the pads and caliper and that's when it ran low so I bled them and they still felt soft. Bled them again and they felt fine until I started the engine then it felt soft to me.
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Sunday, July 25th, 2021 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
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Okay. Just trying to confirm the progression. You replaced the pads and calipers and the fluid was low at that point? Then you bled the brakes and it was still soft. Then you start the engine and it still feels soft but it will be firm when the engine is off?

If this is the case, you may still have air in them. I would suggest starting over and bleeding the master in the vehicle. You do this by taking the lines off and routing lines back into the mater and then pump the brakes. If you get a bleeding kit then it will have clear lines so you can see if there are any bubbles coming out but you just pump it until you see two or three in a row where it is solid fluid. Then reconnect the lines and bleed all of them again. Starting with the right rear, left rear, passenger front, driver front.

Also, when you have the lines off and after you bleed the master if you want to confirm it is ok and there are no leaks internal to it, just cap the lines with bolts and press the brakes. You should have a hard pedal. If not then you need to replace the master. Just make sure you use bolts that are the same length or shorter then the threads on the brake line nuts. Otherwise you could crack the master then it needs to be replaced.

Let me know if you have questions on this. Thanks
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Sunday, July 25th, 2021 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
10POINTBOB
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The fluid ran low after I disconnected the banjo bolt from the caliper. I added fluid but I guess it was too low by then. Also, can't I just crack the lines on the cylinder to bleed the master like when using 2 people to bleed the brakes? Second part to the question is, if I were to use the master bleed kit would I not reintroduce air with the lines off?
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Monday, July 26th, 2021 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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You cannot 100% bleed a master unless you take the brake lines and route them back to the master because you have no way of closing a bleeder screw to release the pedal.

So if you crack the lines loose and push the pedal, you will have brake fluid everywhere, and then tighten them again before you release the pedal, there is no guarantee that the air came out and didn't just go into the line.

I think this could cause more issues if we try to find other ways to do this. They may work but if the issue is not fixed, then we can't truly cross it off the list.

Next when you bleed the master and then remove the bleed kit to reinstall the lines then yes. There is a chance that air is back in the lines. It will not get into the master as long as you don't press the brake with the lines off. So once you install the brake lines again, you must bleed each wheel again to ensure there is no air in them.
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Monday, July 26th, 2021 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
10POINTBOB
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Thanks that helps a lot. I appreciate your knowledge.
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Monday, July 26th, 2021 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
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You are welcome. Please let us know what you find with this and we can go from there. Thanks
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Monday, July 26th, 2021 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
10POINTBOB
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It's going to be a couple of weeks before I work on the car again. I just had a procedure on my back so I need to let it heal but I'll get back with you.
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Tuesday, July 27th, 2021 AT 7:51 AM
Tiny
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Not a problem. Please just keep this link that gets emailed to you and whenever you get back to it, just updated us with the good news that you got it resolved. We will be here when you get back to it. Thanks for the update.
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Tuesday, July 27th, 2021 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
10POINTBOB
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Well, I bled the master and got it on but now I need to check the check valve and if it's good. I'll need to replace the booster which I'm waiting on. In the mean time I have brakes just not power.
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Thursday, August 12th, 2021 AT 5:02 PM
Tiny
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That is progress. Thanks for the update. Please let us know after you get the booster.
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Thursday, August 12th, 2021 AT 7:44 PM

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