How do you bleed your brakes?
bleed your brakes if you believe your brake pedal is spongy. easiest way but definitely not the fastest would to gravity bleed your calipers. just crack them open a bit and the air bubbles within the system should purge on their own. just make sure you don't let the master cylinder empty, keep the fluid level in check.
You will need two people. Have a guy sit in the car and you can be at the caliper with a bleeder wrench on the screw. Have the guy inside pump the brakes about 10 times, and on the 10 tell him to hold it. You crack open the bleeder screw until its all squirted out, then close the screw, and have the guy repeat the process. Do this about 2-3 times per wheel and see how it feels.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
From: Durant, Oklahoma
just got my maxima back from the dealership, and they said i need new brake fluid as mine is black. My stepdad calls b.s. on the dealer because "i've driven cars for 50 ***** years and never had to replace brake fluid". I think it's not a bad idea, so I'm gonna attempt this soon.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,159
From: Ontario, Canada
I agree - it really is a good idea to do it, the corrosion inhibitors will break down over time and the rustiness will appear in the fluid close to the caliper. Notice when you bleed it you'll see dirty fluid come out initially. I don't believe that dealer guy though saying it's black - unless they are using some space age fluid - I can't see how it goes black. Maybe rusty nasty green or brown....but black seems far fetched.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 58
The Dual proportioning valve is on the firewall on passenger side it is down in there enuff to where ya really have to hover over area to see. It looks like this. a alluminum color about 3 or 4 inches log with all four brake lines coming out of ,I cant remember which is what wheel but anyway if ya let enuff air up into the system thru caliper it has a flap inside that will close off that line. So you cannot get any fluid thru that line once the flap shuts and therfore ya have to go to the proportioning valve and purge it there first to get fluid srarted back down thru line again. It is a safety device it keeps all other lines air free and funtional in case of a catastrophic failure like a bursted line. The other three lines wont fill with air and fail. I learned this the hard way when changing a caliper dumba-- me took the caliper off let the line sit and drip while I went and got a new caliper ( I was saving myself a trip back to parts house to get core charge back) What an Idiot oh well ya learn from these screw ups at least I didnt overpay some dealer to fix it. Lesson learned always have the new caliper right ther and ready to go also leave bleeder loose on new one while installing and wait for it to start dripping thru ya wont have hardly any bleeding left to do thus way I learned that from my Dad. Hope this helps someone someday cause that is a tricky little issue, Ya pump and pump and have a full master cylinder but never get a drop thru the line,also the ABS light will come on over this but will go back off after ya bleed the actuator. any questions or advice I may have left out would be great to add to this thred it may help someone out. maxman7.PS. I had to call four brake mechanics to solve this.
Last edited by maxman7; Apr 4, 2009 at 06:26 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
7th Generation Maxima
it says to shut off actuator unplug at actuator or disconnect the ground on the battery.
Bleed RR--LF-LR-RF
clear hose into a coke bottle for mess free bleed
2 people pump brakes 10 times and hold till the bleeder is opened and closed repeat 3 to 4 times per wheel.
Bleed RR--LF-LR-RF
clear hose into a coke bottle for mess free bleed
2 people pump brakes 10 times and hold till the bleeder is opened and closed repeat 3 to 4 times per wheel.
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zoutv
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
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Jun 6, 2009 12:37 AM