How to Bleed the Brakes on a Honda Accord

by Don BowmanUpdated November 07, 2017

Items you will need

  • Set of ¼-inch drive sockets

  • ¼-inch drive ratchet

  • Rubber or plastic bleeder hose

  • Bottle for the brake fluid

  • Can of brake fluid

  • Floor jack

  • Jack stands

  • Set of ½-inch drive sockets

  • ½-inch drive air gun

Bleeding the brakes can be done by one person when done properly. If the brakes were just serviced and the brake lines were opened for the purpose of replacing the calipers, wheel cylinders, brakes hoses or lines or the master cylinder there will be air in the lines. If the system was never opened and there is air in the system the first thing to do is look for leaks and correct the situation before continuing.

Raise the car and support it on jack stands. Remove the wheels from the car.

Fill the brake bleeder bottle half way with brake fluid. Using a ten millimeter socket and ratchet, loosen the right rear bleeder screw.

Install the brake bleeder hose onto the tip of the brake bleeder screw and place the hose into the bottle of brake fluid. Make sure that the brake bleeder hose is submerged in the brake fluid.

Pump the brake pedal slowly five times. Tighten the brake bleeder screw and remove the brake bleeder hose. Check the brake master cylinder and fill as necessary.

Work on bleeding all the brakes moving from the right rear to the left front to the left rear and finally to the right front. Each time one is bled check the fluid in the master cylinder. Stay in this order as they are bled. Start the engine and pump the brakes five or six times first before driving.

Bleed the master cylinder if the brakes are spongy. Spongy brakes mean air has gotten in the line and worked its way up to the brake master cylinder. This step will require two people to accomplish this job.

Bleed the brake master cylinder by having someone sit in the car and start the engine. Let the car run in neutral. Loosen the front brake line on the master cylinder with the appropriate wrench. Have the helper push the pedal to the floor and hold it there. This is very important. The other person must not let the pedal up until you have tightened the line on the master cylinder because if they do air will be sucked into the master cylinder making it harder to bleed. Once the pedal is to the floor tighten the line and let the helper lift his foot off the brake pedal.

Loosen the rear brake line on the master cylinder and have the helper once again push the pedal to the floor. Tighten the brake line and allow the helper to release the pressure on the pedal. Check the brake fluid in the master cylinder and replace the cap.

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