How to Bleed the Brakes of the 1998 Chevy Cavalier
The 1998 Chevy Cavalier is equipped with front-wheel anti-lock brakes. The braking system should be bled to remove air from the brake lines. Air in the lines will cause the brakes to respond slowly to brake pedal depressions. The hesitation could lead to dangerous results. Bleed the brakes when the brake pedal seems to "bounce" during braking. You will need an assistant to help you bleed the brake properly.
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Things You'll Need
- Shop rag
- Lug wrench or 18-mm socket and breaker bar
- Jack
- Jack stands
- 10-mm wrench
- Brake bleed kit
- Drip pan
- Funnel
- Brake fluid
Instructions
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1
Park the Cavalier on a flat surface. Apply the parking brake and pull the hood release lever. Turn off the engine and move to the front of the vehicle. Lift the hood and remove the master cylinder cap located on the right side of the engine in the back of the engine bay. Place a shop rag over the master cylinder container.
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2
Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels with the lug wrench or 18-mm socket and breaker bar. Place the jack under the frame at the rear of the vehicle and lift the rear tires off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear axles and lower the Cavalier onto the stands.
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3
Remove the rear wheels. Remove the rubber cap and place the 10-mm socket wrench onto the right rear brake bleed valve. The valve is between the two brake caliper slide bolts. Place the tube from the brake bleed kit onto the valve. Aim the tube into a drip pan on the ground below the brake assembly.
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4
Ask your assistant to press the brake pedal slowly to the floor. Open the valve with the wrench. Monitor the stream of brake fluid through the bleed kit tubing. Close the valve with the wrench once there are no bubbles visible in the flow of brake fluid. Remove the tube and wrench from the valve.
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5
Place the wrench and tube on the left brake bleed valve. Aim the tube into the drip pan. Resume the brake pedal depressions and open the valve. Close the valve when no bubbles are seen in the stream of brake fluid. Remove the tube and wrench from the bleed valve. Place the rear wheels back on the wheel bolts. Screw on the lug nuts by hand. Lift the rear end of the Chevy with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the rear tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench or socket and breaker bar.
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6
Move to the engine compartment. Remove the shop rag and place a funnel in the reservoir. Fill the container with brake fluid as needed. Remove the funnel and replace the shop rag.
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7
Lift the front tires off the ground with the jack. Remove the lug nuts and the front wheels. Place the wrench and tube onto the front right brake bleed valve. Aim the tube into the drip pan. Instruct the assistant to press the brake pedal. Open the valve and monitor the flow of brake fluid through the tube. Close the valve and remove the wrench and tubing.
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8
Place the wrench and tube onto the left front brake bleed valve. Bleed the brake line as you did the three previous lines. Remove the tube and wrench. Replace the front wheels on the wheels bolts and screw on the lug nuts. Lift the front of the Cavalier with the jack and remove the stands. Lower the front tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts. Return to the engine compartment.
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9
Remove the shop rag from the master cylinder. Place the funnel into the container and add brake fluid as needed. Remove the funnel and replace the master cylinder cap. Close the Chevy's hood.
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