How to Check Brake System

"MARK BLOCKER: Okay. In this segment, I'm going to cover checking the braking system and seating the pads. What I'm referring to when I say seating the pads, if you remember when I put the pads on and checked that caliper and it moved back and forth freely, we had all that free play in there that allowed that caliper to move. That free play has to be taken out by hydraulic fluid, either the pads push back or the pistons in the caliper push back out to where the pads contact the rotor and this needs to be done before you move the vehicle anywhere because your first two or three pumps in the brake pedal, you're not going to feel any brake pressure or resistance. Those three pumps are just applying the fluid necessary back into the caliper to get the brake pad seated onto the rotor. That's extremely important that this is done 'cause if you're going to back your vehicle out and you haven't done this, you're going to have three or four brake pumps before you get brake pressure. And that can be a real bad situation you'll find yourself where you need to stop and three times on the brake pedal isn't sufficient or it isn't going to give you enough time to stop or you're putting it on an unsafe condition. To inspect the system, we want to check the master cylinder and make sure it has adequate fluid level in it. To inspect the system, basically, all we need to do is just check the master cylinder, make sure it's got adequate fluid in it, the fluid level is correct and then we can seat the pads and go for a test drive. The first thing we're going to need to do is release the hood release. To locate the master cylinder, it's usually always on the same side of the vehicle as the driver and it's going to be located usually near the firewall, right above where the brake pedal is inside the vehicle. Some of the newer cars is compact, these are getting and what the remote analogue brake systems are using, they could be using a remote mounted reservoir and--or electrically applied master cylinder assembly. And that can be located in any number of places. If you have any difficulty in these, just refer to your owner's manual. So, we're just going to inspect this. I've got a clear one or a light-coated one and I can see the fluid level right through the side of it without removing the dust cover. And that's all I really need to do. There's no reason to take the cap off, risk the possibility of the rubber seal inside getting damage or contaminated. I can see I have more than adequate enough fluid if--between the fill and the low lines. So, my brake fluid level's okay. So, please watch our next segment on seating the front brake pads."