How Much Does It Cost to Bleed Brakes?

When there is air in the brake fluid, your braking will not function more efficiently. Normal brake fluid should be incompressible to function well.

This can happen for one of a number of reasons. Most of the time, air in the brake lines occurs after having brake pads replaced. This is because when replacing brakes, air can easily be introduced into the brake lines.

The cost to bleed brakes is one that is definitely worth paying. When you have air in your brake lines, you have less braking power.

Generally speaking, If you use a brake bleeding kit, then the cost to bleed brakes would be just a one-time fee of $30 to $50, depending on which brake bleeding kit you get.

If, however, you have a shop do the work, then the cost to bleed brakes will be between $70 and $230 every time you need to have it done. The cost to bleed brakes for a more economy-focused car like a Ford Focus or a Mazda 3 will be between $70 and $110.

Higher-end vehicles, on the other hand, have more complex brake systems and service centers that charge a higher hourly rate in general. So, the cost to bleed brakes for a BMW 325i or Audi A4 will range between $150 and $190.

In this article, we will explain what it means to bleed the brakes. We will also detail the cost to bleed brakes.

What Is Bleeding The Brakes?

Bleeding the brakes is a procedure that purged the brake lines of any trapped air bubbles that they may have contained within them. If there are any air bubbles in a vehicle’s hydraulic brake system, there will be a drop in pressure inside the system.

Should You Bleed The Brakes Yourself?

If you don’t mind doing the work yourself, you can save yourself a lot of time and money. Everything you need to bleed your brakes is built into the car. The problem is, you have to have someone help you.

This is because someone has to be pumping the brakes in the car and another person will have to adjust the bleed valve on the brake itself. There are, however, brake bleeding kits that you can buy online that make bleeding brakes trivial.

These kits make it so one person can sit there and pump out all the air without having someone else in the car. With a brake bleeding kit, the unwanted air in the brake lines can be pumped out, right there at the brake, requiring no one in the vehicle.

Tools Needed To Do It Yourself

A combination wrench

Bleeding car brakes require a special type of wrench. Although some motorists may decide to use a closed-hand wrench, it is crucial that you get the right wrench for your car model.

With a special combination wrench, you can easily get into tight locations when working on your brakes. A quality combination wrench doesn’t slip off the bleeder when you are working on your brakes.

Because you may not require a high-quality wrench, you are likely to part ways with at least $5 to buy one. Note that the type of wrench you use will depend on your car model. In most cases, a typical wrench will not exceed $7.

Brake Fluid

The second component you will need when bleeding your car brakes is quality and clean brake fluid. When choosing the best brake fluid, you should counter-check its sensitivity to temperature.

The brake fluid should have a higher boiling point and a low freezing point. That means it should not boil easily or freeze easily.

Brake fluids are rated based on their composition; there is DOT3, DOT 4, and DOT 5. On average, the cost of brake fluid that you need for a one-time job is between $73 and $104.

Labor

How much you spend to fix your car will depend on your car brand and where you take your car for repair. If you have some skills, you can opt for a DIY solution for brake bleeding. 

However, if you visit a high-end mechanic shop, you are likely to spend more on labor. If you want the mechanic to work on-site, they will charge you more.

But You need to know everything about break bleeding if you want to get the right cost anywhere, so read on:

Readout this related article on 10 best brake caliper paint – according to car enthusiasts

Is Brake Bleeding that Important? 

When you realize your brake pedals going all the way to the floor when you press them, or you realize that the car brake doesn’t work at all, it is a red flag that you should work on the brake fluids.

You can simply save your car brake system by bleeding the brakes and replacing the old brake fluid with a new one.

Brake bleeding is a must for any vehicle with a hydraulic brake system. The presence of impurities, moisture, and air bubbles on the brake fluid can compromise the efficiency of your braking system.

The brake fluid should be incompressible to achieve maximum efficiency. However, it becomes compressible when there is a formation of an air bubble. So, yes, it is important to bleed your brakes regularly if you want them to function optimally.

Air finds its way into the brake fluid every time you open the brake fluid reservoir. When allowed there for some time, the air can cause significant damage to your car’s brake system. 

You must always remove anything in your car brake fluid that can hinder its normal operation as soon as you notice any inefficiency in the brakes.

A steady and ready flow of brake fluid is necessary to ensure your car braking system is efficient. When you remove all the impurities in your brake fluid, you reduce all the damage to your hydraulic car system.

Bleeding The Brakes

Before you can get to know more about how much you are likely to spend on brake bleeding, you must understand the brake bleeding process.

Only then can you figure out the amount of money that you should spend. Let’s jump straight to a step-by-step guide on bleeding car brakes.

Here are the items that you will need to bleed your car brakes properly. You may want to

• A combination wrench that can fit your car bleeder nozzle
• A can of brake fluids 
• A cylinder glass jar to put the brake fluid 
• Someone to help you with pressing the brake pads

How to Bleed your Car Brakes?

1. Locate your car’s brake bleeder nozzle. It is normally located behind the car brakes.
2. Use a wrench to loosen the screws holding the brake bleeder nozzle.
3. Place one end of the hose in the cylinder jar and the other side at the end of the screw.
4. Invite your partner to help you pump the brake pedal.
5. Open the bleeder screw after pumping the brake pedals for some time.
6. Tighten the screws again before you can release the brake pedals. This way, you stop atmospheric air from entering inside the brake fluid again.
7. Repeat the procedure as many times as possible until you cannot see any air bubbles or impurities in the brake fluid.

Once you’ve removed all impurities and air bubbles, you can proceed to add new brake fluid to the master cylinder. Confirm that the brake fluid reaches the marked level.

You can repeat the above process with all your car brakes to remove all air bubbles and clean the hydraulic brake system.

Once you are done with the brake bleeding, you can drive your car around for a mile and test if the brake pedals are working smoothly.

Proper Maintenance of Brake System

Here are some tips to keep your car brake system efficient:

Tip # 1

Listen and watch all the warning signs that your brakes are giving you. For instance, if you hear any unusual noise or abnormal feeling when you press the brake pedals, it’s a warning sign that you should replace the brake fluid.

Tip #2

Flush your brake fluid when it changes in color. You can only find out if your car brake fluid is still good by using a testing strip to check it. When you visit your mechanic for an oil change, you can ask them to check the brake fluid.

Tip # 3

Always invest in a quality brake system. It may cost you tons of money, but as long as it lasts longer and requires minimal maintenance, you should not hesitate to have one installed on your vehicle.

Tip # 4

Avoid emergency braking. When driving, you should first slow down before you can apply the brakes. Keep some distance between you and the vehicle in front to avoid emergency braking. This will not only keep you safe on the road but also ensure your brake system last longer

Also Read: How Long Can You Drive with Bad Struts? 

Well, it is needless to mention that when on the road, your car brake is very important if you want to arrive safely. It is always important to ensure that your car brake system is in perfect condition, especially if you are a regular road user.