Flushing the brake fluid?

[jmcoreymv]

My car (04 Accord, manual trans), needed some maintenance so I decided to give it a shot myself yesterday. This was my first time working on a car so I expected some issues to popup. I changed the transmission fluid, rotated the tires, and was going to try and flush the brake fluid.

First I sucked out all the old brake fluid I could from the resevoir and replaced it with new fluid. Then I took off the right rear wheel, hooked up tubing to the bleeder screw, and loosened it a little bit while my friend had slight pressure on the brake pedal. He then pressed down and fluid came out and I tightened the bleeder screw back up. However the brake pedal stayed down at that point. I wasn't sure whether or not that was supposed to happen so I put the wheel back on and turned on the engine and the pedal returned.

Am I supposed to have the engine running while my friend pumps the brakes to do this? Was I doing something completely stupid?

Thanks!

 

[speedy2]

did you top it off after you bled it? you probably bled most of it out again. lol Also, you still have old fluid in the other 3 lines.

 

[jmcoreymv]

I only bled a very little bit, so the resevoir was still practically at max. I know I didn't complete the job, since the pedal wouldnt come back up, I just decided to hold off for another day (possibly the same day when I attempt to replace my pads and rotors).

 

[Gibson486]

Engine should be off.

 

[dud]

OP, research these types of jobs before you try to tackle them.

From what you posted it seems you did everything right except for the master cylinder. When I tackle brake jobs I don't bother removing the brake fluid from the MS, I just open the brake fitting and have a friend pump the brake to the floor. At that point you close the fitting (to prevent air getting back into the system) when the brake pedal is released. I do this 5-6 times then stop to refill the resevoir. When the fluid coming out of the line finally clears I lock it up and move to the next wheel.

I've never had a problem with the pedal not moving back to it's original (non-depressed) position. Did you get air in the line?

 

[jmcoreymv]

I didn't get air in the line, but it did seem like there were bubbles of air coming out of the line (for the one brake pump we got in). That could explain why my brakes have always felt mushy.

 

[BW86]

I was always told when bleeding brakes not to push the pedal all the way to the floor so you don't screw up the master cylinder seals.

 

[jmcoreymv]

I was always told when bleeding brakes not to push the pedal all the way to the floor so you don't screw up the master cylinder seals.

I did put a block behind the brake pedal so it couldnt go all the way to the floor.