Bleeding the Brakes on a 2012 Chevy Cruze
To bleed the brakes on a 2012 Chevy Cruze, you can follow the steps below:
1. Gather Necessary Tools and Materials:
– You will need a 10mm, 11mm, and 19mm socket, a torque wrench, some clear tube, an empty bottle, and some DOT 3 brake fluid.
– Ensure you have the necessary tools and materials before starting the process.
2. Start with the Right Rear Brake:
– Locate the bleeder screw cap, which is about in the middle of the caliper behind the rotor.
– Position yourself at the caliper and have someone pump the brake pedal 5 times and hold it down.
– Open the bleeder on the caliper until fluid or air flows out, then close the bleeder.
– Repeat this process until only fluid flows out with no bubbles.
– Ensure the brake fluid reservoir does not get empty during the process.
3. Repeat the Process for Other Brakes:
– After bleeding the right rear brake, move on to the left rear, then the right front, and finally the left front brake.
– Follow the same process of pumping the brake pedal, opening the bleeder, and closing it until only fluid flows out with no bubbles.
4. Considerations for ABS-equipped Vehicles:
– If the vehicle has ABS and air in the system, it must be bled from the caliper upwards using a pressurized bleeding bottle .
5. Additional Tips:
– It’s important to ensure that the brake fluid reservoir does not run empty during the bleeding process.
– If you have never done this before, it’s recommended to have a professional mechanic perform the brake bleeding to ensure it is done correctly.
Remember to always follow safety precautions and consult the vehicle’s manual for specific instructions related to bleeding the brakes.
If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!
Contents
- Do you bleed brakes with reservoir cap on or off?
- What is the brake problem on a 2012 Chevy Cruze?
- How many times do you pump brakes when bleeding?
- Should I bleed brakes with engine running?
- Will air work itself out of brake lines?
- How do you get air out of brake lines without bleeding them?
- How do you get air out of brake lines?
- What happens if you don’t bleed the air out of the brakes?
- Why are my brakes still spongy after bleeding?
- What is the brake problem on the Chevy Cruze?
Do you bleed brakes with reservoir cap on or off?
Locate your brake master cylinder reservoir’s brake fluid level, usually located under-the-hood. Ensure that your car has the appropriate amount of fluid. While you’re bleeding the brakes, you’ll want to be sure that you leave the master cylinder cap unscrewed but rest it on top of the reservoir.
What is the brake problem on a 2012 Chevy Cruze?
The automaker said the 2011 and 2012 model year Cruzes can experience an intermittent loss of brake assist in certain engine-transmission configurations of the car. In some cases, a driver will have to push harder on the brake pedal to stop the car.
How many times do you pump brakes when bleeding?
Instruct the assistant to “apply.” The assistant should pump the brake pedal three times, hold the pedal down firmly, and respond with “applied.” Instruct the assistant not to release the brakes until told to do so. Loosen the bleeder screw with a brief ¼ turn to release fluid into the waste line.
Should I bleed brakes with engine running?
The vehicle should not be running at any time during the bleeding process. If you are using a DIY system, these steps require a partner: With your partner in the driver’s seat, have them slowly pump the brake pedal two times and then hold the brake pedal to the floor. Have them yell out pressure when the pedal is down.
Will air work itself out of brake lines?
The only way to regain proper compression and pressure is to bleed the air out of the system through purging or flushing. Clean brake fluid is forced into the system, pushing the air bubbles out.
How do you get air out of brake lines without bleeding them?
To get air out of your brakes, you have to bleed them. There’s no two ways around it—to remove the air it has to be replaced with new fluid. That may seem easy enough (and it is, for an experienced mechanic) but doing any DIY on your brakes is dangerous.
How do you get air out of brake lines?
Brake bleeding is the conventional method used to rid brake lines of any trapped air. This process involves loosening the bleeder screws at each wheel cylinder or brake caliper to release brake fluid and air into a catch container.
What happens if you don’t bleed the air out of the brakes?
The pistons require a certain amount of hydraulic pressure to clamp the pads against the rotor. If air bubbles are in the system, the reduced hydraulic pressure makes it harder for the pads to grab the rotors. While uncommon, you could damage the master cylinder if you don’t bleed the brakes correctly.
Why are my brakes still spongy after bleeding?
It could be anything. It could be that there’s still air in the lines, or one of the bleeder screws isn’t tight, a loose fitting, a damaged line, a failing brake master cylinder. or portioning valve. Mechanic may need to replace master cylinder and replace break fluid. You may also have air in the lines.
What is the brake problem on the Chevy Cruze?
GM says the power brake boosters can fail and in rare cases, drivers may have to put extra pressure on the pedals to stop the cars. GM says Cruze brake problems have caused 27 low-speed crashes but no injuries.