Brake bleeding

[Kermy]

Anyone know how much the dealerships charge to get my brakes bled? My Lara seems to have weak stopping power and I just installed new brake pads. I'm assuming it's air in the system since she was sitting unused for 5-6 months in the garage.

[SleeperSolara]

Homie you can save you some money and do it yourself.
Of course you need 2 people.

[~Spadwaller~]

I had my brake lines installed and a brake flush it cost about 50 ish if i remember correctly.

[Jetfixer]

Does the pedal feel spongy? Check it with the engine off. It should feel very firm and not "give" any. If it's spongy there's air. Did you get the rotors turned? Most places that do brakes will turn them for less that $20 if you bring them the rotors. You should always do that when you change the pads. Also, to properly "seat" the pads try to get the car up to highway speed and try to do a panic stop as hard as possible without bringing in the ABS. This is especially important if you didn't turn the rotors since they will have had small ridges that the new pads will need to wear to.

[Hefty]

Go to the parts store and find a one man brake bleeding kit. There should be several different styles to choose from. I got the one that has a hand operated vacuum pump and associated hoses and hookups. It was about $35 dollars I think. The vacuum pump one more closely matches the way shops will bleed the brakes with their vacuum evacuation systems.

You will want to bleed the first wheel that is furthest away from the master cylinder (brake fluid reservoir). Then, the next furthest and then next till you are at the left front wheel closest to the master cylinder. Just make sure to keep checking the master cylinder reservoir and keep it topped off with fluid otherwise if you empty it out you will just be sucking air back into the system.

But yea Jetfixer brought up a good point that your first few stops on a new set of pads aren't going to grab to well still the pads set in a bit.

[Kermy]

Thanks for all the info so far. I live in an apt complex so it's a bit tough doing my own auto maintenance.