Do I need to bleed my brakes?

[blaK]

Been driving the camry and jumped in the solara and noticed right away how long my brakes are. It's no big deal but kinda like a short brake feel.

I know there's upgrades in brake fluid, what kind are you using?

[Midias]

Use a good dot 4 for ABS and bleed away it is nice to have a friend hely you out and not your girlfriend they always complain about their arm getting tired from pumping the brake.

[GReddySetGO]

Every car is different. If one cars braking point is sooner than anothers, that just how the car is.

You only need to bleed your brakes if there is air in the lines, like if you opened up the caliper, changed brake lines, etc. Or of course if there is a leak. You can tell there is air in the lines in the pedal feel. If when you brake the pedal is firm, and then it gets soft, or is too soft from the start, then you likely have air. But if you don't have any leaks, and didn't open up the system, there should be no need to bleed your brakes. Bleeding them improperly will cause your more harm than good anyway.

And if your GF is complaining about her arm getting tired, use your feet to pump the brakes. I never use my hands, your legs have more power, and why get your hands dirty touching a place where only your feet go. Either that or just get some speed bleeders.

[Midias]

Even if you have no air you may have a bit of moisture in the lines bleeding them will help change out the old fluid and in with the new. As for feet I never let people sit in my car when on jack stands.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Every car is different. If one cars braking point is sooner than anothers, that just how the car is.

Every car is different, i'd suggest if you have a firmness problem, then play with this...otherwise, camry and solara brakes are different if you have a 2 disc+2 drum comparison with 4 disc comparison! As far as using your legs, provided you have the right jack stands and (i use my rims below the jack stands, incase the car were to drop, at least it won't cause more damage other than to rims) and i use my feet to feel the firmness of the brakes.

[GReddySetGO]

Good point about the jackstands. I always use a lift, so we sit inside all the time =P Speedbleeders really make a diffrence when using jackstands or doing it by yourself, etc.

[blaK]

Thanks guyz


I have decided to bleed em when I have time.
I just don't like pressing the brakes so much before I notice it's enough.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Yeah that is one thing I noticed hopping from 1 Toyota product to the other (I've driven a Corolla, Gen2, Gen2.5, Tundra, Gen4 Camry and '89 Pickup), but it all depends on the disc/drum configuration, presence of ABS, age and condition of rotors, pads, shoes, line, etc.

But like GReddySetGO said, there's usually no need to bleed it unless there's what he described or it's dirty beyond belief, which incidentally messed with the action of my brakes once (esp. the ABS but dirty fluid affects non-ABS cars too).