Can brakes be bled one at a time?

No, NO you clowns ... I know what you're thinking, and that's NOT what I mean. LOL I'm aware it nearly impossible to bleed all four simultaneously by oneself!

What I mean is, can I do one wheel today, one day after tomorrow, the other two next week sometime? Or whatever?

I can't see a reason why not, but im pritty ignorint.

 

I mean… you CAN… but the real question is why would you?

just bleed as much as you can from one caliper if that’s what you’re going to do and you’ll get “most” of the fluid out anyway.

Yes I am aware that’s not the right way to do it.

 

I don't know how much brake fluid exchanges places throughout the system. I don't think it moves very much. But, air will move up. If you can keep from putting air in solution by cracking a bleeder before you press the pedal you are much better off.

 

Time. Mine seems to be available in ever-shrinking little pieces.

 

I can relate to that. In that case I would just go to the furthest brake from the master and pump fluid through it until it’s clear. I would then, not worry about it.

 

In 2010 my Father in Law sold us a 1985 Mercury with 60,000 miles. Garage kept and almost all the service done. The brake fluid looked like very used motor oil. I didn't even attempt to try to flush it for fear of breaking off the bleeders. Ended up when I changed the oil I vac'd out the old and refilled with fresh. The fluid never did change color much. I figured the fluid in the calipers probably didn't see a drop of new brake fluid but I had to at least protect the master cylinder.

 

If no air in system = Yes
If air in system = No

 

Thanks everyone!

I'm happy to say, the question has just been rendered moot! I moved my schedule around and just bled all four. It went quicker than I thought, just an hour and a half, including cleanup and putting things away. I did run about three ounces short on fluid and had to drive forty minutes round trip to Autozone 'cuz the "BRAKE" light was on.

Full confession: this was the first time my brakes have ever been bled. In a 2016 truck with 237K on the clock. Needless to say, the old fluid was very brown, like root beer brown. I wore my leg out pumping fluid through the lines. LOL

 

I just replaced the calipers/rotors on my 2001 Tundra. Started by turkey-basting out about 3/4 of the brake fluid reservoir (careful not introduce air!), then with my lovely assistant (hesitant wife) had her pump up and press the brakes while I opened each bleed screw several times (staring with passenger rear, as was suggested), and did that until the fluid was amber (not burnt brown). I topped off the reservoir each time to keep air out. Whole process took 30 minutes and I feel pretty confident it's 90-95% clean. The brakes feel great, and stop on a dime-ish, at least for a truck.

 

Nice!!! I feel inadequate now! LOL

I should add, I removed each wheel for the process, which in hindsight was probably a waste of time. But I love my new cordless impact so much, I'm always looking for an excuse to use it.

 

New tools beat speed any day!!!

 

I exchanged all the fluid using a MityVac and followed Toyotas procedure which states to do Front right, Front left, Rear right, then Rear left. After doing so I didn't have as hard of a pedal as before, still plenty usable but I wanted to try and get it how it felt before so I used TechStream to perform the bleeding of the actuator, made a big difference. Next time I replace my fluid I will just use TechStream from the start to do the bleeding, it works perfectly.

Also just a tip, brake fluid should be replaced every two years, I know most people, including myself are guilty of not doing so but even if that reservoir looks clear, that doesnt mean the fluid down in the lines is, I know with 33,000 on mine the fluid in the reservoir looked fine but the fluid closest to the brakes was much darker. If you dont replace it, you're not going to have some catastrophic failure but brake fluid is hygroscopic so it absorbs moisture, so even though it will do its job, it will start to corrode metal, which is what can end up causing stuck calipers. A motorcycle of mine actually had a recall on it simply because if you did not change the fluid, a piece in the master cylinder would corroded causing spongy brakes, I never performed the recall but have kept my fluid fresh and that bike is almost 20 years old now and the brakes are still great.

Attached is the Toyota procedure to bleed the brakes correctly.

 

$6 Brake Fluid Liquid Tester Pen,1PC DOT 3 DOT 4 DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid Liquid Tester Pen, Car Diagnostic Testing Tool with 5 LED Indicators, Hydraulic Fluid Liquid Oil Moisture Analyzer

https://www.amazon.com/Diagnostic-I...33b-b3d1-796e5f509b59&pd_rd_i=B0C53278WB&th=1
get this and take the guess work out

 

Never knew these were a thing, just looked them up on Amazon, tons of mixed reviews. Biggest issue I would see, even if they did work reliably is that your going to dip it in the reservoir which is going to be your cleanest fluid compared to the fluid in the lines which will be the most contaminated. I'll just stick to every 2 years, keep it simple.

 

I use a MityVac too but it sucks so much air around the bleeder threads it takes damned near forever. Some say use grease around the bleeder but if you get any petroleum products introduced in to the brake fluid you can have serious problems.

Just did the Fiat 124 with Brembos again this summer. Three year intervals. PITA.

 

Funny you should mention that! I bought one and tested my six year old, 237,000 mile, dark brown brake fluid.

It told me my fluid was still 100% A-OK.

 

I think I ended up just using the hose because I also found the tip didn't have a good seal but just the hose fit perfectly.