brakes

Brake Bleed - All Four

for 2017 Ford F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost · RWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

1.2 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

Bleed all four brake calipers to remove air from the hydraulic system and restore proper brake pedal feel and stopping performance.

Warnings

⚠️SAFETY-CRITICAL SYSTEM: Brake system failure can cause loss of vehicle control resulting in death or serious injury. If you are uncertain about any step, have this service performed by a qualified professional.

⚠️Never reuse brake fluid. Never allow brake fluid reservoir to run empty during bleeding or air will enter the system.

⚠️Test brakes in safe location at low speed before returning vehicle to normal service. Pedal must be firm and vehicle must stop properly.

⚠DOT 4 brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from air. Keep container sealed and use only fresh fluid from unopened bottle.

⚠Brake fluid damages paint. Immediately wash any spills with water and soap.

⚠Wear eye protection. Brake fluid under pressure can spray when bleeder screws are opened.

Tools required

Floor jack and jack stands rated for vehicle weightEssential

Torque wrench (10-150 Nm range)Essential

Brake bleeder wrench or 3/8" box wrenchEssential

Clear plastic bleeder hose (minimum 12 inches)Essential

Clean brake fluid catch containerEssential

Brake fluid transfer pump or turkey baster

Wheel chocksEssential

Assistant to pump brake pedal (if not using pressure bleeder)

Pressure brake bleeder system

Socket set with 1/2" drive for lug nutsEssential

Parts

Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid × 1 — PM-20

Fluids

Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 1 qt

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
Loosen all wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
Raise vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands at all four corners
Remove all four wheels
Locate brake fluid reservoir under hood on driver side firewall
Clean reservoir cap and surrounding area to prevent contamination
Check current brake fluid level and condition - if fluid is dark or contaminated, consider full system flush
Have minimum one quart of fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid available

Procedure

1
Prepare brake fluid reservoir
Remove brake fluid reservoir cap. Using brake fluid transfer pump or turkey baster, remove old fluid from reservoir until approximately half full. Refill reservoir to MAX line with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid. Leave cap off for easy monitoring during bleeding process. Assign someone to monitor fluid level throughout procedure or check frequently - reservoir must never run dry.
2
Prepare bleeder setup
Attach one end of clear plastic bleeder hose to bleeder screw on right rear caliper (passenger side rear). Place other end of hose into clean catch container with enough brake fluid to submerge hose end - this prevents air from being sucked back into system. Locate bleeder screw on back of caliper body - it is a small valve with 3/8" hex head.
3
Bleed right rear brake
If using assistant method: Have assistant pump brake pedal 5-6 times and hold firm pressure. While pedal is held down, open bleeder screw 1/2 to 3/4 turn with bleeder wrench. Fluid and air will flow through hose. When flow stops and pedal reaches floor, close bleeder screw snugly. Release pedal. Repeat process until fluid flows clear with no air bubbles (typically 5-10 cycles). If using pressure bleeder: Connect per manufacturer instructions, pressurize to 15-20 psi, open bleeder screw and allow fluid to flow until clear with no bubbles, then close bleeder screw. Check reservoir level and refill to MAX line as needed.
⚠Do not allow assistant to release brake pedal while bleeder screw is open or air will be drawn into system.
Torque spec
Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
4
Bleed left rear brake
Move bleeder hose to left rear caliper (driver side rear). Repeat bleeding process exactly as performed on right rear: pump pedal 5-6 times, hold pressure, open bleeder screw, allow fluid to flow until pedal reaches floor, close bleeder screw, release pedal. Continue until fluid is clear with no air bubbles. Refill reservoir to MAX line as needed.
Torque spec
Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
5
Bleed right front brake
Move bleeder hose to right front caliper (passenger side front). Bleeder screw is located on top or rear of caliper body. Repeat bleeding process: pump pedal 5-6 times, hold pressure, open bleeder screw, allow fluid to flow, close bleeder screw, release pedal. Continue until fluid is clear with no air bubbles. Refill reservoir to MAX line as needed. Front brakes may require more cycles due to longer brake lines and ABS module.
Torque spec
Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
6
Bleed left front brake
Move bleeder hose to left front caliper (driver side front). This is the final wheel in the bleeding sequence. Repeat bleeding process until fluid flows clear with absolutely no air bubbles visible in hose. This is the last caliper and must be completely free of air. Ensure bleeder screw is properly tightened to torque specification. Refill reservoir to MAX line.
Torque spec
Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
7
Final reservoir fill and inspection
Fill brake fluid reservoir to MAX line with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid. Reinstall reservoir cap and ensure it is properly seated. Wipe away any spilled brake fluid from reservoir area and painted surfaces. Inspect all four bleeder screws to confirm they are tight and not leaking. Check brake lines and calipers for any signs of leakage.
8
Reinstall wheels
Reinstall all four wheels onto hubs. Install lug nuts and hand-tighten in star pattern. Lower vehicle until tires just contact ground but weight is still on jack stands. Torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform final lug nut torque check in star pattern.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
9
Pump brake pedal and check operation
With engine off, pump brake pedal 20-30 times. Pedal should build firm pressure and not sink to floor. If pedal remains soft or spongy, air remains in system and bleeding must be repeated. Check brake fluid reservoir level one final time and top off if needed. Start engine and verify brake pedal remains firm with power assist active. Check for dashboard warning lights.

Reassembly

Bleeding sequence must be: Right Rear → Left Rear → Right Front → Left Front (furthest to closest from master cylinder)
All bleeder screws must be torqued to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft) - do not overtighten as threads strip easily
Brake fluid reservoir must be at MAX line when job is complete
Dispose of used brake fluid properly - it is hazardous waste and cannot be poured down drain

Verification

Brake pedal must feel firm and consistent with approximately 1-2 inches of travel before resistance
Pedal must not sink slowly to floor when held under constant pressure with engine running
No brake warning lights illuminated on dashboard
Test drive in safe area at low speed (under 15 mph): brakes must engage smoothly without pulling to either side
Perform several moderate stops from 25-30 mph in safe location to verify proper operation before highway use
Recheck brake fluid reservoir level after test drive - level should remain at MAX line
Inspect ground under vehicle for any brake fluid leaks from calipers or bleeder screws

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