Brake Bleed - All Four

This procedure bleeds all four brake calipers to remove air from the hydraulic system, ensuring proper brake pedal feel and stopping performance on the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

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

Fluids

• Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 1 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake firmly
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Verify brake fluid reservoir is at MAX level. Remove old fluid with turkey baster if reservoir is contaminated or fluid is dark
4. Fill reservoir to MAX line with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid. Keep bottle of fresh fluid immediately accessible
5. Raise vehicle using floor jack at manufacturer jacking points and support on four jack stands at all four corners
6. Remove all four wheels and store safely. Torque wrench will be needed for reinstallation
7. Locate bleeder screws on all four calipers: right rear, left rear, right front, left front
8. Spray bleeder screws with penetrating oil if corrosion is present. Allow 10 minutes to penetrate

Procedure

1. 1

   Prepare bleeding equipment
   Attach clear plastic tubing to first bleeder screw (right rear caliper). Route tubing into a clean catch bottle. Ensure tubing fits snugly on bleeder nipple to prevent air from being drawn back in. Fill catch bottle with 1-2 inches of fresh brake fluid so end of tubing is submerged to prevent air from being sucked back.
2. 2

   Bleed right rear caliper
   Have an assistant sit in driver's seat. Assistant should pump brake pedal 5-6 times, then hold firm steady pressure on pedal. With pedal held down, open bleeder screw 1/2 to 3/4 turn using 10mm wrench. Fluid and air will flow into tubing. When flow stops and pedal reaches floor, close bleeder screw BEFORE assistant releases pedal. Repeat this process until no air bubbles appear in tubing and only clean fluid flows. Check reservoir level after every 3-4 bleeds and refill to MAX line as needed.
   ⚠️Never let pedal up while bleeder screw is open. This draws air back into the caliper. Always close bleeder screw BEFORE releasing brake pedal.
   ⚠️Monitor reservoir constantly. If reservoir runs empty, stop immediately and consult a professional - ABS module bleeding may be required.
   Torque spec

   Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Bleed left rear caliper
   Move bleeding equipment to left rear caliper. Verify reservoir is at MAX line before beginning. Repeat bleeding procedure: assistant pumps pedal 5-6 times, holds pressure, you open bleeder screw until flow stops, close bleeder before pedal release. Continue until no air bubbles appear and only clean fluid exits. Top off reservoir to MAX line.
   ⚠️Close bleeder screw before assistant releases pedal to prevent air entry.
   Torque spec

   Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Bleed right front caliper
   Move bleeding equipment to right front caliper. Check reservoir level and top off to MAX line. Repeat bleeding procedure using same pump-hold-open-close-release sequence. Front calipers may require more pumps to achieve firm pedal. Continue until fluid runs clear with no air bubbles. Refill reservoir to MAX line.
   ⚠️Close bleeder screw before pedal release to prevent air from entering system.
   Torque spec

   Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Bleed left front caliper
   Move bleeding equipment to left front caliper. This is the final wheel in the bleeding sequence. Check reservoir level and fill to MAX line. Repeat bleeding procedure until no air bubbles appear and fluid is clear. This wheel completes the conventional bleeding sequence (RR-LR-RF-LF). Top off reservoir to MAX line when complete.
   ⚠️Close bleeder screw before pedal release.
   Torque spec

   Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Verify bleeder screw torque
   Using torque wrench, verify all four bleeder screws are tightened to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft). These screws are brass and easily damaged - do not overtighten. If any screw was cross-threaded or damaged during bleeding, it must be replaced before returning vehicle to service.
   ⚠Bleeder screws are brass and strip easily. Use exact torque specification - overtightening will damage threads and cause leaks.
   Torque spec

   Bleeder Screw10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Perform pedal firmness test
   With engine OFF, pump brake pedal 15-20 times. Pedal should become firm and hold steady pressure. A spongy or sinking pedal indicates air remains in system. If pedal is not firm, repeat bleeding process starting at right rear. If pedal remains soft after second complete bleeding sequence, ABS module may contain air requiring scan tool activation.
   ⚠️Do not drive vehicle if brake pedal is soft, spongy, or sinks to floor. This indicates air in system or component failure. Have vehicle towed to qualified repair facility.
8. 8

   Reinstall wheels
   Clean wheel mounting surfaces of any rust or debris. Install all four wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. Lower vehicle until wheels just contact ground but weight is still on jack stands. Torque lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform final torque verification on all lug nuts in star pattern.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Final reservoir check and cleanup
   Open hood and verify brake fluid reservoir is between MIN and MAX lines. Add fluid if needed to reach MAX line. Wipe any spilled fluid from reservoir area, master cylinder, and painted surfaces immediately. Install reservoir cap securely. Inspect all four bleeder screws for leaks - any seepage indicates improper torque or damaged threads.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all four bleeder screws are torqued to specification and show no signs of leakage
2. Verify brake fluid reservoir is at MAX line and cap is installed securely
3. Verify all four wheels are installed with lug nuts torqued to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern
4. Clean all tools and dispose of used brake fluid according to local hazardous waste regulations - never pour down drain

Verification

• With engine off, pump brake pedal firmly 15-20 times. Pedal must become firm and maintain pressure without sinking
• Start engine (power brakes will engage). Pedal should drop slightly but remain firm with no continuing sink when held
• Inspect all four bleeder screws for any fluid seepage while assistant applies firm brake pressure
• Perform low-speed test in safe area: at 5-10 mph, apply firm brake pressure. Vehicle should stop smoothly without pulling to either side. Pedal must remain firm with no sponginess
• Perform moderate brake test at 20-25 mph in safe area. Braking should be smooth, straight, and progressive with firm pedal feel
• Check brake fluid reservoir level after test drives - level should remain at or near MAX line with no significant drop
• If pedal feels spongy, sinks slowly, or vehicle pulls to one side, DO NOT DRIVE. Air remains in system or component failure exists. Have vehicle towed to qualified facility
• Recheck all four bleeder screws and lug nut torque after 50-100 miles of driving

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