Brake Bleed - All Four

Complete brake system bleed procedure for all four wheels on the 2023 Rivian EDV 500 electric delivery van to remove air and ensure proper brake pedal feel and stopping performance.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• DOT 4 brake fluid × 2 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• DOT 4 Brake Fluid — 1.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind wheels that will remain on ground
3. Verify brake fluid reservoir is at MAX level before beginning. Top off if needed with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid
4. Lift vehicle using appropriate lift points per Rivian service manual and support securely on jack stands rated for vehicle weight
5. Remove all four wheels to access brake caliper bleeder screws
6. Locate bleeder screws on each caliper: rear-most position on front calipers, top position on rear calipers
7. Connect Rivian diagnostic tool or compatible OBD-II scanner capable of ABS bleed functions to vehicle diagnostic port
8. Power on vehicle to accessory mode (do not place in drive mode)
9. Clean area around master cylinder reservoir and all four bleeder screws to prevent contamination

Procedure

1. 1

   Prepare brake fluid reservoir
   Remove master cylinder reservoir cap. Verify fluid level is at MAX line. Using a turkey baster or fluid transfer pump, remove old brake fluid down to MIN line if performing a fluid exchange, or leave at MAX if only bleeding air. Refill to MAX line with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid from a sealed container. Do not allow reservoir to drop below MIN line at any point during the bleeding process.
2. 2

   Begin with right rear caliper
   Starting with the right rear wheel (passenger side rear), locate the bleeder screw on top of the caliper. Attach clear brake bleeding hose to bleeder screw and submerge opposite end in catch container with small amount of clean brake fluid to prevent air from being drawn back. Position catch container below caliper level.
3. 3

   Manual bleed right rear
   Have assistant press brake pedal slowly 3-4 times and hold pressure on final press. With pedal held down, open bleeder screw 1/2 to 3/4 turn using bleeder wrench. Observe fluid flow through clear hose. When fluid flow stops and pedal reaches floor, close bleeder screw firmly. Release brake pedal. Repeat this process 5-8 times or until no air bubbles appear in discharged fluid. Check and top off master cylinder reservoir after every 3-4 bleeds.
4. 4

   Bleed left rear caliper
   Move to left rear wheel (driver side rear). Repeat the manual bleeding process from Step 3: attach hose, have assistant pump and hold brake pedal, open bleeder screw until pedal drops, close bleeder screw, release pedal. Continue until clean fluid with no air bubbles flows. Top off master cylinder reservoir to MAX line.
5. 5

   Bleed right front caliper
   Move to right front wheel (passenger side front). Locate bleeder screw on rear-most position of caliper. Attach clear hose and repeat manual bleeding process: pump pedal 3-4 times, hold pressure, open bleeder screw, observe flow, close bleeder screw, release pedal. Continue until no air bubbles present. Check master cylinder reservoir level.
6. 6

   Bleed left front caliper
   Move to left front wheel (driver side front). Repeat manual bleeding process on rear-most bleeder screw. This completes the initial manual bleed sequence using the standard bleeding order (right rear, left rear, right front, left front). Ensure clean bubble-free fluid flows and top off master cylinder reservoir to MAX line.
7. 7

   Activate ABS hydraulic unit bleed mode
   Using the Rivian diagnostic tool or compatible scanner, navigate to brake system functions. Select 'ABS Bleed' or 'Hydraulic Unit Bleed' function. This will activate the ABS pump and cycle solenoid valves to purge air trapped in the hydraulic control unit that cannot be removed through manual bleeding alone. Follow on-screen prompts on diagnostic tool.
8. 8

   Execute ABS bleed cycle - rear calipers
   With diagnostic tool in ABS bleed mode activated, start at right rear caliper. Attach bleeding hose to bleeder screw. Open bleeder screw 1/2 turn. Initiate ABS pump cycle through diagnostic tool. Observe fluid flow - you will see pulsing discharge as valves cycle. Continue until flow is steady and bubble-free (typically 15-30 seconds). Close bleeder screw and stop ABS cycle. Repeat on left rear caliper. Monitor master cylinder reservoir constantly and top off as needed.
9. 9

   Execute ABS bleed cycle - front calipers
   Continue ABS-assisted bleed on right front caliper: attach hose, open bleeder screw, activate ABS cycle through diagnostic tool, observe pulsing fluid discharge, close bleeder when flow is clean and bubble-free. Repeat on left front caliper. This completes the ABS hydraulic unit bleeding sequence. Top off master cylinder reservoir to MAX line.
10. 10

    Final manual bleed sequence
    Perform one final manual bleed on all four calipers in standard order (RR, LR, RF, LF) using the pump-and-hold method from Step 3. This ensures any air introduced during ABS bleeding is removed. Only 2-3 cycles per corner should be needed if previous steps were performed correctly. Verify clean, bubble-free fluid at each corner.
11. 11

    Fill and seal reservoir
    Top off master cylinder reservoir to MAX line with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid. Clean any spilled fluid from reservoir area using clean shop towels and water. Install reservoir cap securely. Wipe down all bleeder screws and surrounding areas to remove any brake fluid residue.
12. 12

    Test brake pedal feel
    With vehicle still in accessory mode, pump brake pedal 10-15 times. Pedal should become firm and hold steady pressure. If pedal feels soft or spongy, repeat bleeding process starting from Step 7. A properly bled system will have a firm pedal with consistent resistance within the first 1-2 inches of travel.

Reassembly

1. Verify all four bleeder screws are tightened securely (hand-tight plus 1/4 turn, or per manufacturer specification if known)
2. Reinstall all four wheels and torque lug nuts to Rivian specification in star pattern
3. Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle to ground
4. Perform final lug nut torque verification with wheels on ground
5. Disconnect diagnostic tool from OBD-II port
6. Dispose of used brake fluid properly at appropriate recycling facility - never pour down drain or into environment

Verification

• Start vehicle and verify brake warning light is not illuminated on instrument cluster
• With vehicle stationary and engine ready mode active, press brake pedal firmly. Pedal should feel solid and firm with no excessive travel or spongy feel
• Perform low-speed test drive in safe area: test brakes at 5-10 mph to verify proper function and pedal response
• Perform moderate brake application from 25 mph to verify straight-line stopping with no pulling to either side
• Test ABS function if safe area permits: on dry pavement at 25-30 mph, perform hard brake application to verify ABS pulsation and proper operation
• After test drive, visually inspect all four bleeder screws and brake line connections for any signs of fluid leakage
• Check master cylinder reservoir level one final time - should still be at MAX line with no significant drop
• If any abnormality is detected (soft pedal, pulling, warning lights, leaks), do not drive vehicle and seek professional diagnosis immediately

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