How long will it take me to bleed my brakes?

[beer]

I just replaced my rotors and pads and I have to bleed the system before I can drive. I haven't ever done it before, but I have a vacuum pump, and I'm wondering if I can do it before the sun sets.

How long should something like this take?

 

[CFster]

Five minutes if you have somebody helping you.

You didn't say what kind of car you have - a lot of late model cars require a scan tool to energize the ABS solenoids during bleeding or you'll never get a decent pedal.

 

[CFster]

And why do you need to bleed the system if you only replace the rotors and pads. It's not necessary unless you cracked open a brake line - if you replaced a caliper or master cylinder for instance.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: CFster
And why do you need to bleed the system if you only replace the rotors and pads. It's not necessary unless you cracked open a brake line - if you replaced a caliper or master cylinder for instance.

In the process of removing the rotor I had to make room for the new pads, and I disconnected part of the brake line because I had to use a huge clamp to compress the piston to make room, and I didn't have clearance to do so with the caliper still attached.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: CFster
Five minutes if you have somebody helping you.

You didn't say what kind of car you have - a lot of late model cars require a scan tool to energize the ABS solenoids during bleeding or you'll never get a decent pedal.

My 98 ford contour has ABS but the Haynes manual doesn't mention this, so I'm assuming that this isn't an issue

 

[beer]

n/m