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Home › Subaru › 2021 › Outback Base › Repair and Diagnosis › Brakes › Mechanical - Hydraulic › Brake System › Air Bleeding › Procedure › Brake Line

Brake Line

CAUTION:
  • Do not let brake fluid come into contact with the painted surface of the vehicle body. Wash away with water immediately and wipe off if it is spilled by accident.
  • Avoid mixing brake fluid of different brands or different grades even from the same brand to prevent fluid performance from degrading.
  • When refilling brake fluid, do not allow dirt or dust to get into the reservoir tank.
  • Always use new SUBARU genuine brake fluid when replacing or refilling the fluid. Do not reuse drained brake fluid.
  • For convenience and safety, perform the work with 2 people.
  • During the operation, keep the reservoir tank filled with brake fluid at MIN level or higher to prevent entry of air.
  • After air bleeding operation, wipe off fluid around each bleeder screw and the reservoir tank.
  1. When the master cylinder assembly is replaced or the reservoir tank is empty, bleed the master cylinder assembly before bleeding the brake line. Ref. to BRAKE>AIR BLEEDING>PROCEDURE>MASTER CYLINDER .
  2. Fill the reservoir tank of the master cylinder assembly with brake fluid.
    NOTE: While bleeding air, keep the reservoir tank filled with brake fluid to prevent entry of air.
  3. Attach one end of a transparent vinyl tube to the bleeder screw, and the other end to a brake fluid collection container.
    G13950117Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  4. Loosen the bleeder screw, and then repeat the full stroke depressing operation of the brake pedal, until brake fluid in the transparent vinyl tube has no more air bubbles.
    NOTE: Air bubbles are removed after repeating the depressing operation 15 times or more for the front caliper, and 20 times or more for the rear caliper.
  5. Perform the steps 2) to 4) above on each brake caliper.
    NOTE: Perform in the order starting from the front RH front LH rear LH rear RH.
  6. Tighten the loosened bleeder screw, repeat firmly depressing of the brake pedal 5 to 6 times, and then depress and hold the brake pedal.
  7. Loosen the bleeder screw to drain the brake fluid. When the brake pedal reaches the full stroke position, immediately tighten the bleeder screw and return the brake pedal.
  8. Repeat steps  6 ) and  7 ) until there are no more air bubbles in the transparent vinyl tube.
  9. Perform the steps  6 ) and  8 ) above on each brake caliper.
    NOTE: Perform in the order starting from the front RH front LH rear LH rear RH.
  10. Perform the sequence control mode for the VDC control module and H/U in both ABS and VDC systems.
    CAUTION:
    • If there is a possibility that air enters the pressure control section in the VDC control module and H/U, perform steps 11) to 16).
    • For normal air bleeding operation, do not operate the sequence control for the VDC control module and H/U. (Operating the sequence control may let air in the normal air bleeding passages move to the pressure control section.)
    NOTE:
    • Normal air bleeding operation does not help bleed air that enters the pressure control section in the VDC control module and H/U.
    • If there is a possibility that air enters the pressure control section in the VDC control module and H/U (if VDC or ABS operates with air contained in the normal air bleeding passage), perform the sequence control mode for both of the ABS and VDC systems.
  11. Perform the ABS sequence control mode. Ref. to VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL (VDC)>ABS SEQUENCE CONTROL .
    CAUTION: Be sure to perform the ABS sequence control mode first.
  12. Perform the air bleeding operation of steps 3) and 4) for the bleeder screw on each caliper.
    NOTE:
    • Perform in the order starting from the front RH → front LH → rear LH → rear RH.
    • As a reference, the number of the full stroke depressing operation is six times.
  13. Perform the VDC sequence control mode. Ref. to VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL (VDC)>VDC SEQUENCE CONTROL .
  14. Perform the air bleeding operation of steps 3) and 4) for the bleeder screw on each caliper.
  15. Repeat from steps 11) to 14) for three cycles.
  16. In case air still remains at step 15), repeat steps  11 ) to  14 ) again until all air is removed.
  17. Fill the reservoir tank with brake fluid up to the "MAX" level.
  18. Tighten the bleeder screw to the specified torque.

    Tightening torque: 

    Front: 8 N-m (0.8 kgf-m, 5.9 ft-lb)

    Rear: 17 N-m (1.7 kgf-m, 12.5 ft-lb)

  19. Install the bleeder cap to each bleeder screw.
  20. Check that there are no brake fluid leaks at the flare nut portion or in the entire brake system.
  21. After inspection, wipe off fluid around each bleeder screw and the reservoir tank.
  22. Perform a road test and ensure that the brakes operate normally.
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