Bleeding the brake fluid without removing the wheels

[Jeep Junkie]

Is it possible? If I lift my Jeep, will the brake fluid thingies become accessible?

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[Ratbert]

What's your concern about removing the wheels? You rotate your tires (all five), right?

 

[Jeep Junkie]

What's your concern about removing the wheels? You rotate your tires (all five), right?

Discount Tire rotates the tires for me, they're so heavy

 

[Ratbert]

Discount Tire rotates the tires for me, they're so heavy

The only one that's a PITA is the spare, which you wouldn't be dealing with for brakes.

Note that you need to have that (rather simple) skill if / when you have a flat and need to deal with it on your own.

 

[Rogersocal]

Is it possible? If I lift my Jeep, will the brake fluid thingies become accessible?

The bleeder valves are accessible without removing the tires. If the jeep is tall enough you don't even need to jack it up. I can slide right under mine

 

[Renostever]

The bleeder valves are accessible without removing the tires. If the jeep is tall enough you don't even need to jack it up. I can slide right under mine

Ditto that.

 

[Jeep Junkie]

The bleeder valves are accessible without removing the tires. If the jeep is tall enough you don't even need to jack it up. I can slide right under mine

 

[andy29847]

Like others said, you do not need to remove your wheels to bleed your brakes.

Most home mechanics use a helper when they bleed their brakes. The helper holds pressure on the pedal while the person under the jeep opens and closes the bleeder. One of the 2 people working also needs to occasionally replenish the brake fluid before you empty the master cylinder reservoir. You need to be extra careful not to empty the master cylinder reservoir because you are then pumping air into the system. Getting the air out of the ABS pump can be difficult.

I work by myself. I use a product that pressurizes the master cylinder while I am under the jeep. The bleeder system holds 2 quarts of new brake fluid, so it minimizes the chances of the master cylinder reservoir running dry.

Motive Products Brake Fluid Bleeding Tool - Chrysler, Dodge, MoPar Power Bleeder, 2 Quart - Walmart.com

I like to replace the brake fluid in my vehicle every 2 years. I got in the habit of doing this with my RV. RVs, because they are not driven daily, tend to absorb water into the brake fluid and the resulting corrosion and gunk is hard on brake system components. Since I have to stuff, changing fluid in the jeep is easy peasy. I always start by pumping out the old fluid from the master cylinder reservoir. To do this I use a fluid pump sold as an oil extractor.

Motive Products Brake Fluid Bleeding Tool - Chrysler, Dodge, MoPar Power Bleeder, 2 Quart - Walmart.com

 

[iklo]

Does the clutch need to be bleed at the same time as the brakes?

 

[LazyJL]

Clutch cylinders and their master cylinder are usually bleed only after replacing one or both of them. You might bleed the clutch when replacing brake fluid that is over two or three years old.
Moisture builds in both systems over time and needs to be flushed out periodicity.

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