Cygnus X1: Brake Bleeding

The ability to stop is a good thing. And one of the major contributors to this function is your brake fluid. If it is old, contaminated with water or air, or of just poor quality it can negatively affect this. I noticed that my brake fluid was brownish and probably quite old so I decided to get a new fluid and bleed the system myself. This way I know what is in there is good and clear fluid, and it will get me familiar with the area for changing the brake pads and installing the braided SS brake lines. Since brake fluid is pretty cheap I decided what the heck. When I actually got to changing the fluid I found it looking like swamp water, quite nasty. It only took about an hour to change though most of that is jacking up and down the car taking on and off the wheel.

1.	Check/change your brake pads
2.	If you are industrious replace the brake lines with braided SS lines.

Instructions

1.	Using the turkey baster remove the old fluid from the reservoir and fill with clean fluid.
2.	Start with the longest hydraulic line RR->RL->FL->FR.
3.	Remove wheel with 15/16in socket on a breaker bar.
4.	Connect vinyl tubing to bleeder plug fitting and have the other end in a catch container.
5.	Using an 8mm wrench crack loose the bleeder bolt.
6.	Using electrical tape tape/seal the vinyl tubing to the bleeder fitting.
7.	Use your hand to loosen the bleeder fitting about 1/4 turn.
8.	Pump the brake pedal until the fluid is clear. I recommend do 10 pumps(75ml) then fill the reservoir again and repeat until clear then do 10 more pumps for good measure. If the brake pedal gets hard to push check that the bleeder plug didn't rotate closed.
9.	Rotate the bleeder plug tight with your fingers then remove the tape. Tighten with wrench(8mm) to 6 ft/lb.
10.	Remove the vinyl tubing from the bleeder plug then press on brake pedal and check for leaks.
11.	Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts(15/16in) to 76 ft/lb.
12.	Repeat on the other wheels.