Brake Fluid Bleeding / Flushing on a Toyota (2nd GEN Toyota Tundra)

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In this video, we show you how to properly bleed your brake system of air or flush your brake system of old fluid. These instructions would work for any Toyota Brake System with a Vacuum Actuated Brake Booster. If you have an electric powered brake booster/master cylinder combo, the steps to properly remove air from the system or to simply purge the system of old fluid will be a little different.
If your vehicle also has a load sensing proportioning valve (LSPV), you would follow the same procedure but bleed the proportioning valve last. If you're unsure if you have a LSPV, it would be located above rear axle on the driver side.
*PARTS*
*Dot 3 Brake Fluid
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*HELPFUL TOOLS*
If you're looking for other tools not used in this video, check out Timmy's Master Tool List.
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Brake Bleed Tubing (to slip over the brake bleed nipple so you can direct the fluid into a catch container) amzn.to/2KPcSXQ
*Mitivac Fluid Extractor (This is a great tool for extracting fluids like brake fluid from the master cylinder or power steering fluid from the power steering reservoir. This pump can also be used to fill differentials, transfer cases and manual transmissions.)
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*Offset Box End Wrench Set (These are great for bleeding brakes. The offset usually allows you to turn the bleed screw without the tire getting in the way of the wrench)
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*Milwaukee M18 1/2” Impact Gun (To remove wheel lug nuts) amzn.to/3MRioag
*MIlwaukee M18 Battery and Charger Set amzn.to/3OYV9wT
*Wheel Lug Nut Impact Socket Set - amzn.to/3w8Uwtc
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**As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases.

[@wantblackwolf]

Pump and hold is not necessary, just run the hose up high like through the spring or a-arm. Air rises faster than fluid so as long as there is fluid in the hose you will not suck any air back into it. Open the bleeder and pump 10 to 15 times top off the master and pump 10 more times, repeat until clean fluid is in the hose. Close the bleeder and repeat for the other three. If your hose is loose on the bleeder use a hose clamp to seal it. This is a one person job been doing it this way for 10 or more years.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I do think I'll stick to doing it with 2 people though.

[@sixpointthreeamg]

Yes, your description is the best way to do the bleed and have done it on my Tundra as well as my Mercs and Audi. And only need one person

[@gnme420]

Exactly right. As long as you don't let the master cylinder run dry or get too low, you should be able to leave the bleeder open and pump and refill as you say, as long as the hose is sitting higher up. Does take a little longer with one person, but it can be done.

[@user-vu7yt8pm4p]

You want to start with the wheel that's farthest from the ABS unit. The ABS unit acts as a distribution hub for the fluid which is what the master cylinder did in the past. Also, a bidirectional scanner wil turn on the ABS pump so it can eject its dirty fluid, after you get some clean fluid in the lines by pedal pumping.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I've used Toyota Tech Stream to give commands to bleed the electric brake boosters, but I've never used it to fire the ABS pump. Thanks for sharing this.

[@KendrasEdge757]

Appreciate the content brother! Always good stuff!!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks! It's always nice to know that people appreciate our videos.

[@DavidSanchez-oj2rv]

Thank you guys for this video...

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome.

[@MrKidslick]

A socket with a little extension works good on the front bleeder instead of taking off the tire

[@TimmyTheToolman]

How do you get a drain hose onto the bleeder when you use a socket? Inquiring minds would like to know.

[@valdiviajr1]

Thank you for your videos

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Oscar.

[@samh6761]

all the original plastic/rubber bleeder screw caps fell apart on my old truck. I just replaced them with an appropriately sized vacuum cap.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

That's a good idea Sam. Thanks for sharing it. Most of the bleeding caps on my rigs are ripped or completely gone.

[@jordanziegenbein4479]

Usually no problem for folks in CA, but sand and dirt can plug them up over the years. Road salt will mess them up too.@@TimmyTheToolman

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@jordanziegenbein4479 Thanks for the comment Jordan. I need to get caps put back on all mine.

[@renflo86]

Awesome 👏 video

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks!

[@thinshavings]

That screen in the master cylinder comes out easy on my 1st gen tundra, just rotate it and it will lift right out.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We rotated that thing quite a bit and couldn't notice the position it needed to be in to lift out. We had 3 sets of eyes on it, and none of us could figure it out.

[@thinshavings]

Ok maybe you can help me with my Tundra...I need acess to the back cab power window regulator and don't know how to remove the two tie down "knobs" to remove the panel that covers the window mechanism. They don't unscrew and the Toyota manual says just remove them? I don't want to break anything! Any insight? Thanks! You have the best Toyota channel on KZbin by the way! @@TimmyTheToolman

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@thinshavings I've never removed them but in my experience, body clips just pop free with a little force.

[@efil4kizum]

what are your thoughts on the clutch fluid for those that wheel the MT? it seems to be the same fluid type. what interval (time/mileage) to change that to new and will changing it protect the master/slave cylinders from failing again after 195k miles

[@TimmyTheToolman]

It is the same fluid. I'd say you'd probably want to renew the brake fluid in the clutch system every 60k miles.

[@stevenbauer7744]

Does this also flush the ABS unit?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No, it doesn't. But, the ABS unit shouldn't develop air in it unless the system was severely drained of fluid.

[@andyg5004]

As more moisture is absorbed thr boiling point decreases and if you slam on the brakes in an emergency situation it’s possible the pedal will bottom out and similarly driving in the mountains could also cause the same problems. When bleeding brakes please Also give it a health bleed of atleast a liter of a minimum

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Andy. Jordan talks about how the boiling temperature decreases as moisture develops in the system at the beginning of the video.

[@neilbrown3359]

Nobody uses a torque wrench on the lug nuts !!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@neilbrown3359 Really? You have to get out more. Most tire shops do from what I've seen, I do, and most others I know that turn wrenches on their own vehicles do. In the 80s, when I was working at a Chevron gas station, we just cranked them on with an air impact gun. I suppose quite a few people still do that.

[@andyg5004]

Brake fluid is hygroscopic

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for sharing this term. I've never heard of it until now.

[@RotoRCol]

@@TimmyTheToolman yep as he said hygroscopic means it absorbs water or humidity easily, so when working with new fluid, we have to keep the container sealed and the master cylinder too

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@RotoRCol Yep, I looked it up. I always put the master cylinder cap back on after topping it off for the bleeding procedure. I sort of wonder how quickly a container of brake fluid would absorb moisture from the air. It would probably depend on the relative humidity. A place like Miami Florida with a high humidity would be a whole lot different than Phoenix, Arizona where the air is dry.

[@efil4kizum]

@@RotoRCol it must absorb it right through ANY rubber lines it goes through??

[@kuztomb101]

Way to much commentary

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Gotta say what we gotta say to help even a beginner. Imagine you’ve never picked up a wrench in your life, you could still watch our videos and be successful. Happy wrenching my friend. - Sean

[@TimmyTheToolman]

This is something you need to understand. The world isn't tailored to your desires and needs. If you don't like our video, find one that you do like. Do you really think we're going to change our style because it's not to your liking? - Timmy

[@yurideglin1211]

I think the video has right amount of "commentary". It looks like Timmy is shooting for a lowest common denominator ( i.e. beginners). I am experienced, but I still find the videos very informative. I would rather spend time on watching Timmy's commentary, then watch many other short videos from people who does not know what they are doing. and just drag video slider to advance forward or back.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@yurideglin1211 We do tailor our videos to the absolute beginner so nobody gets' left behind in the instruction. The way you handle it is the way I wish other experienced mechanics would when using my videos. You can always skip over things you already know. Thanks for the comment.