Brake Fluid Air Bleeding

CAUTION:

Brake fluid will damage painted surfaces. Be careful not to spill any on painted surfaces. In addition, if there is any brake fluid on the wiring harness, the wire insulation may corrode causing a malfunction such as a short circuit. If brake fluid gets on a painted surface or wiring harness, wash and flush it off completely with water immediately.

NOTE:

Keep the fluid level in the brake fluid reserve tank at 3/4 full or more during the air bleeding.
Begin air bleeding with the brake caliper that is furthest from the master cylinder.

Brake fluid type

SAE J1703 or FMVSS116 DOT-3

Remove the cap from the brake fluid reserve tank and add brake fluid.
Remove the bleeder cap on the brake caliper, and attach a vinyl tube to the bleeder screw.
Place the other end of the vinyl tube in a clear container and fill the container with fluid during air bleeding.
Working with two people, one should pump the brake pedal several times and depress and hold the pedal down.
While the brake pedal is depressed, the other person should loosen the bleeder screw using a commercially available flare nut wrench, drain out any fluid containing air bubbles, and tighten the bleeder screw.
Tightening torque

Front: 16-18 N.m {1.7-1.8 kgf.m, 12-13 ft.lbf}

Rear: 12-16 N.m {123-163 kgf.cm, 107-141 in.lbf}

Fig 1: Pressing Brake Pedal
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until no air bubbles are seen.
Perform air bleeding as described in the above procedures for all brake calipers.
After performing normal air bleeding, perform air bleeding again for the right and left rear calipers using the following procedure:
1. Remove the rear caliper installation bolt shown in the figure and lift up the rear caliper.
  
  Fig 2: Rear Caliper Bolt
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
2. Slowly rotate the piston counterclockwise approx. 180° using the SST .
3. Loosen the bleeder screw.
  
  Fig 3: Loosening Bleeder Screw
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
4. Rotate the piston clockwise slowly using the SST and push the piston inwards completely to bleed air.
5. Tighten the bleeder screw.
  Tightening torque
  
  12-16 N.m {123-163 kgf.cm, 107-141 in.lbf}
6. Repeat the procedure from Steps 1 to 5 until no air bubbles are seen.
  
  Fig 4: Rotating Piston Clockwise Using SST
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
7. Place the piston groove in the position shown in the figure using the SST .
8. Return the rear caliper to the original position and install the rear caliper installation bolt.
  Tightening torque
  
  22-26 N.m {2.3-2.6 kgf.m, 17-19 ft.lbf}
Clean the brake calipers.
After air bleeding, inspect the following:
- Brake operation
- Fluid leakage
- Fluid level
  
  Fig 5: Placing Piston Groove In Position
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.