Quick Question

[joshstep1]

I have to replace a break line on my Carbide; it's the front left, the shortest one. I'm wondering if when I put the new one on, will break fluid naturally fill the line? Will the air come out of the line?

[BuggyMaster]

You will have to bleed the brakes. Granted, gravity will sometimes allow the fluid to flow, but not typically. Have you ever bled brakes before?

[joshstep1]

No... what's that mean?

[metalstudman1]

You'll definitely have to bleed the brakes once the line is removed.Tips for bleeding!!! First of all- don't touch the brake pedal once the line is removed untill the new line is back on.Since this is the drivers side caliper you can probably bleed them by yourself!!!! Have some DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, open the reservoir cap verify it's full.Break the bleeder nut/valve loose and snug it back to closed (closed end wrench is the best as you can just leave it on the nut)place a short (long enough to reach the ground) piece of 1/4" clear tubing over the bleeder nipple and the other end into a jar/container with a small amount of brake fluid in the bottom(tubing in the brake fluid) Press brake pedal 2-4 times and hold firm, crack the bleeder nut loose gently to release fluid/air and close back before pedal max's out. Repeat this process till the pedal is firm again or untill no air bubbles pass through the clear tube.Check the reservoir often & refill as needed.The rest of the brake system shouldn't need any bleeding unless there's been a leak or the pedal is spongy. To make this go faster with a second person - disconnect the caliper, find something similar to the thickness of the rotor to place between the brake pads. Let caliper dangle close to the ground, straighten the brake line out where fluid is gravity fed. Bleeder nut/valve is always pointed up.Follow steps above the same.

[joshstep1]

Ok... We've tried to bleed the line but the oil is not getting pulled through the line...

[metalstudman1]

When you push on the pedal and open the bleeder nothing is coming out?

[joshstep1]

Correct. However, when I take the line off completely and press the break, oil pours out of it...

[metalstudman1]

Take the bleeder completely out& see if brake fluid flows when you press the pedal, if so-Take that bleeder off and swap it out for one of the other ones, it won't harm anything or require more bleeding to do that.If not the caliper has something clogging it up.
Why did you need to replace the brake line?

[joshstep1]

Because one day when I was riding, the bold on the bottom of the strut came off and I was doing about 30mph or faster through a field. When the bolt came out, the strut extended out and ripped the break line.

[joshstep1]

Ok, break fluid is NOT flowing. Why? It's hardly coming out of the reservoir.