Brake bleeding sequence needed?

ANDY LEWIS

MEMBER
2000 SAAB 9-3
2.0L
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
MANUAL
77,000 MILES

I replaced the rear left caliper as it was seized. I noticed while replacing the rear pads. Bled the two rear brakes using a one-man kit and now have a spongy pedal! Perhaps I should have left the RH one alone nut I replaced the dirty fluid in the master cylinder and wanted to get dome clean fluid into the system. The car is a UK RH drive though (you are a US site, yes?). So am I right in thinking the sequence should be: 1) Drivers side - ie RH front
2) left hand rear
3) LH front
4) RH rear?

Many thanks,
Andy L

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,449 POSTS

Normally you bleed brakes based on distance from the master cylinder. However, the Saab you have uses the pattern you listed due to the way they split the system. Now in others you use a simpler pattern of both rears then both fronts using the master cylinder as the distance marker.
In yours the call for pulling off.1 liter from the fronts and.05 from the rears using a vacuum bleeder. However, if you are purging the system with new fluid, you just keep topping up the fluid until you get clean fluid at each bleeder. Be careful though, as you have an older car that the brake pedal hasn't been pushed all the way to the bottom in a long time so don't do that while you are bleeding them either. The dirt rust and crud that settles out can damage the seals in the MC and cause a pedal that slowly sinks when you hold the brakes.
Yes, we are a US site but due to the way this country imports vehicles you might be surprised at what we get questions on.