Brake Question
 

Hello All;

I changed the rear brake pads on my 2011 Ford F150 today. As I am far from a mechanic I accidently opened the bleeder valve on the passenger side. It was only opened for a couple of seconds and a very small amount of brake fluid leaked out. Do I need to be concerned? Do I have to bleed the brake lines now?

Thanks

I dont think so.

If your brake pedal feels normal and firm, then no. When I do brake jobs I pinch the brake line, open the bleeder and use a screw driver to pry the caliper towards the rotor to push the piston(s) back in. Then I bleed the caliper I just opened and move onto the next one.

As long as it doesn't feel spungy I would say you'll be fine. It wouldn't hurt to bleed the brakes though to be on the safe side. I use a c clamp and the old brake pads to push the piston's back in that way I avoid opening the bleeder all together.

That's how I used to do it. But I personally find it much easier to push the piston back in with the bleeder open.

Ford fails lmao

Thanks for all of your answers. The brake pedal feels fine. I will drive it for a few days and see how it goes.

Opening the bleeder is an acceptable procedure for getting the piston back into the caliper bore.

Pinching the brake hose however is NOT, that's the worst thing you can do next to letting the caliper hang from the hose. You will weaken it.
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I don't pinch down hard enough to damage the line. Just enough to stop the flow of the brake fluid. I used a 4 inch pair of vise grips.

That's all it takes, the brake hose is made of a couple layers like a tire, the inner part of the brake hose is what gets damaged, the inner part of the hose collapses and acts like a one way check valve, it allows fluid in but wont let it out.

You don't have to take my word for it, just google search and you will understand better what I'm talking about.
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