subject: Keep Your Brake Fluid Air-free With A Brake Bleeder Kit [print this page] One day, as I out running errands in my car, I noticed the parking brake light was on even though the parking brake wasn't engaged. I tried applying the brake and releasing it to see if that made a difference, but the light stayed on. I called one of my mechanic friends to get his take on the matter, and he told me that I was probably low on brake fluid. I found the brake fluid hose under the hood and added a bit more, and sure enough, the parking brake light went off, but it wasn't too long before the brakes started acting strange, sometimes sluggish, sometimes strong.
It turns out that in adding brake fluid, I probably also added some are to the brake lines. In order to fix the problem, the brakes would need to be bled and new fluid added. So much for "do it yourself." I called my mechanic and made the necessary arrangements. It took quite a while, far longer than it took for me to put the air in, to get the air out. Once it was done, though, my brakes worked fine. I decided that until I knew that I was doing, I wouldn't be adding the brake fluid myself the next time the parking brake line was on for no reason.
In trying to educate myself, I found that I could purchase break bleeder kits to do the work for me. A brake bleeder kit is a quick, easy, and professional way to bleed your brakes and improve their safety and the way they handle on the road. If you choose to bleed your own brakes, be sure to find a comprehensive kit with a good instruction manual. Be sure to follow those instructions to the letter, as your brakes are a key safety component that could save the lives and property of both you and others on the road.
It's been a while since that parking brake line has come on in any of our vehicles. I'm sure that our mechanic has been keeping our fluids up to par. To be honest, I am anxiously anticipating the day when I get to try and bleed the brakes myself, and I have the kits in mind to service all of our vehicles. I'm not sure my wife is as excited as I am, so hopefully I'll notice the parking brake light before she does.
