Bleeding Akebono calipers?

N

neva4self

Member
Car
2009 FX50
Since there are a lot of DIY guys on here I was surprised to find there wasn't already a thread about this. I'm doing a complete brake pad and rotor change for the first time and I'm hoping someone can assist with a walkthrough on bleeding the FX50 brakes. I'm looking to completely flush the system with new fluid. I've done this to my motorcycle countless times so I'm hoping it's a similar process. Here are the questions I have:

1. Where is the brake fluid reservoir located?
2. Is there a master cylinder (like on my motorcycle) and if so where is that located and does it have a bleeder nipple?
3. What order should I bleed the calipers? I know the furthest gets bled first but I don't know which is the furthest and the order to the closest.
4. I have the bigger of the small Mityvac's (MV8121) hand pumps for bleeding brakes, is that going to be sufficient enough to do the job?

Usually with my motorcycle I loosen the bleeder screw then use the pump or depress the brake, then tighten the bleeder screw, then release the brake and repeat until there are no air bubbles in the line. As the fluid in the reservoir gets low I fill it to avoid going completely dry or letting air into the lines. Is the process just as simple with cars?

If any of these questions seem silly, like #2 please bear with me, this is my first car brake job so I'm going to learn from scratch this go round. Thanks.
 
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The process is the same. Pump the brakes, hold and then unscrew.. lock the screw once the brake hits the floor and pump again. Make sure fluid is always topped off in the reservoir or you'll sick air in. You'll see the reservoir easily, looks the same in all cars really. I bleed breaks in order they are farthest from the reservoir.
 
Fluid reservoir is opposite the battery. The MC should be right by that. Process is the same as your bike, start w/ the furthest out. On the front, there are 2 bleed screws, one on each side. Not sure if the rear calipers have 1 or 2 bleed screws.
 
shadow191 said:
Fluid reservoir is opposite the battery. The MC should be right by that. Process is the same as your bike, start w/ the furthest out. On the front, there are 2 bleed screws, one on each side. Not sure if the rear calipers have 1 or 2 bleed screws.
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If I'm remembering correctly the battery is on the passenger side so that puts the fluid reservoir on the drivers side. That would make the bleed order: master cylinder (to flush the old fluid out of the reservoir first) then rear passenger, rear driver, front passenger, front driver.
 
You don't necessarily need to bleed the master cylinder separately. Just bleeding the brakes will force the old fluid out through the lines and you'll be fine. If you use a fluid like Superblue, it's easy to see when you've gotten rid of all the old fluid.
 
shadow191 said:
You don't necessarily need to bleed the master cylinder separately. Just bleeding the brakes will force the old fluid out through the lines and you'll be fine. If you use a fluid like Superblue, it's easy to see when you've gotten rid of all the old fluid.
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I ussually use Motul RBF 600 which is why I start at the master cylinder, so I don't waste fluid trying to see when I have clean fluid in the lines. If it's dirty then I will definitely skip the master cylinder since I should be able to see it clear up easily.

I read somewhere that I should disconnect the ABS actuator and control unit or disconnect the negative battery terminal.
 
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