Q: Do my brakes need to be bled?

asked by on February 05, 2016

The brakes are squishy. Do they need to be bled?

It is possible that the brakes may just need to be bled. Over time, brake fluid will absorb moisture out of the air. When the fluid absorbs too much moisture, the fluid is no longer able to effectively work, giving the pedal a squishy feeling. Bleeding the brakes will accomplish the task of flushing out the old fluid. It is also possible that your drum brakes may need to be adjusted. When the rear brake shoes wear, the hydraulic cylinder that activates them has to move farther than it normally does. When this happens the pedal moves farther than normal giving a squishy feeling. I would ask for help from one of the mechanics at YourMechanic so they can diagnose and repair the problem with your brakes.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Brake and ABS lights on for several day and then off
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) system (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/5-essential-things-to-know-about-your-car-s-anti-lock-braking-system-abs) prevents wheel lock up when the brakes are applied during emergency braking or on a slippery surface. In your vehicle, the skid control module receives speed signals from each wheel's speed sensor. It...
Front end control arm or ball joint? Cost?
It sounds like your lower control arm ball joint came apart. The fact that it came out is an indication that there is a lot of wear in the front end. You may have also damaged other components like the...
Yukon--We have replaced the Throttle Position Sensor twice now and the engine light still comes on.
There could be a wiring issue in that area where the oil leak was. You did not mention the code number. You may have two concerns with the vehicle. The car jerking is related to the Check Engine Light being...
Overheating above 60MPH - 2002 Nissan Frontier
Hello there, many faults that will cause your 2002 Nissan Frontier to overheat above 60mph. When overheating is seen at speeds the most often faults are the radiator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/radiator-replacement), low coolant level (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-is-leaking-inspection), air in the cooling system, or a...
When the engine is started, warning lights show up on the dash for a moment and then go away.
Hello. This is perfectly normal. These lights come on at this time as the computer is testing them. As long as the lights are going off once the vehicle is started then there are not any problems.
check engine light on, code p0016 and p0017 shown
Of course, after a repair be sure to erase the codes. If the same codes do return after erasure, then there is a continuing, unresolved problem. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0016 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0016-obd-ii-trouble-code-camshaft-position-a-camshaft-position-correlation-bank-1-by-jay-safford) and Diagnostic Trouble Code P0017 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0079-obd-ii-trouble-code-crankshaft-position-camshaft-position-correlation-bank-1-sensor-b-by-jay-safford) have multiple causes...
My car jerks when put on reverse and speed drop atimes when I accelerate
What you are describing may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by...
I have a stutter when I am driving
The stutter, or vibration, could be due to an engine management (tuning) issue or is possibly caused by worn motor mounts that are allowing engine vibration to transfer to the body when the engine is under load. To evaluate the...
Shop told me something went wrong with my timing chain, pistons are firing too low. recommend engine replacement
Whether or not this was the shops fault would depend on how long the starter was in the vehicle before this issue started happening. I would recommend taking your vehicle to another shop and having a second opinion performed. This...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Live in the Country
Living Living in the country is a whole different way of living. You deal with rough and uneven roads, mud, snow, rain, and ice and you need a vehicle that can stand up to these kinds of conditions with ease....
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM)
Common signs include the ABS or Check Engine Lights coming on and the ABS or traction control systems malfunctioning.
How Long Does a Brake Booster Vacuum Sensor Last?
In In order for a car to have the brake power that it needs, there will have to be a sufficient amount of vacuum power. The engine of a car produces a good bit of vacuum power, but it will...