2009-2010 Honda CRF450R – Bleeding Brake System

Jun 29, 2018

194

How To Bleed The Brake System On Your 2009-2010 Honda CRF450R

The Tools You Will Need Are:

8mm Wrench
Clear Tubing
Catch Pan
Shop Towels

The only part you will need is a bottle of fresh DOT 4 brake fluid.

Bleeding your brake system after a caliper rebuild or brake pad change is a simple procedure, but does require patience. You can bleed your brakes either manually, or with a hand-held vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is faster, but I don’t take it to the track, so we’re going to stick with the manual method.

Pre-Service Notes

I recommend opening the Service & Torque Specs in a new tab for easy reference.
If you need parts and tools, make sure to buy them here!
Pictures with captions are after the steps below.
Brake fluid will damage your pads, so keep your shop towels ready!
The bleeding procedure is the same on the front and rear brakes.
If you need any help don’t hesitate to ask!

Bleeding Your Brakes

Connect your tube to the bleeder valve, and place the drain end in your catch pan.
Fill the reservoir to the marked limit, but do not install the cap.
The brakes are a sealed system, so installing the reservoir cap will work against the bleeding process by creating a vacuum in the reservoir.
Firmly apply the brakes, and hold them.
With pressure applied, open the bleeder valve.
After the system pressure is released, close the bleeder valve, then release the brake.
Do NOT Pump Your Brakes!
- If you pump the brakes with the valve open, you will draw air back into the system.
Repeat this process until the air bubbles have stopped, and only brake fluid can be seen in the tube.
If you are replacing the fluid, repeat this process until fresh brake fluid is pumped from the caliper.
Throughout the bleeding process, keep an eye on your fluid level. If you let the reservoir drain, you will introduce air from the opposite side of the brake system, and you need to start over.