How to Bleed the Brakes on a 1995 Range Rover Classic

Land Rover first hit the automotive market in 1948 with simply designed utility vehicles known for toughness and longevity. As Land Rover progressed through its years, it saw many changes in its design and ownership. BMW AG bought the lineup in 1995, but sold it off to Ford in 2000, and finally Land Rover ended up in the safekeeping of Tata Motors -- an Indian auto company -- in 2008. The 1995 Range Rover Country Classic came standard with an intricate four-wheel antilock brake system, making bleeding the brakes a rather interesting task.

Instructions

Turn the Range Rovers ignition to the On position and listen for the ABS pump to start running -- a low buzzing sound. If the ABS pump does not activate, press and release the brake pedal until you hear the pump turn on. Check the fluid level in the brake master cylinder. Unscrew the master cylinder reservoir cap and add fresh DOT 4 brake fluid until it reaches the Max line on the reservoir. Turn the SUVs ignition to the Off position.

Press and release the brake pedal 30 to 40 times to deplete the brake pressure from the accumulator. Wait about 60 seconds, then press and release the pedal four times to deplete any remaining pressure.

Raise the front of the SUV with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the Land Rovers frame rails. Lower the SUV onto the jack stands. Raise the rear of the Range Rover off the ground with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the rear of the frame rails. Lower the rear of the vehicle onto the jack stands.

Crawl under the front of the vehicle, so you are directly behind the left front wheel. Look on the top of the brake caliper and find the bleeder valve -- the -inch metal valve. Press a -inch-diameter rubber hose to the bleeder valve. Set the free end of the rubber hose into a clean, clear container and fill the container with new DOT 4 brake fluid until it submerges the end of the hose.

Open the bleeder valve by turning it a quarter turn counterclockwise with a combination wrench. Instruct your assistant to press the brake pedal to the floor in a smooth, slow stroke. Watch for air bubbles at the end of the hose in the brake fluid as your assistant presses. Close the bleeder valve by turning it clockwise once your assistant presses the pedal all the way to the floor. Repeat this step until no air bubbles come from the end of the hose.

Pull the rubber hose from the bleeder valve. Refill the master cylinder reservoir to the Max line with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid.

Repeat steps 4 through 6 on the right front wheel.

Press the -inch diameter hose on the front bleeder valve on the booster -- the shorter of the two bleeder valves -- and set the free end in the clean, clear container so brake fluid submerges the end of it. Open the bleeder valve with a combination wrench and instruct your assistant to press the brake pedal to the floor, then turn the ignition to the On position. Allow the fluid to flow from the hose until no bubbles come from the hose.

Instruct your assistant to turn the ignition off. Close the bleeder valve with a combination wrench, then instruct your assistant to release the brake pedal.

Refill the master cylinder with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid.

Repeat steps 8 through 10 to bleed the air from the rear bleeder valve on the brake booster -- the longer of the two bleeder valves.

Crawl under the rear of the SUV, so you are directly behind the left rear wheel. Press the -inch-diameter rubber hose onto the bleeder valve on the top of the brake caliper. Set the other end of the hose in the container with brake fluid until fluid submerges the end of the hose.

Turn the bleeder valve a quarter-turn counter clockwise, then instruct your assistant to press the brake pedal to the floor in a slow, smooth stroke. Once the pedal is to the floor, instruct your assistant to turn the ignition to the On position for 4 seconds then Off for another 4 seconds -- repeat this On and Off cycling of the ignition until the fluid coming from the hose has no air bubbles in it.

Instruct your assistant to turn the ignition to the Off position. Close the bleeder valve, then tell your assistant to release the brake pedal.

Refill the master cylinder with new DOT 4 brake fluid.

Repeat steps 11 through 15 to bleed the right rear wheel.

Turn the ignition to the On position and listen for the ABS pump to stop buzzing. Press and release the brake pedal five times. Turn the ignition to the Off position.

Crawl under the front of the SUV, so you are directly behind the left front wheel. Press the -inch-diameter hose to the bleeder valve and set the other end of the hose in the clean, clear container so fluid submerges the end of the hose. Turn the bleeder valve a quarter-turn counterclockwise and instruct your assistant to depress the brake pedal fully. Tighten the bleeder valve at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Instruct your assistant to release the brake pedal only two-thirds of its travel and hold it there. Turn the bleeder valve a quarter turn counterclockwise. Tell your assistant to press the pedal to the floor and watch for air bubbles to come from the submerged end of the hose. Close the bleeder valve. Repeat this step until no air bubbles come from the hose in the brake fluid.

Tell your assistant to release the brake pedal fully. Turn the bleeder valve a quarter-turn counterclockwise, then instruct your assistant to press the brake pedal to the floor. Tighten the bleeder valve, then instruct your assistant to release the brake pedal.

Remove the -inch-diameter rubber hose from the bleeder valve.

Refill the master cylinder with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid.

Repeat steps 18 through 22 on the right front wheel.

Turn the ignition to the On position and listen for the ABS pump to stop buzzing. Press and release the brake pedal five times and listen for a ticking noise. If you hear a ticking noise, repeat steps 8 through 21. If you do not hear a ticking noise, you successfully bled the brake system. Refill the brake master cylinder with DOT 4 fluid.

Raise the rear of the SUV off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the rear of the SUV to the ground. Raise the front of the vehicle off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Range Rover to the ground.