Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

How do I fix a leaking brake bleed valve?

The brake warning light on my dashboard started flashing last week but I didn’t think anything of it. Now my brake pedal drops to the floor and there was a puddle of fluid under my car this morning. I did some research and my brake bleed valve is leaking. Can I fix a leaking brake bleed valve at home?

avatar
Talullah Blanco · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Finding a puddle of brake fluid under your car is never a good sign and you were right–your brake bleed valve is leaking. Because your car’s brakes will not work without fluid, you’ll want to stop the leak immediately before a
collision
. Luckily, you can reseal it with thread sealant at home by following these steps:
  • Clean the bleed valve. Remove any brake fluid residue off the threads using soapy water and dry with a cloth.
  • Remove the bleeder screw. Unscrew the bleeder screw from the wheel cylinder.
  • Apply the thread sealant. Using the brush cap applicator apply a small amount of thread sealant to the bleeder screw and let it dry.
  • Reinstall. Screw the bleeder screw back into the wheel cylinder.
Once you’ve successfully resealed your bleeder valve, you’ll want to bleed all of the air from your brake lines. Consult a mechanic if your brake light continues to flash or brake fluid continues to leak from the bleed valve.
Car maintenance and ownership are expensive. If you want to lower overall costs, you can save money on
car insurance
with Jerry.
A licensed broker,
Jerry
does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings