The operation performed to remove air from the brake system is known as ______ the brakes.

• A. Purging
• B. Ventilating
• C. Bleeding
• D. Flushing

Answer: (C)

Air in a brake hydraulic system makes the pedal feel soft and the braking response unpredictable because air compresses, unlike the brake fluid. Bleeding the brakes is the process of forcing fluid through the system and out the bleed valves to expel that trapped air, replacing it with clean fluid. Once the air pockets are removed, the hydraulic system becomes effectively incompressible again, giving a firm, reliable brake feel and proper stopping power.

Other terms describe different actions: purging can refer to removing contaminants or air in some contexts but isn’t the standard term for brake air removal; ventilating isn’t used for this purpose; flushing means replacing fluid more broadly and isn’t specifically about removing air pockets. Bleeding is the targeted, correct operation to clear air from the brakes.