Greetings from a fellow 07 Versa S driver (57,000 miles).
I have the original brakes on my Versa but will be checking them soon. When I do I will probably go ahead and bleed them for the first time. I have bled brakes on several other cars.
Always start at the corner farthest from the master cylinder, so this would be the rear passenger side.
Always use new fluid from a freshly opened can of brake fluid.
When doing it "yourself" without a fancy bleeder system, it will require two people. One to push on and release the brake pedal at the correct times, and the other to open/close the bleeder nut. I like to place a board under the brake pedal so it doesn't bottom out when pushed with the bleeder nut open. People claim pushing the pedal farther than normal can cause the piston seals within the master cylinder to develop a leak. Not sure if this is true but I have read it a number of times.
I start by opening the cap on the master cylinder and extracting most of the old fluid with a small syringe. While not necessary, why pump all of that old fluid through the system? Then refill the master cylinder with new fluid. Put cap back on master cylinder.
I also have a small piece of hose that fits over the bleeder valve at the brake I am working on, with that hose going into a small plastic cup with a lid that has some brake fluid in it. This way if the person operating the brake pedal accidently releases the pedal prior to you tightening the bleeder nut, you won't be sucking air back into the brake system. You can buy this little plastic cup thing with the proper size hose at an auto parts store for a few bucks.
With the proper size wrench (consider using a flare nut wrench) on the bleeder nut, tell the person operating the brake pedal to push on the brake. Crack open the bleeder nut and you will see some fluid running through the hose into the small reservoir. The first few times, you may see a few small air bubbles also. Tighten the nut and then tell the person to release the brake pedal. Do this a number of times until you see clean fluid. Obviously at the farthest corner from the master cylinder, it will take more times.
Very important: After every few turns of the nut; Stop and check the master cylinder. You do NOT want it to empty. Add new fluid to the master cylinder as needed. With the small reservoir I use to capture the old fluid, when it begins to fill up, I know it is time to empty it partly, and add new fluid to the master cylinder.
Repeat at each corner, starting at passenger rear, then driver's rear, passenger front, then drivers front side.
I usually buy a quart of the synthetic dot 3 or 4 brake fluid, and usually use most all of it. The used stuff goes to the proper recycle center.
His name is Sean.
