Brake Bleed

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Mar 25, 2017 | 04:18 PM

Chevmn56

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 345

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Brake Bleed

Hello all, just replaced all seals, hubs, rotors,calipers and lines on the front and rear axles. i am curious if there is a correct way to bleed the lines.....everyone has an opinion but what is the right way to bleed these they are 4 wheel ABS.....there is talk about a ABS special bleed through the ecu......i would just like to know what is the right way.

Thanks Pat

Mar 25, 2017 | 04:29 PM

Whitey Ford

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Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 2,284

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Get Speedbleeders. They make it VERY easy to bleed the brakes.

Speed Bleeder Bleeding Brakes Bleeding Motorcycle Brakes Automotive Bleeder Screw Brake Bleeder

Mar 25, 2017 | 11:07 PM

crop harvester

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,667

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I bleed truck in signature just like all older vehicles clear back to the fifties models.

Mar 25, 2017 | 11:30 PM

Tedster9

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 19,311

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

Recommend finding a copy of the shop manual and study it. There's always little gotchas when it comes to brakes, betcha ABS just complicates things. Maybe not...but I'd want to at least read through the official procedure and decide for myself, idea being to avoid a marathon bleed session. I dislike bleeding brakes, once is enough at any given time.

Mar 26, 2017 | 12:02 AM

IDI-Charlie

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2014

Posts: 1,506

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From: Staunton, VA

I've always bled furthest to closest from master, just doing it by the tried and true pedal pumping. If after bleeding you find you still have air, it is possible some got trapped in the ABS unit. If that happens you can go on a dirt road and - after ensuring nobody is around and it is safe to do so - hit the brakes hard to activate the ABS module. The other option is if you know a shop well most higher end scanners can actuate it.

Mar 26, 2017 | 12:04 AM

JoeF250

Tuned

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 478

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From: Minnesota

Speed bleeders, vacuum bleeders and pressure bleeders are all really nice; but not necessary. As far as I know there's nothing to worry about with the ECU. If you don't have any fancy tools the two person pump and open bleeder valve method will work just fine. But if have a wife that you choose to use as your assistant; she might get huffy about missing her HGTV shows while she's doing you the greatest favor ever.

Start from the wheel furthest from the Master cylinder and work your way towards it. Back passenger, back driver, front passenger, front driver; like any other car. This is also a great time to flush out the system. Cycle a pint or two through there to get all the water out, and you'll enjoy some really great peddle feel and reduce fade.

Mar 26, 2017 | 12:15 AM

RepoTech

Freshman User

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 33

Likes: 0

Gravity bleed

You didn't touch the master? Gravity bleed. Open all the bleeder screws and keep the reservoir full. monitor for about 30 minutes or until they all start flowing.

Then close them. I almost forgot. If you want to do it professionally then: 1) Put some old junk mail under the drips and spray off the residue with brake parts cleaner. 2) Flip over a bottle of brake fluid, upside down, in the reservoir without spilling, this is the tricky part. Imagine how a pets automatic water bowl/dispenser works.

Or if you want you could crack open a/the bleeder(s), connect a vacuum line type hose onto the screw and the other end into a partially filled with brake fluid container with the bottom of that hose submerged in the clean fluid and pump the brake pedal until you have someone see no more bubbles in that fluid. It will fill up some. Keep the reservoir full.