F250 Brake Fluid Flush
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Australia
F250 Brake Fluid Flush
G'day Guys,
Well, two years on and my beloved F250 Powerstroke needs a brake fluid flush. I was going to get the dealer to do it but I dont trust them. Torquing wheel nuts would probably be foreign to them etc etc.
I've checked in the factory manual and I thought ABS systems had to be done a special way but the manual just refers to normal procedure i.e. bleed the longest long first etc. It gives torque settings for the nipples so that is fine.
Is there any special things to watch out for with ABS module when flushing ... I have a vacuum bleeder that I can use and makes it easy for one person then ....is this the preferred way ?
Any input would be appreciated .... thanks.
Regards
Anthony
Well, two years on and my beloved F250 Powerstroke needs a brake fluid flush. I was going to get the dealer to do it but I dont trust them. Torquing wheel nuts would probably be foreign to them etc etc.
I've checked in the factory manual and I thought ABS systems had to be done a special way but the manual just refers to normal procedure i.e. bleed the longest long first etc. It gives torque settings for the nipples so that is fine.
Is there any special things to watch out for with ABS module when flushing ... I have a vacuum bleeder that I can use and makes it easy for one person then ....is this the preferred way ?
Any input would be appreciated .... thanks.
Regards
Anthony
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
I just did mine at Xmas.
I have a pressure bleeder but decided to do it the old-fashioned way.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Wifey cooperated. 30-40 minutes start to finish. I did not remove the wheels. Just crawled under.
I used pint containers of fluid. Suck the MC pretty dry and put in fresh fluid so that you are not pumping the old stuff all the way through the system. The reservoir will take about 2 pints. I then bled into the empty pint containers. This let me know when the reservoir was getting low without having to crawl out and check.
With ABS, you should not push the pedal all the way to the floor. I just put a 2x6 under the pedal so wifey could only push it down 2/3-3/4 of the way.
You will also not flush out the ABS pump. After you are done, take it out to a gravel road or grass lot and slam on the brakes to get the ABS pump to activate. That will get the old fluid out of the pump. I guess you could flush again to get this little bit, but I did not. I have a 2 acre back yard, 600 feet long, so I just made a couple of runs up and back in the grass. Done.
Wifey didn't even have to put on shoes.
I have a pressure bleeder but decided to do it the old-fashioned way.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Down, hold, up.
Wifey cooperated. 30-40 minutes start to finish. I did not remove the wheels. Just crawled under.
I used pint containers of fluid. Suck the MC pretty dry and put in fresh fluid so that you are not pumping the old stuff all the way through the system. The reservoir will take about 2 pints. I then bled into the empty pint containers. This let me know when the reservoir was getting low without having to crawl out and check.
With ABS, you should not push the pedal all the way to the floor. I just put a 2x6 under the pedal so wifey could only push it down 2/3-3/4 of the way.
You will also not flush out the ABS pump. After you are done, take it out to a gravel road or grass lot and slam on the brakes to get the ABS pump to activate. That will get the old fluid out of the pump. I guess you could flush again to get this little bit, but I did not. I have a 2 acre back yard, 600 feet long, so I just made a couple of runs up and back in the grass. Done.
Wifey didn't even have to put on shoes.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Most vehicles you can remove the filler cap and loosen the bleeder and it will self leak out etc. You just have to monitor the res so it doesn't get too low. I'm not sure about the SD. I'm gonna do mine in the spring.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Los Gatos USA
Oh hi,
RE:You will also not flush out the ABS pump. After you are done, take it out to a gravel road or grass lot and slam on the brakes to get the ABS pump to activate.
Any truth to cycling the ignition (turning off and on) causing the ABS to cycle?
I did that while forcing fluid through the system.
-Glen
RE:You will also not flush out the ABS pump. After you are done, take it out to a gravel road or grass lot and slam on the brakes to get the ABS pump to activate.
Any truth to cycling the ignition (turning off and on) causing the ABS to cycle?
I did that while forcing fluid through the system.
-Glen
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Thanks everyone ... been away for a few days !!! Will go the traditional method .....
I might operate ABS before doing it (and after) as it hasnt been activated for some time !!
Anthony
I might operate ABS before doing it (and after) as it hasnt been activated for some time !!
Anthony
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally posted by RollingStone
Any truth to cycling the ignition (turning off and on) causing the ABS to cycle?
I did that while forcing fluid through the system.
-Glen
Any truth to cycling the ignition (turning off and on) causing the ABS to cycle?
I did that while forcing fluid through the system.
-Glen
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Fort Fun
My bro is a bit of a BMW shade tree mechanic and loaned me his brake bleeder kit. It consists of a cap with an air chuck on the top to apply low (10psi) air pressure to force the fluid through the system. Bad thing is the cap he loaned me doesn't fit on my truck.
Anybody seen a cap like this for the Ford brake fluid reservoir? I would like to have one for my truck and my wifes Expy. I suppose I could have the wifey help me out but she is not always keen on doing truck kinda stuff. She jus likes to get in, turn the key and drive away.
So if you see any kinda cap like this, lemme know.
Thanks
Big
Anybody seen a cap like this for the Ford brake fluid reservoir? I would like to have one for my truck and my wifes Expy. I suppose I could have the wifey help me out but she is not always keen on doing truck kinda stuff. She jus likes to get in, turn the key and drive away.
So if you see any kinda cap like this, lemme know.
Thanks
Big
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: CA
I flushed mine a month ago.
Easiest thing to do is drain the reservior, fill it with new fluid, then open the right rear bleeder with small hose and container attached. Do this with the truck on the ground and you laying on the ground. Once clean fluid is coming out of the bleeder, go to the left rear wheel, then right front, and lastly left front.
Always keep an eye on the fluid level in the reservior.
While this may be the long way, in the mean time, you can be doing a zoodad update, or replacing your spark plugs, or fuel filter.
Pete
Easiest thing to do is drain the reservior, fill it with new fluid, then open the right rear bleeder with small hose and container attached. Do this with the truck on the ground and you laying on the ground. Once clean fluid is coming out of the bleeder, go to the left rear wheel, then right front, and lastly left front.
Always keep an eye on the fluid level in the reservior.
While this may be the long way, in the mean time, you can be doing a zoodad update, or replacing your spark plugs, or fuel filter.
Pete
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