I am replacing the master cylinder on my '95 Ranger with RABS. I have never bled the brakes on an ABS-equipped vehicle before. I have heard of people having trouble with air getting into the ABS system and causing a spongy brake pedal. They had to buy a special tool that cycled the ABS controller to get the air out of the system. Is there anyway to keep the air out of the ABS system when replacing the master cylinder? Thanks for any help.

 

If you carefully bench bleed the new M/C, install it, have a helper press on the brake as you loosen each fitting and tighten the fitting before the brake pedal hits the floor, it is very (and I do mean VERY) likely that you won't have to bleed all four corners. Do one fitting at a time and use a rag to catch the fluid being expelled. Do each line maybe 6 times to make sure all air is purged. The key here is to begin with a well bleed M/C.

 

I installed the master cylinder yesterday, bleed it before putting it on the truck and bleed it just as you specified. Installed it and the ABS light and brake light came on. So I bleed the 4 corners, and the master cylinder again. The lights remained lit. It had good brakes, so I took it out for a drive thinking that might help. About 15 miles out, the brake light went out, and after restarting the truck the ABS did too. It had me scared for a while. Thanks, I appreicate your good advice.

 

Good to hear everything worked out .