bleeding brakes with ABS disabled
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 501
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From: Toronto/Maple ON
bleeding brakes with ABS disabled
98 C5, i want to bleed my brakes, my ABS system is disabled, so if i bleed the system just like any other car, will all the fluid that gets used be changed ? i know i need a tech 2 tool to open ABS valves and change fluid in that part of the system, but if i dont have working ABS, do i need tech 2 and bother with changing fluid in ABS pump ?
thanks
- Kons
thanks
- Kons
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I think that even if you have a working ABS system, those valves are normally closed, so you can manually bleed the system just like any other car.
I just changed a master cylinder and manually bled my brakes with no problems. I flushed the system while bleeding until I got clean fluid out of each caliper and let it go at that.
I figure that even if there is some brake fluid left in the ABS block, it is still better than not flushing the system at all.
I just changed a master cylinder and manually bled my brakes with no problems. I flushed the system while bleeding until I got clean fluid out of each caliper and let it go at that.
I figure that even if there is some brake fluid left in the ABS block, it is still better than not flushing the system at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
I think that even if you have a working ABS system, those valves are normally closed, so you can manually bleed the system just like any other car.
I just changed a master cylinder and manually bled my brakes with no problems. I flushed the system while bleeding until I got clean fluid out of each caliper and let it go at that.
I figure that even if there is some brake fluid left in the ABS block, it is still better than not flushing the system at all.
I just changed a master cylinder and manually bled my brakes with no problems. I flushed the system while bleeding until I got clean fluid out of each caliper and let it go at that.
I figure that even if there is some brake fluid left in the ABS block, it is still better than not flushing the system at all.
just flushed mine at home without any worry of the abs...kept bleeding until i got clean brake fluid at each wheel....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Toronto/Maple ON
good to know. but in your cases ( mine doesnt work ), not all fluid was changed and once ABS system is activated, old fluid from the pump will mix with new fluid that you put in. not a big deal i guess
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
You still don't know how much mixing you get in a closed system (the fluid can only go so far), so I just flush what I can.
The only way to know you flushed everything is to open the ABS ports, but most people will not risk taking their car to a dealer just for that.
Another way of looking at it is, even if your ABS works, if you never brake hard enough to activate it, then the fluid still never mixes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
Some people go to the trouble of taking the car out and activating the ABS a few times, then bleeding the brakes again.
You still don't know how much mixing you get in a closed system (the fluid can only go so far), so I just flush what I can.
The only way to know you flushed everything is to open the ABS ports, but most people will not risk taking their car to a dealer just for that.
Another way of looking at it is, even if your ABS works, if you never brake hard enough to activate it, then the fluid still never mixes.
You still don't know how much mixing you get in a closed system (the fluid can only go so far), so I just flush what I can.
The only way to know you flushed everything is to open the ABS ports, but most people will not risk taking their car to a dealer just for that.
Another way of looking at it is, even if your ABS works, if you never brake hard enough to activate it, then the fluid still never mixes.
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