caliper bleeding order to flush brakes?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
I've heard this too! I had a Service ABS code scare a while back and am concerned a shadetree flush is going to leave a lot of oxidized fluid inside the maze of ABS pump and solenoid lines that are isolated from the rest of the system. Those ABS modules are unobtainable at any price now for the '97-'00s.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 3
From: somewhere shooting my assault rifles
I dont think doing panic stops to active the abs is going to flush anything out of those lines or solenoids is it? All its going to do is activate them but its not going to move any fluid through them to allow new to go in unless it re-circulates somehow through rest of system?
Last edited by Z06supercharged; Dec 10, 2010 at 07:52 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
I dont think doing panic stops to active the abs is going to flush anything out of those lines or solenoids is it? All its going to do is activate them but its not going to move any fluid through them to allow new to go in unless it re-circulates somehow through rest of system?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 28
From: Vancouver Washington
I dont think doing panic stops to active the abs is going to flush anything out of those lines or solenoids is it? All its going to do is activate them but its not going to move any fluid through them to allow new to go in unless it re-circulates somehow through rest of system?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 28
From: Vancouver Washington
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 889
From: South Western Ontario
I don't really think that activating the ABS will pump new fluid into all the passageways. However, I'm sure the new and old will mix and if you did it a few times you'd do an OK job of getting new fluid into the ABS module. The TechII is needed to bleed the brakes so you can get the air out of the passageways. Otherwise, the brakes could act up when that air got circulated into the brake system.
If you jack a C5 and put the rear end on stands and then let the car idle in gear the TC will activate and keep applying the rear brakes. It works perfectly right around idle in 1st on a manual car. If you just happened to take the wheels off and put a few lug nuts back on to hold the rotors then you'd have clear access to the calipers. You could open the bleeders and allow the ABS to pump new fluid towards the rear brakes. Of course, this is very unsafe and you could easily get caught in the spinning rotor/axle.
Peter
If you jack a C5 and put the rear end on stands and then let the car idle in gear the TC will activate and keep applying the rear brakes. It works perfectly right around idle in 1st on a manual car. If you just happened to take the wheels off and put a few lug nuts back on to hold the rotors then you'd have clear access to the calipers. You could open the bleeders and allow the ABS to pump new fluid towards the rear brakes. Of course, this is very unsafe and you could easily get caught in the spinning rotor/axle.
Peter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
I took a look at the ABS/traction hydraulics when I started getting the dreaded codes and was surprised how complicated the plumbing is. There are a series of solenoids which open and close different lines depending on computer commands. When an ABS pump is replaced it would seem to me there must be a systematic way to eliminate all the air from the system. I guess I was assuming that the Tech II had a means of opening each chamber by energizing the solenoids in a circuit so the new fluid could enter displacing the air. Then the next chamber would be opened and primed, rinse and repeat until all the chambers and passages were flushed of air. If the Tech II can't do that then how does one go about replacing an ABS pump on a C5?
Since Tech II's are kinda expensive, perhaps we could come up with a way to isolate and open those solenoids for a proper flush without damaging any computers or circuits.
Since Tech II's are kinda expensive, perhaps we could come up with a way to isolate and open those solenoids for a proper flush without damaging any computers or circuits.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,239
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
Man, you guys sure are making this difficult. The only time an automated bleed is required, is when the pump assembly is replaced, or air is introduced upstream of the ABS. You can bleed the system manually for anything downstream.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
thanks man. So is it necessary in your opinion to flush out the pump assembly like the brake system or not worth the hassle? I understand it's not required but my car has 130K and I doubt it's been done.
I was going to go ahead and buy one of the motive auto tank bleeders that you pressurize and connect to the master cylinder reservoir or one of the phoenix reverse deals.
Either one will end up running close to 70-100 dollars by the time I'm done.
If the entire system should be bled, I may just take it to the dealer for once and have them do a complete flush with the tech II and all..
Thanks again
Donnie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
I took a look at the ABS/traction hydraulics when I started getting the dreaded codes and was surprised how complicated the plumbing is. There are a series of solenoids which open and close different lines depending on computer commands. When an ABS pump is replaced it would seem to me there must be a systematic way to eliminate all the air from the system. I guess I was assuming that the Tech II had a means of opening each chamber by energizing the solenoids in a circuit so the new fluid could enter displacing the air. Then the next chamber would be opened and primed, rinse and repeat until all the chambers and passages were flushed of air. If the Tech II can't do that then how does one go about replacing an ABS pump on a C5?
Since Tech II's are kinda expensive, perhaps we could come up with a way to isolate and open those solenoids for a proper flush without damaging any computers or circuits.
Since Tech II's are kinda expensive, perhaps we could come up with a way to isolate and open those solenoids for a proper flush without damaging any computers or circuits.
------------------------------------
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...xed-again.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,239
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
Remember this post from a year ago?
------------------------------------
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...xed-again.html
------------------------------------
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...xed-again.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,239
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
thanks man. So is it necessary in your opinion to flush out the pump assembly like the brake system or not worth the hassle? I understand it's not required but my car has 130K and I doubt it's been done.
I was going to go ahead and buy one of the motive auto tank bleeders that you pressurize and connect to the master cylinder reservoir or one of the phoenix reverse deals.
Either one will end up running close to 70-100 dollars by the time I'm done.
If the entire system should be bled, I may just take it to the dealer for once and have them do a complete flush with the tech II and all..
Thanks again
Donnie
If you replace fluid for fluid, you are not introducing air into the system. The fluid has to travel through the ABS to get to the calipers. Flushing your system manually will be fine, just don't run the reservoir dry.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 3
From: somewhere shooting my assault rifles
So....how many of you when replacing pads dont crack open the bleeder when compressing the old pads back in to let he new ones fit? I have never cracked it open on any of my cars but I compress them very slowly as well but ive been told once you do it without cracking bleeder you mess the abs system up and might even ruin it. Ive only known 1 person that blew his abs solenoid out or something like that when he compressed old pads back into caliper.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
also I found it makes no difference in the order which you bleed or flush the calipers as long as all four are done at the same time
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 3
From: somewhere shooting my assault rifles
I use a power bleeder and am done in 10 minutes all by my lonesome.
Last edited by Z06supercharged; Dec 11, 2010 at 12:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
----------------------------------------------
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...xed-again.html
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 889
From: South Western Ontario
Yes, the TECHII opens the different valves while running the pump. It would allow you to power flush the brakes by using the ABS system to pump new fluid to each wheel. You could literally turn on the pump, switch the correct valves and then go to the corresponding wheel and crack the bleeder and it would start flowing fluid. You could also switch all the correct valves and then just go around the car and flush all the calipers at once.
Here is a much better post that showed the hydraulic circuit paths and how to wire up to the module to make the valves and pump operate. It also tells you which ones to operate so the pump would move fluid through the module. The wiring module the poster made was enough to do one wheel at a time. He has to move the valve wiring to operate the valves for another wheel.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ghtmare-2.html
Peter
Here is a much better post that showed the hydraulic circuit paths and how to wire up to the module to make the valves and pump operate. It also tells you which ones to operate so the pump would move fluid through the module. The wiring module the poster made was enough to do one wheel at a time. He has to move the valve wiring to operate the valves for another wheel.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ghtmare-2.html
Peter
Last edited by lionelhutz; Dec 11, 2010 at 03:23 PM.