C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Brake related question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 11:27 AM
  #1  
Geotechengr's Avatar
Geotechengr
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Cross Junction, VA
Default Brake related question

Hi - I have a 2004 base Corvette. Installed new brake system and bled the lines but still have air. Can someone tell me if the ABS module has to be bled also? It is stock unit to my knowledge.
Thx
Ron
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 11:40 AM
  #2  
4XLR8N's Avatar
4XLR8N
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Pro Mechanic
Liked
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,832
Likes: 2,274
From: Brighton MI
Default

I pressure bled my brakes when I installed a new system years ago...never had to cycle the ABS.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 11:43 AM
  #3  
Stingroo's Avatar
Stingroo
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Default

You're meant to cycle the ABS when you bleed, but sometimes you get lucky and get away without it.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 11:47 AM
  #4  
Mr. Black's Avatar
Mr. Black
No Hostility Be Happy
Supporting Lifetime
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 7,439
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

If you got air in the ABS pump then yes it will need to be bled out and likely need to be cycled to get it out. You can do this with a Tech 2 computer or you can do it the redneck way by bleeding the brakes as best you can and then drive the car to a slick piece of road and lock the brakes up enough to activate the pump. Then rebleed the system and you should be good to go.

I also prefer pressure bleeding but that's just me. The old school way works too.

Base or not C5 brake systems are the same across all.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 12:11 PM
  #5  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,419
Likes: 1,598
From: Western NY
Default

This issue concerns me, too, as my C-5 is getting close to 20 years of age, and I know that brake lines don't last forever. Therefore, I see myself replacing them within the next year or two, and having to bleed the lines.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 12:14 PM
  #6  
Stingroo's Avatar
Stingroo
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Default

Wasn't a big deal for me to bleed it the old school way and drive it to work the next day with a semi-soft pedal and have work bleed it with the tech 2. Any GM dealer will be able to do it.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 12:18 PM
  #7  
Mr. Black's Avatar
Mr. Black
No Hostility Be Happy
Supporting Lifetime
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 7,439
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Another pro tip, if you do manual old school brake bleeding, and you live in a corrosive environment I recommend not pumping the pedal all the way to the floor. Doing this can run the master cylinder seals through trash and ruin the master.

I've done it twice in my life and after the second failure I switched over to pressure bleeding.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 07:08 PM
  #8  
Geotechengr's Avatar
Geotechengr
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Cross Junction, VA
Default

Originally Posted by Mr. Black
If you got air in the ABS pump then yes it will need to be bled out and likely need to be cycled to get it out. You can do this with a Tech 2 computer or you can do it the redneck way by bleeding the brakes as best you can and then drive the car to a slick piece of road and lock the brakes up enough to activate the pump. Then rebleed the system and you should be good to go.

I also prefer pressure bleeding but that's just me. The old school way works too.

Base or not C5 brake systems are the same across all.
thanks for advice. I have a MaxiCheck by Autel but read somewhere that the C5 pump can not be bled. True?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 07:36 PM
  #9  
Mr. Black's Avatar
Mr. Black
No Hostility Be Happy
Supporting Lifetime
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 7,439
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by Geotechengr
thanks for advice. I have a MaxiCheck by Autel but read somewhere that the C5 pump can not be bled. True?
To the best of my knowledge any ABS pump can be bled by cycling it with air free fluid from above. I'm not familiar with Maxicheck but like I said if you have enough brakes to drive it I would just go lock them up.

Is the pedal soft? Can you pump the brakes up at all? or is it all the way to the floor?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2021 | 08:33 PM
  #10  
Stingroo's Avatar
Stingroo
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Default

Originally Posted by Geotechengr
thanks for advice. I have a MaxiCheck by Autel but read somewhere that the C5 pump can not be bled. True?
False. The FSM has a procedure to bleed the pump. Taken straight from my 2002 manual:


Last edited by Stingroo; Jan 16, 2021 at 08:34 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 02:34 AM
  #11  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,611
Likes: 24,865
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Moving over to C5 Tech.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 07:55 AM
  #12  
Adwest52's Avatar
Adwest52
Pro
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 719
Likes: 642
From: Northern Ohio
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by Geotechengr
Hi - I have a 2004 base Corvette. Installed new brake system and bled the lines but still have air.
When you say you installed a new brake system did you just install new calipers or did you replace the master cylinder or any brake lines?
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 09:50 AM
  #13  
Geotechengr's Avatar
Geotechengr
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Cross Junction, VA
Default

Thanks Mr. Black and Adwest52. I changed pads, rotors, calipers, and hoses. Used all Wilwood products. Calipers are fixed not sliding. Pedal goes to near floorboard but does engage and stops vehicle in solid/firm manner. However with slight pump the brakes engage much higher.
Geotechengr
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 02:01 PM
  #14  
Smoken1's Avatar
Smoken1
.
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,046
Likes: 1,160
From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Default

Are the bleed screws at the top or the bottom? I have seen ppl put the calipers on the wrong side
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Brake related question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:24 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE