Z51 brake bleeding question.
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,288
Likes: 23
From: League City Texas
Houston Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '11-'12, '14
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Z51 brake bleeding question.
Soo... I took the calipers off to paint them and was talking to the neighbor in between coats, when he tells me how much a pain in the butt it is to bleed ABS brakes. I guess I've never done ABS. I thought all you had to do was pump the brakes and bleed any air off by removing the zert screw to get the air out and adding extra fluid when needed. Am I wrong, is there more to this and if so what?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
No, that's all. What he is referring to, maybe without knowing it, is when you change the brake fluid (at least every 2 years) then you need a Tech II tool to "exercise" the ABS module to get the old fluid out of it and the new fluid into it.
Also, be aware, the rear calipers "can" (stress can, but not necessarily) take a little longer to bleed.......especially when doing just a gravity bleed. If you are using the brake pedal you will probably be okay.
Also, be aware, the rear calipers "can" (stress can, but not necessarily) take a little longer to bleed.......especially when doing just a gravity bleed. If you are using the brake pedal you will probably be okay.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 2
From: Woodland Hills Utah
Not really, it's basically the same. The only difference is there is a proportioning valve in the system with ABS brakes. If you bleed the front or rear too much the valve will move and cause your brake light to come on. If this happens all you have to do is crack the opposite end (front or rear) and bleed it until the light goes off. This rarely happens but is possible. To avoid this, bleed each caliber equally as you go around the car and don't empty the reservoir as you bleed. You may have to go around the four corners 2-3 times to get them bleed, depending on how empty your calibers are. It they haven't been drained of fluid, once at each corner should do it. Good luck. 
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,288
Likes: 23
From: League City Texas
Houston Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '11-'12, '14
I believe in the Beer Fairy
appreciate it, I think I'll let the paint dry and put them back on and do any touche up painting while theire on. I shoul have just left them on and painted them 
