Brakes

I've read several posts on here about bleading brakes. Just about all of you say to open the bleeder when compressing the piston into the caliper. I've never opened the bleeder to compress my piston, now my ABS acts weird sometimes. Did i screw the brake system up for forever or can i just bleed them? Thanks :cya:

I've read several posts on here about bleading brakes. Just about all of you say to open the bleeder when compressing the piston into the caliper. I've never opened the bleeder to compress my piston, now my ABS acts weird sometimes. Did i screw the brake system up for forever or can i just bleed them? Thanks :cya:




I have read the posts as well and couldn't get the system up to my satisfaction even when compressing the piston. Ended up taking it to a garage and had them flush the old brake fluid at the same time vacuum bleeding the complete system...The old fluid looked like used motor oil.

Well worth the 40 bucks...my brakes are like the day I drove her off new off the lot.

I have an 02 with 4 wheel disk brakes and my service manual doesn't say anything about opening the bleeder before compressing the piston in the caliper.
It says to remove some of the brake fluid from the master cylinder if it is at max fill, and then to slowly compress the piston.
P.S. It's a good idea to change the brake fluid every few years as it gets contaminated from moisture.

it's a good idea to change fliud on the front/rear brakes u r working on anyways...

cracking the bleeders open on ABS-equipped brakes reduces the chances of getting contaminants back-flowing to the ABS unit.

but, if u don't have a bleed-buddy or those 1-man brake bleeder kits, then compress that piston very slowly...

off-topic: do those $5 one-man bleeder kits I saw @ autozone work?

Very rarely do you have to bleed the brakes. The only real time will be if you have to change a caliper or master cylinder or anytime you have to replace part of the plumbing. If you're simply putting on new pads, compress the pistons with a c-clamp and no bleeding is needed.

As for the weird abs problem, what is it? If it's the low speed abs kicking on, see the TSB that blazee posts regarding that issue.