Brake bleeding with ABS

[HokieBird]

I'd like to change the fluid in my brake system. I understand (kind of) that to bleed my brake system I will have to use a Tech 2. My issue with this is my ABS module went bad a while ago and I just opted to not have ABS. I don't really like it anyway.

Does anyone know if having a faulty ABS module will cause me to not be able to bleed my whole system? Would not bleeding the module affect anything? I would imagine it would just leave some old fluid in the system, but then I'm not sure exactley how all of this works. Also lets say I wanted to convert to steel lines down the road. Would that cause any complications with not being able to bleed the ABS module?

[FunkZ]

Re: Brake bleeding with ABS

I have bled my brakes many, many times, and never used a Tech2. I just bleed the lines that I opened like normal.

I think it was cars with Traction Control that the manual called for using a Tech2.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Brake bleeding with ABS

Important: In most circumstances a base brake bleed is all that is required for most component replacements (such as wheel cylinders, calipers, brake tubes, and master cylinder) except for BPMV replacement.

*BPMV- (Brake Pressure Modulator Valve)

I thought during my trainging, we were told you were suppose to bleed the ABS no matter what but i guess i was wrong. This information was found for the f-body looked up the 01 Camaro

[fenderman]

Re: Brake bleeding with ABS

Well, it's just like the whole notation in the service manuals "you must first bleed the ABS module and then the lines" procedure when changing out a caliper, etc. That to me is overkill. But like you said, just about every mechanic is trained to do it.

The whole point of bleeding a brake system is to get any air out. If you are simply changing out a wheel cylinder or a brake caliper, as long as you have not run the master cylinder dry, fluid will stay in the rest of the system and the only air is in the component being replaced. When you have a friend bleed the brakes, the pedal that is being pushed is linked to the master cylinder. This means that the master cylinder pumps fluid to the component being bled. In this path, it HAS to go through the ABS module. Since there is fluid before and after the module, there is no chance of air getting in there since it is a sealed system. Now, if you changed out the caliper and for some reason opened one of the lines going to the ABS module or let the master cylinder run out of fluid, then yes the bleeding procedure gets more complicated.

Using a Tech 2 or bleeding the module is overkill unless there is air in the module itself.

[shock_core]

Re: Brake bleeding with ABS

when I took apart my rear end and replaced it I took off most of the brake lines back there and the calipers and stuff. I never used a tech2 when I bled them to get the air out. Brakes work great. Cars stops on a dime.

[HokieBird]

Re: Brake bleeding with ABS

Thanks guys. I didn't get a chance to change the fluid because I ran into another snag, but I was just concerned about locking up the abs module or something stupid and getting screwed since it doesn't work properly.