Are ABS brakes any different to bleed?

Do I have to remove the wheels?

I bled some decades ago on another car and have seen some utubes.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 19^th, 2016 at 7:29pm:



No different - just make sure you have plenty of fluid in the reservoir, and start at the furthest away from it, make sure there are no air bubbles, then move on to the next furthest... back left, back right, front left, front right - and check the fluid in the reservoir after each single wheel bleed.  If you can, get someone to sit in the driver's seat and push the pedal lightly as you release the nipple and the pressure lightens on the pedal - "I SAID LIGHTLY, DAMN IT! NOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FAR KEN FLOOR!  Gently until I yell STOP!  That's when the bubbles have stopped coming out.... never mind - I'll explain it later...."

Or you can get a one-man bleeder with a little tap on a tube that you affix to the nipple so you can stop the flow when the bubbles stop.  Meh....

If you are getting air or the brakes are soft - you might need repairs to master or slave cylinders - easier to get a mechanic to do it for you and doesn't cost that much.  It's a bastard of a job just getting the bolts loose etc....

I once restored a 1968 Daimler - when I took the brake slave cylinders apart they were filled with 'brake gel' - which develops over time, which is why your brake fluid should be totally changed professionally every two years or so.  If your car is old, that may be the case... brakes still work, but they work better without the gel - which is a bastard to remove.

Good on ya Grappler

yep, you can gravity bleed the brakes without taking the wheels off all by yourself.

I drove mine onto some lengths of garden sleepers to give me more space under it.
I do this when changing the oil.
Won't go under a car when it is on jacks.

It all went well.
Go slowly, prepare well.

Two people , person one pump pump till pedals hard , second person loosen bleed screw whilst person one pressing pedal to floor , do this 3 times , make sure brake reservoir stays full , finish off rear left wheel as its furthest from reservoir,  job done .

Why does a die hard Christian need brakes anyway , if you were a true believer jebus would save you

You have probably already done it and most of what people have said it right. The one thing I would say is that if your car has electronic braking or any type right down to an electronic hand brake I would not touch it at all.

I know of cases where even the local mechanic will send it off the manufacturer.

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Oct 24^th, 2016 at 7:59pm:


Probably doesn't matter , just the way I have always done it