joeseph

I was flipping looking through my Haynes manual the other day and I saw that it recommends that you don't bleed ABS brakes yourself, and that you take cars equipped with ABS to a service center to have the brakes bleed.

I can't think of any reason off the top of my head why ABS would require me to bleed my brakes any other way.
How is bleeding with ABS any different?
How should I be bleeding my ABS brakes?
What have I been doing wrong?
Should I bleed the ABS system at the same time or something?

JimBlake

Helm manual tells how to do it...

The only difference seems to be that you do the wheels in a different order. Depending on how the plumbing is laid out, different circuits will be more or less likely to push bubbles into other circuits. Also, some ABS systems bleed right thru with the main brakes, some have separate bleed valves.

Examples...

'95 GS-R - Separate ABS fluid reservoir & bleed valve.
Bleed order: RR - LF - LR - RF - then ABS

'98 Accord - Main brakes bleed through ABS.
Bleed order: LF - RF - RR - LR

'01 Saab - Main brakes bleed through ABS.
Bleed order: LF - RR - RF - LR

I think the only consequence of bleeding in the wrong order, is that you may have to go around a few times to get all the bubbles out. For the systems that bleed right through the ABS, you probably don't want to fully drain them, because then it might be difficult to get all the air out of the ABS unit.

joeseph

the bleed order listed in the chiltons, haynes and helms manuals is the same as the non abs bleed order.

Turbo Powa

If you impoperly bleed an ABS equipped car you can take a risk of serverly damaging the entire ABS system. I believe it isnt the same as bleeding a non ABS system.

joeseph

So what is the proper way then? (I haven't found anything in my 1200 page helms manual)

b19coupe

You bleed ABS and non-ABS equipped brake systems the same. The ABS fluid is in a completely different circuit; the conventional brake fluid and the ABS brake fluid do not mix. Bleeding the ABS system is a little different, and varies from one generation of ABS system to the next. You will not damage your ABS system if you bleed your conventional brake system improperly, you will just have problems with your conventional brakes.

JimBlake

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by joeseph &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So what is the proper way then? (I haven't found anything in my 1200 page helms manual)</TD></TR></TABLE>
What year/model car? Does the ABS have it's own fluid reservoir & bleed valve?

You bleed the main brakes just like normal. The manual will tell you what order. If you have to do anything to the ABS the manual will tell you. My Integra has a reservoir & bleed valve, and the Helm book says how to bleed it, back in the ABS section.

turbochic

I know sometimes they bleed the brakes with a scan type of tool. Maybe thats what they meant by wanting you to take it to a service center

JimBlake

I know someone with an older Legend. His Helm manual says you need some kind of scan tool or special jumper or something. His car has a separate ABS reservoir & bleeder. You need to be able to turn the ABS pump on & off to bleed.

My Integra can run the pump by turning the ignition on & off. My Accord and my Saab don't have any separate reservoirs or bleeders for the ABS, the main brake fluid bleeds right through the ABS unit.

Like I said, it's all spelled out in the Helm manual. I believe that if the ABS needs to be done separately, the Helm book will have a section on ABS bleeding. There's at least 3 DIFFERENT types of ABS systems out there, & not all Hondas use the same type.