Car: 1992 Honda Accord EX sedan, 5 speed

1.) I was going to flush my brake fluid using ATE Super Blue Dot 4 fluid, but my Haynes manual says I need a special tool because my car has ABS? So I can't just use a one-man bleeder vacumn on each caliper to do it? How do I bleed ABS brakes then?

2.) I am changing my master cylinder also, and well, how do i drain it before I remove it? If I just remove the lines going to it won't it all spill out? How do I drain it so I can then unbolt it from the brake booster?

3.) How do I "bench-bleed" the master cylinder?

I'm also changing my brake lines using stainless steel ones (goodridge). So after I drain the master cylinder I'll replace them, and then bleed the whole thing.

Thanks.

 

if you are just workng on the brake system you don't need to have any special tools. Bleed the system normally at each wheel
The special tool for the ABS is for the fitting on the bleed screw of the ABS unit itself. I've never seen any advantage to DOT4 fluid and its downfall is that is twice as hydroscopic as DOT3, meaning it absorbs more moisture and requires fluid changes yearly.

 

Hi,
I may be changing both front calipers (they seem to be "sticking" and heating up excessively from time to time) in the coming weeks. I also read in the Haynes manual that since my 1992 Accord EX 4AT has ABS that I cannot bleed the brake lines.

What do I need to know as I go about this and bleeding the brakes afterward. How will I prevent needing to bleed the ABS unit itself and thus needing the special tool.

Thanks for the help!

 

Use DOT 3, and bleed them like you would any other system. DOT 4 will only complicate things needlessly.

If that's what the Haynes manual says, it's wrong. You may not be able to bleed out every ounce of fluid the first time, but you can bleed the system once, then activate the ABS a couple of times, then bleed again. That would not be necessary, unless the fluid is really bad.


Modified by BLKFLSH at 7:49 PM 11/9/2008

 

DO IT YOURSELF, 1/2 SQUARESTOCK AT HARDWARE STORE, CUT 18" OFF, USE ROBBER TUBE ON BLEEDER VALVE, SLIDE SQUARE STOCK DONE OVER TUBE TO FITTING, USE WRENCH ON SQUARESTOCK TO RELIEVE FLUID INTO CONTAINER. CLOSE BLEEDER VALVE. START CAR, SHUT OFF, REPEAT BLEEDING UNTILL CLEAN DOT3 COMES OUT OF TUBE. SHOULD TAKE 450CC TO CLEAR INTIRE UNIT.

COST; SQUARE STOCK $5.00, DOT3 32 OZ $5.00, 1/4 RUBBER TUBE FROM CHECKERS/AUTOZONE/PEPBOYS/ETC. $3.00