1. Home
  2. Automotive Technologies
  3. (partial) bleeding brakes, major fluid loss?

(partial) bleeding brakes, major fluid loss?

A rear brake line on our '04 Cavalier broke. It lost 'a lot' of fluid.

If air got in the ABS, I understand that bleeding will require a pressure bleeder with a scan tool. This seems likely, but I'm going to try a manual bleed first. In doing so, if there isn't already air in the ABS, I don't want to introduce any.

- The master cylinder should be bled first?

- For the master, the AllData service manual only talks about bench bleeding, which they say necessitates a full ABS bleed. Back in the day (IIRC), we would bleed the master on the car, by cracking its outlet lines one at a time. Is there some reason this can't be done?

- More broadly, can a master bleed be done so as not to introduce air into the ABS?

- If there is air in the ABS, even mushy brakes would make it easier to drive to a shop. I'm thinking/hoping a manual bleed will still give me some braking. Yes? No?

Thanks

Reply to
George
Loading thread data ...

back several years ago while bleeding an abs system we ran into a problem w ith the abs light coming on while bleeding and it would stay on.

After some trial & error we finally got the light to go out. while bleeding the brakes don't let the brake pedal go all of the way to the floor. From what I remember their was a point where the light would go out and that is where we would stop the brake pedal. It took a little longer to bleed but t he light stayed out and the pedal felt fine.

Hope this helps.

or you can always try to gravity bleed. It takes longer though.

Reply to
m6onz5a

IF the master cylinder didn't go completely dry you shouldn't need to bleed it. Just fill the reservoir and crack a rear bleeder. Let it gravity bleed. That way you just keep topping the fluid.

If it did go dry then you can still do a gravity bleed and SLOWLY drive it to a shop.

Reply to
Steve W.

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.