How do I bleed ABS brakes

#1Aggie · 06-11-2003, 02:27 PM

I have a '93 Gen X 2WD with 4W ABS and am going to change out my calipers tonight. If I prefill the new caliper and reservoir with fluid and a immediately connect brake line to the new caliper, how much bleeding will I need to do?

How does the ABS affect how you bleed your brake system?

Please give me step-by-step procedure.

Thanks

**Rick** · 06-11-2003, 02:33 PM

I have the same truck. I never had to make any special accomodations for the ABS when bleeding the system.

You will probably get your pedal feel back after just 1 or 2 bleeds on that calper. You will need to go more than that to get all of the air bubbles out.

If you want to bleed your entire system, you are supposed to start at the point farthest from the master cylinder and work forward. So RR, LR, RF, LF.

Gman · 04-05-2004, 07:28 PM

[LEFT]I would like to replace the brake fluid in the system,all the manuels I read say cos it's got ABS it is specalized and can only be bled at a service center! Is this true or have any of our esteemed members got a way round this. Thx
1995 2WD Explorer

*Hartman* · 04-05-2004, 07:36 PM

Yeah I want to know as well because I'm putting in new calipers soon. I can say that I've never bled my brakes and I'm a little unsure about it.

Gman · 04-05-2004, 07:39 PM

Rebel Without,Do you think we are in the right Forum I'm new here and can never seem to get an answer no matter where I post

*etc* · 04-05-2004, 07:52 PM

<---needs some info too.

*general x* · 04-05-2004, 11:20 PM

According to my haynes manual if air gets into the abs you need a expensive tool to bleed the brakes....Air has to get in first for it to be a problem thou. Thats all i got

KPT · 04-05-2004, 11:35 PM

I changed one of my front calipers a couple years ago. Bled with no problems at all.

Boondoggie · 04-06-2004, 11:22 AM

To bleed the brakes? Nothing special.

To flush all the old fluid? I usually flush, then go for a test drive. On that drive I look for wet pavement/sand whatever, do a couple of ABS-inducing stops, and then return home and flush again.

All the expensive tool does is cycle the ABS which you're pressure flushing...

Granted, I haven't tried this on my Mounty yet, just european/japanese cars...

Gman · 04-06-2004, 01:39 PM

So what you guys are saying is that there are no special tools or sequence to bleeding the brakes,nothing in the ABS is going to crap out or go doolaly,or bypass itself nothing has to be reset,

just bleed them like any other car/truck

Ok you guys are the Buisness

Gman · 04-06-2004, 01:42 PM

Too much work and not enough

Glacier991 · 04-07-2004, 10:49 PM

The 92 am 93 manual's do not discuss the need for the special tool (the FORD tool is a (year of mfgr) -50-ALA- adapter. 94 started talking about the need for it to eliminate air from the master hydraulic control unit. There was an aftermaket unit sold as well (I have one for sale if there is any interest). I have the FORD unit if anyone wants to see pics. But for 92 and 93, according to the manuals, not necessary. I've manually bled my 92 - front and back with success. HTH.

Here is the aftermarket unit

Here is the XX-50-ALA Ford unit

and a view of the "business end".

I think this bleeder was also made as 94 - 50 ALA and maybe even 98-50-ALA. THINK. not sure.

*general x* · 04-08-2004, 10:17 AM

looks expensive

**DeRocha** · 04-08-2004, 10:41 AM

As long as you maintain the fluid level in the Master cyclinder then you will not introduce air into the system. Therefore just work on one wheel @ a time and you should be ok..

06-11-2003, 02:33 PM	#2
Rick Admin Pumpkin Pilot Wayoutin, Aridzona '93 XL Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 27,243 Vehicle Specs	I have the same truck. I never had to make any special accomodations for the ABS when bleeding the system. You will probably get your pedal feel back after just 1 or 2 bleeds on that calper. You will need to go more than that to get all of the air bubbles out. If you want to bleed your entire system, you are supposed to start at the point farthest from the master cylinder and work forward. So RR, LR, RF, LF. __________________ Rick Horwitz, AB7FH "Serious Exploration's" Admin Rick's '93/'98 Explorer "The Great Pumpkin" Dodge Dart 512 Resto/Race 10.29 @ 129 2004 Mustang Mach 1 2003 Dodge Ram/Cummins Dually

04-05-2004, 07:28 PM	#3
Gman Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft Myers Florida 1995 2wd Explorer xlt Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 12 Vehicle Specs	Bleeding Brakes [LEFT]I would like to replace the brake fluid in the system,all the manuels I read say cos it's got ABS it is specalized and can only be bled at a service center! Is this true or have any of our esteemed members got a way round this. Thx 1995 2WD Explorer __________________ G'Man

04-05-2004, 07:36 PM	#4
Hartman Elite Explorer Indianapolis, IN 1996 5.0 Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 8,444 Vehicle Specs	Yeah I want to know as well because I'm putting in new calipers soon. I can say that I've never bled my brakes and I'm a little unsure about it. __________________ 1996 Explorer 5.0 V8 - TT/shackles, 31" BFG A/T - Registry thread 2005 Mustang GT - Sonic Blue

04-05-2004, 07:39 PM	#5
Gman Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft Myers Florida 1995 2wd Explorer xlt Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 12 Vehicle Specs	Rebel Without,Do you think we are in the right Forum I'm new here and can never seem to get an answer no matter where I post __________________ G'Man

04-05-2004, 11:20 PM	#7
general x Hopeless addict Red Deer, Alberta 91 Ford Explorer Sport Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 792 Vehicle Specs	According to my haynes manual if air gets into the abs you need a expensive tool to bleed the brakes....Air has to get in first for it to be a problem thou. Thats all i got Last edited by general x; 07-19-2010 at 11:10 PM.

06-11-2003, 02:27 PM	#1
#1Aggie Wannabe Elite Explorer Houston, TX 1993 Explorer XLT Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	How do I bleed ABS brakes I have a '93 Gen X 2WD with 4W ABS and am going to change out my calipers tonight. If I prefill the new caliper and reservoir with fluid and a immediately connect brake line to the new caliper, how much bleeding will I need to do? How does the ABS affect how you bleed your brake system? Please give me step-by-step procedure. Thanks

04-05-2004, 07:52 PM	#6
etc Dead Inside Miami, FL '96 XLT 2WD Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,335 Vehicle Specs	<---needs some info too.

04-05-2004, 11:35 PM	#8
KPT Wannabe Elite Explorer NC '95 XL 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,584 Vehicle Specs	I changed one of my front calipers a couple years ago. Bled with no problems at all.

04-06-2004, 11:22 AM	#9
Boondoggie Wannabe Elite Explorer Manchester, NH 2001 Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 38 Vehicle Specs	To bleed the brakes? Nothing special. To flush all the old fluid? I usually flush, then go for a test drive. On that drive I look for wet pavement/sand whatever, do a couple of ABS-inducing stops, and then return home and flush again. All the expensive tool does is cycle the ABS which you're pressure flushing... Granted, I haven't tried this on my Mounty yet, just european/japanese cars... __________________ -Paul Demeo 2001 Mountaineer

04-06-2004, 01:39 PM	#10
Gman Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft Myers Florida 1995 2wd Explorer xlt Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 12 Vehicle Specs	Bleeding the brakes 92 2WD EX So what you guys are saying is that there are no special tools or sequence to bleeding the brakes,nothing in the ABS is going to crap out or go doolaly,or bypass itself nothing has to be reset, just bleed them like any other car/truck Ok you guys are the Buisness __________________ G'Man

04-06-2004, 01:42 PM	#11
Gman Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft Myers Florida 1995 2wd Explorer xlt Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 12 Vehicle Specs	ABS bleeding My life i'm losing it it's a 95 2WD,EX Too much work and not enough __________________ G'Man

04-07-2004, 10:49 PM	#12
Glacier991 EF Tranny Guru Sacramento, CA 95827 1992 XLT Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 9,830 Vehicle Specs	The 92 am 93 manual's do not discuss the need for the special tool (the FORD tool is a (year of mfgr) -50-ALA- adapter. 94 started talking about the need for it to eliminate air from the master hydraulic control unit. There was an aftermaket unit sold as well (I have one for sale if there is any interest). I have the FORD unit if anyone wants to see pics. But for 92 and 93, according to the manuals, not necessary. I've manually bled my 92 - front and back with success. HTH. Here is the aftermarket unit Here is the XX-50-ALA Ford unit and a view of the "business end". I think this bleeder was also made as 94 - 50 ALA and maybe even 98-50-ALA. THINK. not sure. Last edited by Glacier991; 04-07-2004 at 11:55 PM.

04-08-2004, 10:17 AM	#13
general x Hopeless addict Red Deer, Alberta 91 Ford Explorer Sport Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 792 Vehicle Specs	looks expensive

04-08-2004, 10:41 AM	#14
DeRocha NEX Vice President Brockton, MA '93 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 6,641 Vehicle Specs	As long as you maintain the fluid level in the Master cyclinder then you will not introduce air into the system. Therefore just work on one wheel @ a time and you should be ok.. __________________ John D-"Search first, Ask questions later" & "You can have my Explorer when you pry the keys from my cold dead hands." <<<Forum Rules >>>My Truck 4x4 Trouble Shooting Guide See how cars work Axle and tire calculators U-joint replacement info/pics Repair info NEX-New England Explorers NEX: Club Events