Bleeder location please.

[Biker Joe]

I replaced the front calipers and rotters on my 98 Explorer. 4 wheel abs. I'm having trouble bleeding out the system. I'm reading that the bleeder on the caliper has to be on top. I took photos of this project but none of them have a view of the bleeder.

Does anyone have a photo that I can see how the caliper is mounted to the spindle so I can see the bleeder location. I've searched here for two hours and can't find any Threads or Posts.

Thanks

 

[TheJackal]

mine are on the top, under the rubber caps

 

[my pos mounty]

That is indeed where they are. They will be higher than the brake line, should have a rubber cap on it, kinda looks like a grease nipple.

 

[CDW6212R]

Do not let any air work it's way up into the brake lines. Always plug the lines if you have to remove a caliper etc. If any air gets up into the ABS pump, you will have to go to a Ford dealer to have that air bled out. Only they can bleed an ABS pump, so keep air out of the lines. Good luck,

 

[Biker Joe]

Thanks all. The calipers are new and I put them on wrong. I will have to switch them over to there correct sides. The brake fluid ran out of the reservoir when I took off the old calipers. I was doing a upper/lower ball joint replacement also and did not know the ABS would be affected with the fluid gone from the reservoir.

Time will tell. Let you all know the bad news when I finish.

 

[my pos mounty]

Thanks all. The calipers are new and I put them on wrong. I will have to switch them over to there correct sides. The brake fluid ran out of the reservoir when I took off the old calipers. I was doing a upper/lower ball joint replacement also and did not know the ABS would be affected with the fluid gone from the reservoir.

Time will tell. Let you all know the bad news when I finish.

Well, you might get lucky like I did. The first time I did my brakes I had to replace all my calipers, 3 of them had seized pucks. (whats the chances??) I also let the reservoir go to that point. I just did not touch the brake pedal until I had some in there and I used a suction type bleeder.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, don't touch the brake pedal until you get it full of fluid, that works sometimes.

 

[Biker Joe]

Update:

I was lucky. I put the calipers back on the right way and bled the brake system and I now have a perfect felling pedal. Looks like no air got into the MC. I have this crap, Chilton Manual and it does not say or show that the bleeder has to be on top of the caliper, not the bottom, when it is put back on the spindle.

I worked on this for two days before I found this out by accident, searching this Forum.

Thanks to this Forum, I'm done.

My project was, replace right and left side, upper and lower ball joints. Upper control arms, rotors, and calipers and the shocks. I also replaced the plugs and wires. I just have to go have the front end aligned.

I owned this Explorer since new, it has 67,000 miles on it. No real problems except the fuel pump was replaced three times, in two years, under warranty. The fourth time it went out in less then a year, I bought a new pump and replaced it myself and it's been going strong for the last nine years. Knock on wood. I still worry a little because it does not give any warning when it's going to stop working. I should change the fuel filter, I haven't done that in a while.

Thanks, Explorer Forum.

 

[my pos mounty]

Just as a rule of thumb, the bleeder screws always go on the top. Air in the caliper will rise and that would be the only way to get it out.

Very happy to hear that everything went well

 

[CDW6212R]

Very good, that all should keep you from breaking down for a long time.