Urgent help brakes

[justinf89]

Today I decided to replace the brake fluid because since it was original. I cracked the bleeder valves, one at a time in the proper order, and let them gravity drain from the reservoir. I kept adding new fluid to the reservoir, making sure not to let air get in it.

A few hours later I was done with all 4, start the truck, bam pedal goes straight to the floor after pumping a bunch of times.

Of course I have the 4wabs and it requires a special tool to cycle the valves in the abs unit.

Does it seem like what I did is no good and now I have to have this special tool? I just gravity bled them by my self, I didn't have anybody helping with the brake pedal.

Do I need to go back and bleed each now with a helper on the brake pedal?

Please help me, I can't drive it now and I have to go to school monday morning.

 

[yavapaires]

You can try having a helper pump the brakes, but I doubt it will do any good. You never crack the bleeders an gravity bleed the brakes. I use a MityVac to bleed mine without any help. Good luck.

 

[SoNic67]

If you really didn't let the reservoir go past 1/2 empty, probably you got air back via the bleeders (when gravity draining, not "pushed" by pedal). If you have a helper to pump the brakes, you might be able to push that air out if it didn't got back to the ABS. But read the proper procedure before.
http://stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/bleeding-brakes

 

[budwich]

As others have pointed out, the "gravity method" needs help from your pedal and a "timed opening / closing" of the bleeder. IF you just open the bleeder and let the fluid attempt to drain out, then odds are great that air "snuck" in thru the "back door" much like turning a bottle of beer upside down.

Anyways, as long as you haven't done much "pedal pushing", you will likely be successful at getting the air back out by following the previous suggested procedure.

 

[masospaghetti]

I've done gravity bleeding on multiple vehicles and had good luck - I guess it was just that, luck.

Is bleeding using the brake pedal and an assistant more effective than using a Mityvac?

 

[justinf89]

Ok well thanks guys for the advice. I got a helper to bleed the brake with me and absolutely no air came out, so I guess she's got to go to ford. It is driveable but the pedal has to be pushed very hard to stop, and wears out your foot. The brakes grab at first, then the pedal moves a little further, then you can stop.

Does anybody know any shops open on sunday?

 

[SoNic67]

Not really, you might have to drop it off and catch a ride to school...

Also, you might want to go to Ford dealership directly, to avoid wasting time at PepBoys or Brake King or whatever other shop that might not have an ABS tool.

 

[justinf89]

Yea I'm going to have to bring it in tomorrow to ford. I called firestone and they don't have an abs tool for the fords. I just have to drive real careful in the morning :/