zero2005

Just wondering, whats the best way to bleed the brakes? i have an 03 with traction control & ABS.

i was readnig somewhere that if u let the Master Cylinder drain completely you need to Prime/Bench Bleed the MC? i swapped to stainless steel lines in the front (will do backs later), as well as had to buy a new caliper for the front left b/c the bleeder broke off.

i've bled all 4 corners, and the MC while in the car, but the pedal is still REAL squishy, and with the car on, there's like no pressure at all and it just goes to the floor? i've been considering getting a vacuum bleeder.

also, does the ABS/traction control module have a bleeder? or is there a special "bleed mode"?

MrTDR04

Start with your right rear and bleed it completely through then left rear then right front and final left front. You want to start with the longest line first and work your way down. If there is no improvement then you could have a small MC piston leak or something

zero2005

did that three times, no improvement. i did let the MC drain empty.

MrTDR04

You may need to bench bleed it then. Sounds like you have a air lock in it that won't bleed through.

zero2005

damn... wonder how painful of a process that is.. never done it, only read about it for other cars... was thinkin a vacuum bleed might work, but i'm getting fluid out with the 2 man method and 0 bubbles...

MrTDR04

You can try but don't have high hopes for it. Another thing you can try is the old one man break bleed. Start in the morning and just crack open all 4 bleeders just a little and watch the fluid over the day as to makr sure your MC does not empty again and the next morning go out there and close it all up. It's a long process but it might bleed out.

zero2005

i think i'd rather just try a ghetto vacuum pump setup first at least. shopvac, jar, and some tubing. saw it done once, but never really considered it b/c i've always bled normally the 2 person way.

MrTDR04

Wow I didn't even think about your abs another thing to try before you go buy that vac. Crack those 4 lines and hot wire the pump you probably have air in there and use the pump to bleed it out or if you have a friend that's a mechanic have him bring his computer over and he can just turn it on from there. A lot less work and could solve everything for ya.

zero2005

yea maybe. the thing is i get fluid out of all 4 corners when i pump the pedals. im sure there's probably still air in there tho. i'm in spain right now, so it'll have to wait till i get back. been thinking bout getting one of those ABS/TC delete blocks that basically just bypasses everything.

MrTDR04

That would work too ha ha. Stationed or vacation?