Brake hydraulic system (ABS) - bleeding
Caution: The rear brake hydraulic circuit may be under considerable pressure, take care not to allow hydraulic fluid to spray into the face or eyes. Refer to the precautions in Section 1.
1 Keep the fluid reservoir replenished throughout the bleeding operations.
2 Remove the dust cap where fitted, and clean around the bleed screw on the left-hand front caliper. Fit a bleed tube to the screw and immerse the open end in a jar containing clean hydraulic fluid.
3 Open the bleed valve one full turn and have an assistant depress the brake pedal fully and hold it down.
4 Close the bleed valve and release the brake pedal. Repeat the procedure until fluid ejected from the end of the tube is free from air bubbles.
5 Repeat the operations on the right-hand front caliper.
6 Fit the bleed tube to the left-hand rear caliper and open the bleed valve one full turn.
7 Have an assistant depress the brake pedal fully and hold it down.
8 Switch on the ignition to position ll.
9 Allow the fluid to bleed from the tube for at least 15 seconds, when the fluid should be free from air bubbles.
10 Close the bleed valve.
11 Release the brake pedal and wait for the hydraulic pump to stop.
12 Fit the bleed tube to the right-hand rear caliper and open the bleed valve one full turn.
13 Have your assistant depress the brake pedal through half its travel and hold it there.
Allow the fluid to bleed from the tube for at least 15 seconds, when the fluid should be free from air bubbles.
14 Close the bleed valve.
15 Release the brake pedal and wait for the hydraulic pump to stop then switch off the ignition.
16 Top-up the reservoir with clean fluid.
17 When the hydraulic system is being bled for the purpose of renewing the fluid at the specified interval, as each caliper is bled, operate the brake pedal continuously until clean fluid is seen to enter the jar.
18 When the hydraulic pump is running its note will be heard to change once fluid has purged through it. Do not allow the pump to run continuously for more than two minutes. If it does run for a longer period, switch off the ignition and allow the motor to cool for ten minutes.
19 On completion, discard the fluid which has been bled from the system unless it is required for bleed jar purposes. Never re-use old fluid.
20 Check the action of the brake pedal, which should be firm and free from any “sponginess”, which would indicate that air is still present in the system.
See also:
Brake hydraulic fluid renewal (Every 36 000 miles (60 000 km) or 3 years)
1 An assistant and bleeding equipment will
be needed. A considerable quantity of
hydraulic fluid will be required - probably
about 2 litres (nearly half a gallon).
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