I was watching videos on how to bleed brakes and some comments mention that they couldn’t do it because they had ABS on their car and didn’t have a scan tool? Could someone enlighten me why it’s not easily possible without a apparently expensive scan tool?

Each manufacturer has it’s own ABS system. So you need a specific scanner or a program key for a generic scanner. Tester

[image] TheMidnightNarwhal: some comments mention that they couldn’t do it because they had ABS on their car and didn’t have a scan tool? There’s a lot of bad information on the internet. I’ve watched a few that made me cringe. The truth is that there’s no special magic to bleeding brakes wi…

Here’s another example where a scan tool is required to properly bleed the brake system. [image] Service Advisor: ABS Bleeding Procedures for Common GM Vehicles - As a rule, the brake circuits on most vehicles with anti-lock brakes can be bled in the usual manner — provided no air has got…

I had a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country, made when they were owned by Mercedes. The owners manual had large warnings the it had to be towed to a Chrysler dealer if the brakes needed bleeding. I asked my mechanic about it and he said, well we have had a lot of problems bleeding them, let me ask my co…

[image] the_same_mountainbike: NOTE: I recommend always using the bleeder when depressing the caliper pistons too. That purges some of the old fluid from each caliper as you do the brake job. Be sure you keep the reservoir full while you do this. Yeah, I watched a tech on Youtube Eric the car…

[image] the_same_mountainbike: If you want to do the entire system, start with the line farthest from the ABS modulator and work backwards. Hondas do it differently: [Bleeding]

[image] insightful: Hondas do it differently: And Hondas do it differently than other Hondas, too: [image] Always check the manual with them.

For my car it’s different to. They say rear left, front right, rear right front left.

[image] shadowfax: And Hondas do it differently than other Hondas, too: Point taken…specifically, mine is for a 2010 Insight or 2006-2007 Civic. Also, no mention of needing a scan tool to bleed; it’s just like the old days. ;-]

Ok thanks guys. Just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t screw something up by bleeding or just opening the bleeder when pushing the piston back in.

Why can't you easily bleed brakes with ABS?

Maintenance/Repairs

George_San_Jose1 November 3, 2017, 3:19am 19

Seems like the common sense diy’er way to proceed is to bleed using the normal procedure, and if that doesn’t work, can’t get a firm pedal, seek out any special instructions or scan tools needed for bleeding the ABS system.

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Why can't you easily bleed brakes with ABS?

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