Brake bleeding on an ABS equipped Defender

[TimNZ]

Hello everyone,

Is there any traps to bleeding the brakes on an ABS equipped Defender?

I have an old tin type reservoir cap that has an air fitting in it that I used to use to bleed the brakes on my County, (with a pressure regulator!), for bleeding the main system, and a Faultmate to carry out the modulator bleed.

The only information I have found so far suggests bleeding the brakes the traditional way, (start furthest away from the master cylinder), then carry out the modulator bleed.

Any other tips would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Tim

[Drover]

Hey Tim,

Maybe not a lot of help, but I just bleed the brakes on my son's Impreza (abs). After he and his mates changed the rear CV joints, they broke the steel brake lines and pump all of he fluid out.

Thats Another storey, but he drove around for 3 days using the hand brake before he told me hat was going on, but its okay because he has loads of driving experience, despite only being on his red "P's"....kids. Grrrrrrrr

Advice from the local mechanic was just do it the traditional way.

So that's what we did.....bled all four wheels, continued to fill the master cylinder and no problems, works just like new.

[alien]

I just had a quick read of my Haynes manual for a D2.
I would think they would be simmilar systems.

It states the old two man method(pump-hold),one way valved hose or presssure kit can be used.
Don't exceed 4.5bar if pressurizing the system.
Also states you can bleed either the primary or secondary curcuits only if needed subject to what work was done.
If a complete system bleed is required the following sequence is recomended...
a/Passenger front,
b/Drivers front,
c/Passenger rear
d/Drivers rear.

Interesting the sequence is starting closest to the ABS unit.
Not what I expected as I also thought the traditional method would be the way to go.

I'm sure there is a thread on brake bleeding with the modulator run via Fault Mate/Nannocom/ect..
I think you turn the modulator on and open the bleeder, best to check this though.

[alien]

Found this in The Good Oil:D

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/34320-d2-brakes-discs-bleeding-extending-lines-adjusting-handbrake.html?highlight=bleed

3rd post confirms using the modulator instead of pumping the pedal.

[goingbush]

Just do it the traditional way on a Defender.

The modulator bleed using the Nanocom dosent seem to do anything except run the pump, I cracked the nipples whilst running Nanocom bleed for each wheel and nothing comes out, but pump runs.

might work for a D2 with SLABS, but a Defender dosent have SLABS,

[TimNZ]

Ok, I bled the brakes twice using the pressure bleeding technique, no change :(

Second I used the faultmate, interestingly the "pressure bleed" cycle just runs the pump, but doesn't send any fluid to the brake cylinders, however the "modulator bleed" cycle does. Why I didn't do this in the first place I don't know, much faster, easier, and resulted in some success. The pedal is much firmer, but not perfect, so I'll have another go once acquiring some more fluid. I used the sequence alien listed above, most of the air came out of the front, drivers side caliper.



Cheers,

Tim