Thread: L322: Remove calipers to change front pads?

Just rang my mate up and he directed me to look at a few sites that show exactly what I was saying - on an ABS system, it is not advisable (or even possible on some models) to push the pistons back in without releasing the bleed nipple. He also said that in some factory repair manuals there are warnings not to push the pistons back without releasing the bleed screw.

"Although in pre-ABS brake systems you can merely take the top off the fluid reservoir and if necessary remove some of the potential back-flow as the pistons are pushed back into their wells, in ABS brakes there are valves which prevent this and hence it is suggested that you open the bleeder screws in the calipers and let the fluid come out of there. This will reduce the overall amount of fluid in the brake lines, of course, and it will be necessary to check the amount of loss by inspecting the level in the reservoir, and bringing it back up between the min/max indicator as needed. "

This was one of the first things I found, so I'm not being a numpty here, and my original post regarding moving the pistons back remains valid. So, I'll keep doing it the way I do, and you can keep doing it the way you do - no biggy, but don't make it personal again like that mate - it's not very nice.

Cheers - Gav

Originally Posted by bacicat2000

Cheers - Gav

Point taken Gav - a little bit of misunderstanding all around - my comment about the cost of the brake sensor is that quite often by the time you get to change the pads the rotors are stuffed (unless done very soon) especially with original LR pads as they are very soft and cannot be relied upon to survive very long at all after the warning lamp is activated. So it is not the cost of the sensors (although that is considerable in Aus) but the cost of replacing rotors plus labour etc.