How do you bleed the brakes on these new trucks?
I have done it on old cars but nothing new.

 

I've been wondering the same thing. Is it safe to use a pressure bleeder on the ABS system?

-Craig

 

I've done it a number of times on my 2000 F-150. It had 4-wheel disc, 4-wheel-3-channel ABS. It bleeds just like the old days and you won't know the ABS is there. You have to be VERY careful not to run the system dry. Getting air in the ABS box is a real problem. Bleed like normal and DON'T run the master cylinder dry and introduce air.

 

Trick to keeping the master full is to put a bottle of fluid upside down in the master. this will keep you from having to stop as often to refill it.

 

I bought a hand vacuum pump at Sears (around $35) and used it to bleed the brakes & clutch on my ABS equipped Jetta a few months ago. Worked great, and did it all by myself. Just keep the master cylinder topped up and you're golden. When I started I was getting a bunch of air bubbles (moment of panic), but it was just air coming in around the threads of the bleeder after loosening it. A smear of grease around the bleeder cleared it up no problem.

BTW - You wouldn't believe the crud that came out after 2.5 years / 40,000 miles on a new car compared to the fresh fluid. Definitely on my routine mtce. list for all vehicles now.

-Brad

 

Last time I replaced calipers and wheel cylinders I found that the fluid bled it's self.
As I was working on each wheel, the fluid kept running out from froce of gravity. I just left each bleeder open and let it run out. Never had a lick of trouble.

 

THE BEST WAY TO BLEED BRAKES IS TO MAKE SURE YOUR MASTER CYLINDER IS FULL,THEN START AT THE TWO REAR BLEEDERS OPEN THEM UP AND WAIT UNTIL BRAKE FLUID IS TRICKLING OUT,WHEN YOU HAVE THAT CLOSE THE REAR BLEEDERS AND OPEN THE TWO FRONT BLEEDERS,CHECK YOUR MASTER CYLINDER, WHEN YOU HAVE BRAKE FLUID TRICKLING OUT OF YOUR FRONT BLEEDERS CLOSE THEM,CHECK YOUR MASTER CYLINDER.NEXT STEP STARTING AT YOUR RIGHT REAR BLEEDER WITHOUT MASHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL OPEN THAT BLEEDER, IT HELPS IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP WITH THIS PART,WHILE THE BLEEDER IS OPEN HAVE SOMEONE SLOOOOOOOWLY MASH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR,WHEN ITS TO THE FLOOR HOLD IT THERE WHILE YOU CLOSE THE BLEEDER DO THAT 2 OR 3 TIMES THEN GO TO THE LEFT REAR BLEEDER THEN THE FRONT RIGHT BLEEDER AND THEN THE LEFT FRONT BLEEDER,BETWEEN EACH BLEEDER CHECK YOUR MASTER CYLINDER LEVEL.