Easy YACT question

[DrPizza]

I've done brakes on cars without ABS bunches of times. (remove caliper, remove outboard pad, crack open the brake fluid reservoir, c-clamp to push in the inboard pad/the piston, remove inboard pad, replace pads, slide caliper into place, reinstall the bolt(s) that held the caliper, pump down the brake. Done.

Any differences for ABS? I thought I had seen somewhere that with ABS, you "have to bleed" the brakes when you're pushing the piston in... true?

 

[DrPizza]

(2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, it if makes any difference)

 

[AaronB]

Supposedly you shouldn't do that because sediment will have accumulated at the lowest point (the wheel cylinders) and you will be forcing it back up into the ABS modulator. Personally I have never had a problem doing it the way you described but it wouldn't hurt to crack open the bleeder screw and simply release the fluid as you push the piston in if you are concerned.

 

[DrPizza]

Thanks, Aaron
I was afraid to start out of fear of damaging the ABS system or something. My wife's brakes are just about metal on metal; need to be changed bad!

 

[AaronB]

You should be fine.

I did that crap for a living at one point in my life and I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that I have done a couple of hundred brake jobs. I had very few problems in general but nothing ever happened that resulted in damage to any ABS components.



do a couple of hundred of anything and you will get a few fly balls....