Does my car need to be on to bleed brakes?
If what you meant was bleeding the brakes at the calipers to remove air from the system, you should bleed the brakes with the car off. While ‘pump’ was the wrong word to use, the brake booster runs off the engine vacuum (it’s a large diaphragm that multiplies brake force), and this should not be active.
Is it possible to bleed the ABS brake system?
Contaminated fluid can easily damage the valves and pump, so you should never dally when the system needs bleeding. Although bleeding the ABS brake is difficult as high pressure in the pump whip air bubbles and brake fluid into a foamy substance. We’ve already mentioned that the system needs bleeding due to air bubbles in the system.
Do you have to bleed the brake fluid?
For this reason, bleeding the brakes is mandatory for any brake work. Skipping it would cause various brake issues after a while because without bleeding, you not only let the air pockets stay but also push contaminants through the system. Flushing the brake fluid every two to three years is a part of the regular maintenance schedule.
Why do I have to change the fluid in my ABS brake?
Bleeding involves flushing the air pockets out and replacing the old fluid. The old fluid needs to be changed because polluted fluid absorbs air moisture and lowers its boiling points.
What happens if anti lock brakes are not checked?
Worse, when such gradient imbalances are not checked, the brake pump and valves can potentially get damaged. Given the more sensitive nature of anti-lock brakes, bleeding becomes a more crucial part in maintaining them.
Where do you Bleed the brake lines on a Pontiac Grand Prix?
It is recommended that you begin bleeding the brakes lines at the wheel farthest from the master brake cylinder and then working your way towards the brake cylinder. On the 1997-2003 Grand Prix, that would be rear passenger wheel first, then the driver side rear wheel, passenger side front wheel and finally the driver side front wheel.
When to release the brake pedal after a bleed?
It’s important that the person assisting does not release the brake pedal until the bleeder screw has been closed. If the pedal is raised with the bleeder screw still open, old fluid and possibly air will be sucked back into the system negating the whole purpose of the procedure.
What kind of brake fluid does a Grand Prix use?
You can use either DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid which are both glycol based. Do not use DOT 5 brake fluid, which is silicon based and is not compatible with the 97-03 Grand Prix braking system. Next I removed the plastic lug nut caps with a 19mm socket and loosened the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
What do you need to bleed a brake line?
Once I verified that the bleeder valves at each rear brake caliper could be easily opened, I called out my assistant to the garage. To successfully and safely bleed the brake lines, you’ll need a large bottle of new DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, a 10mm wrench, some plastic tubing and a catch container for the old brake fluid such as a plastic bottle.