Bleeding the Brakes

[ConvertibleBob]

First time posting but I have some questions for you guys.

I have a 01 GT and I just replaced the rotors and pads. I want to flush the system and I have bled the whole system but still no pedal.

The MC never ran dry.

The Brake pedal may have travelled farther than normal.


My questions:

Do I need to turn the car on to use the booster for bleeding?

Do I need to bleed the right rear and left rear on the same pump?

Is it normal to have the pads rubbing the rotors because the pads are so thick?

Could I have damaged the MC? Do I need to bleed the MC at all?

For bleeding the ABS, is it mandatory? How much does it cost?

I know it's alot of questions, but I have googled and asked everyone I know and still can't get straight answers.

If any of you guys know the answers, please post up.

Thanks.

 

['03GTinFLA]

I don't really have answers to all your questions but I did my brakes recently and had trouble getting the pedal back, MC never went dry with me either. I bled the MC, got the pedal back and everything is fine. So if I were you, I would bleed the MC.
Good luck

 

[53BigDog]

In my expereience you do not have to turn the car on to bleed the brakes. This is the bleeding procees as I have done in the past.

Its a two man job as one person needs to be on the brake pedal while another person needs to be at the brake calipers.

Start at the furtherest caliper from the MC (would be pass. rear). Put a small clear hose on the bleeder nipple and have it fall down into a coffee can or plastic jug. There are bleeder kits a the auto part store but you don't neccessarily need one.

the following process will be repeated for each caliper....


1. Fill up MC with brake fluid
2. With nipple closed and hose hooked up, have Person 2 (P2) pump the brake pedal 5-10 times.
3. P2 releases pedal from pumping and this is instructed by Person 1 (P1) to press the pedal to the floor. As P2 presses pedal, P1 opens up nipple and watches brake fluid pass through the clear hose into the can/bucket. As P2 reaches floor with pedal P1 needs to close the nipple. Do not allow P2 to relase the pedal until P1 closes nipple as this will suck air back into system.
4. Reapet steps 2-3 numerous times until there is no air bubbles seen through the plastic hose as brake fluid is pushed out into container. (Make sure if this process takes a few rounds to refill the MC.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for Drivers Rear caliper
6. Repeat steps 1-4 for Pass Front caliper
7. Repeat steps 1-4 for driver front caliper.

Each time the process takes place P2 should fel the pedal become stiffer and stiffer. Just make sure you do not run out of Brake Fluid in MC or you will need to start entire process again.

 

[flstang65]

I just installed a brake control and decided to flush and fill my entire brake system also. The MC never went dry but after I did all 4 lines, I couldn't figure out why I had no pedal. After like 10 minutes of scratching my head I decided to do the MC also. Both bleeder valves are right there on the side closest to the valve cover. Problem solved.

 

[ConvertibleBob]

I just installed a brake control and decided to flush and fill my entire brake system also. The MC never went dry but after I did all 4 lines, I couldn't figure out why I had no pedal. After like 10 minutes of scratching me head I decided to do the MC also. Both bleeder valves are right there on the side closes to the valve cover. Problem solved.

So the same process? Hold the pedal and open each one of those valves?

 

[flstang65]

You got it...Just like doing the brakes.

 

[ConvertibleBob]

I just installed a brake control and decided to flush and fill my entire brake system also. The MC never went dry but after I did all 4 lines, I couldn't figure out why I had no pedal. After like 10 minutes of scratching my head I decided to do the MC also. Both bleeder valves are right there on the side closest to the valve cover. Problem solved.

Freaking Genius! After a week of bleeding and adjusting and rechecking and trying different methods, all I had to do was bleed the MC!

Great pedal now. Stops on a dime!

Thanks for all the replies. This place is the greatest!

 

[Mustang5L5]

Yup, the MC is key.

EVen if you don't think air got in there, you still gotta bleed it. Rear bleeder is for the front brakes and front bleeder is for the rears

 

[flstang65]

Freaking Genius! After a week of bleeding and adjusting and rechecking and trying different methods, all I had to do was bleed the MC!

Great pedal now. Stops on a dime!

Thanks for all the replies. This place is the greatest!

Glad to help!