Geezabloke Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Im looking to bleed the brakes on UK spec, not sure what fluid is in there at present? I have read on the past threads that DOT5.1 is a good quality fluid without going OTT. Can i mix this with whats in there or do i need to completely flush and change? Im really doing this to try and firm the pedal a bit, they work fine but theres a little play on the pedal before they bite. Any help appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 I think a complete fluid flush is best. And don't break the bleed valve and housing like my garage did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted June 15, 2003 Author Share Posted June 15, 2003 Justin i read through your thead on that, ARSEHOLES that was my conclusion...... Did you get it resolved in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 They gave me the money it cost me off my next bill but saying how odd it was that it happened. Funny I thought it was odd too. Maybe somebody is trying to top me and chisled it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Justin just remember I charged you a fortune for that replacement caliper install. Aslo means you have to go back to them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Nah Termy I was thinking about getting them to replace my Turbos with supa dupa hybrids, put strut braces all round, fit roll cage, fit Uk brakes, fit Top Secret front bumper, fit FMIC, Aquamist, indiglo speedo faces, Sparco seats, sat nav, DVD player. Then my morals kicked in and I told em it was £75.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asim Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Guys, while we're on the subject of brakes, does anyone know for definite the bleeding sequence??? I did a search and the general opinion is start with the furhest away as usual, but does anyone know for sure? Cheers Asim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
400BHP Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 The best way to bleed the brakes is furthest away from master cylinder first. (diagonally across from servo) If you have traction control, read this... 1) Ensure battery voltage is 10-14 volts. Disconnect electrical connector from traction control pump. Connect one end of Actuator Bleed Wire (09990-00330) to pump. Connect one end of a clear vinyl tube to bleed port on traction control actuator. Submerge other end of tube in a container half filled with clean brake fluid. 2) Loosen bleeder plug and start engine. Connect actuator bleed wire leads to battery and allow actuator pump to run for at least 60 seconds. Tighten bleeder plug. Allow traction pump to run for about 30 seconds. Check master cylinder fluid level. Reconnect traction pump electrical connector. Check for any ABS DTCs. Refer to ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Originally posted by 400BHP The best way to bleed the brakes is furthest away from master cylinder first. (diagonally across from servo) If you have traction control, read this... That needs to read 'If you have UK spec traction control, read this......... ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 What's the difference between the actuator pump and the traction pump? Also, what's the deal with the actuator bleed wire - do I have to buy this or can I use something else? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 The actuator pump, usually refers to the solenoids in the ABS unit, the traction pump is a seperate item located under your master cylinder purely for the traction control system. I think the actuator bleed wire is just a short piece of wire with the relevant connectors on the end, so yes you can use a normal piece of wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Hmm - how do you get the traction pump to run then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Errr using the above procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Well it says first run the actuator pump for 60 seconds, then run the traction pump for 30. As far as I can see it's only asked you to connect the actuator bleed wire to the traction pump, so actually my question is: How do you run the actuator pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Ahhh i see what you mean now. The traction system (UK Spec) consists of a traction pump and some actuators, this is in addition to the ABS actuators. I recognised the text that 400bhp posted last night, but i feel it may have lost something in it's copy as it doesn't seem to be too accurate; asks to connect bleed wire to actuator pump and then goes on about using the bleed wire on the Trac actuator!!!! I can't find the original text to confirm at the moment, maybe 400bhp can post the link if he has it to hand. The trac actuators maybe similar to the ABS ones and activate as soon as the engine is running and the car is above a certain speed. If you wanted to activate the Trac pump it can be done quite easily with just some wires as it is purely a 12v pump with the three connections, 12v, Ground, and a Sense line. Will keep digging for the full procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
400BHP Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 I didin't get the info from the web, I have the manual. I will paste the article when I get home, MKIV servers seem to be down at the mo or I would post the link too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Cheers - I'm doing a brake fluid change on my UK soon, and I want to be very, very sure I get everything right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
400BHP Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Well the best way to do it is to pressure bleed it, and never press the pedal all the way down because you may invert the seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 I would also recommend NOT draining the system of fluid and refilling, but putting the new fluid into the reservoir and bleeding until you start to see it coming through the calipers. Saves getting any 'awkward to remove' air into the system. There is so many miles of piping on the MKIV, especially the UK spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
400BHP Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Definately!! If you have a UK spec like mine, and it been serviced every 6 months for all of its life then your brake fluid should have been changed every 2 years as per spec sheet and standard practice! Mine is a golden yellow but i'm still gonna change it to 5.1 when I get chance and pressure bleed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Originally posted by Martin F I would also recommend NOT draining the system of fluid and refilling, but putting the new fluid into the reservoir and bleeding until you start to see it coming through the calipers. Well, it had new fluid a couple of years ago, so it's only just due, but I'm curious about how I'm going to know when it's the new fluid - will old fluid be a noticeably different colour? Also, do I not have to bugger about with the traction control then if I do it the traditional way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Ian I found it very difficult to spot the change despite going to a racing fluid, some fluids are a different colour so that is noticeable. I flushed 500ml through each rear calliper and 400ml through each front. Probably over kill. It should be about the same on a UK spec. I also push all the cylinders back so I am sure no old stuff is sat in the callipers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Hopefully the new fluid will be of a slightly different colour to the old stuff. However the full system takes just under 2litres, so once you have got through two litres you should be pretty much clean. Nah, wouldn't worry about the traction control activation if you do it this way. I rebuilt my calipers a couple of months back and removed the Trac system, always an option when you have RLTC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughie Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Keith - yep the fluid should be a noticeably different colour. watch for the colour change when it comes thru the bleed nipple, and then keep going anyway to make sure it's completely new fluid. also, if there are any bubbles at all, keep going until these are all completely gone. keep the reservoir well topped up as you don't want that running out as then you'll get a huge chunk of air in the system which you'll have to bleed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Removing the trac eh? Hmm, tempting. Tricky to do? I'd quite like to cermoniously burn mine Best not I guess - so just to be sure, by using traditional 'mate-in-car-with-foot-on-pedal' brake bleeding I don't need to fanny about with the trac system? Stu - can you remember when you had it done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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