Advice on bleeding brakes with ABS

probably unnecessary, but I pump the pedal 12 times(ABS hates pedal pumping and the pedal drops) then bleed normally.
Bled an ABS system on an M3 a couple of months ago as if it was a non ABS system.


If the brake hydraulic circuits are going to be really drained, I bleed the caliper that is nearest the MC. This easier on the MC piston and for just in case the column of air that needs to be shoved out of the furthermost caliper is not of eual or greater volume than the MC stroke.
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I haven't seen any special instructions for bleeding ABS brakes. The instructions I've seen say to bleed the caliper with the longest line to the master cylinder first, then the next longest, ending with the shortest line.

The longest brake line isn't always to the caliper that's farthest away in a straight line. In the Miata, the master cylinder is on the driver's side, but the lines run from there across to the right front, then to the right rear, and the last line crosses to the left rear. So the left rear has the longest brake line and gets bled first. I usually go around at least twice.

Thanks guys, I'll give it a try

John Stimson said:

I haven't seen any special instructions for bleeding ABS brakes. The instructions I've seen say to bleed the caliper with the longest line to the master cylinder first, then the next longest, ending with the shortest line.

The longest brake line isn't always to the caliper that's farthest away in a straight line. In the Miata, the master cylinder is on the driver's side, but the lines run from there across to the right front, then to the right rear, and the last line crosses to the left rear. So the left rear has the longest brake line and gets bled first. I usually go around at least twice.

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true..That's the typical recommended method.
The short line first method tends to work better for a drained to air brake master cylinder on a lot of German cars.
If air has not been introduced via the MC Typical method works.

Oh, Biobaggie in case your not aware of this, keep the fluid well away from the paint, your clothing and your skin.
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thegit said:

keep the fluid well away from the paint, your clothing and your skin.

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Especially the paint - brake fluid eats paint...