» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | | | | 11-25-2005, 01:04 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 | Bleeding your brakes with AST. Hey everybody, I was reading the Bentley manual, and they were saying not to bleed the brakes if a car has AST and/or ABS. They said "bring it to an authorized BMW dealer." Do I really have to do that or can I just bleed them normally? How do you guys do it? Thanks in Advance. -Randy __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels and 99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | 11-25-2005, 01:37 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | You can bleed your brakes anyway. Just be sure that the reservoir doesn't run dry. There is a way to cycle the ABS pump so you get all the fluid out. You remove a relay and short two pins. I could look it up if anyone is interested. I've been getting my brake fluid flushed 3 times a year for 8 years and have never had a problem. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 11-25-2005, 02:14 AM | #3 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | if you could look it up, that'd be great. i personally would like to have that info. THREE times a year? wow. is that because you track it? __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-25-2005, 02:40 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti THREE times a year? wow. is that because you track it? | Yes. I have them bled after my 2nd or 3rd driving school, depending on track and weather conditions. I had posted it to bf.c. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS but this is how my previous independent shop did it. Remove the ABS relay closest to the firewall and fender and short pins 30 and 87. This will cycle the ABS. I guess the ignition needs to be in the on position. Never let the system run dry. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 11-25-2005, 04:20 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 | I'm planning to do a full fluid flush on my car. Do you have any tips? As usual, this site is always helpful. thanks alot again. -Randy __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels and 99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | 05-24-2007, 03:12 AM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: South West Posts: 6 | Get a pressure bleeder! $45 at www.trackhaus.com Worth every penny!! I used mine last week on a 97 Nissan and the pedal feels like new again. | | | 05-24-2007, 06:50 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greece Athens Posts: 302 | I am going to change brake fluid as well, i'll change from Motul DOT4 to RBF600, and i need some help on how to clean the system from the old fluid, before filling with the RBF600! __________________ Alpina front lip spoiler,ACS roof spoiler,OEM clear rear-side lights,In-Pro blackchrome front indicators,Lummar tinted glasses,318ti.org decalls,Eibach Sportline 45mm/30mm springs,Bilstein Sprint shocks,16mm rear sway bar,front eccentric wishbone bushes,E46 conv. RSMs,5mm rear lower spring seats,OMP alloy strut brace front,racing24 carbon/alloy strutbrace rear,x brace,K&N panel filter,L&W back box 2x84mm,BBS RK 8x17,Fulda Carat Exelero 225-45-17Y,Brembo drilled front rotors | | | 05-24-2007, 08:45 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | what happens exactly if the system runs dry? __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 05-24-2007, 08:47 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 388 | I think the best way is to buy (or make) a one man bleeder (or have a friend help) from a car parts store, about $5 to $10. It is just a bottle and a hose that you hang above your brakes. You attach that to the bleeder bolt as instructed, loosen the bleeder bolt (don't remove), and go pump the brakes a few times, add fluid to the brake resevoir and drain the bleeder bottle as necessary. Never let the brake fluid in the resevoir run low (then you don't have the whole ABS problem). You repeat this at every corner until all the fluid runs clear. Retighten the bleeder bolt after you are done with the corner. Run in this order: back right corner, back left corner, front right corner, and front left corner (work your way closer to the brake booster). The one man bleeder prevents air from entering the system through the bleeder bolt, if you don't use a bleeder you should run the hose off the bleeder bolt into some brake fluid. Make sure to try out your brakes before driving anywhere. | | | 05-24-2007, 08:57 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,525 | Pumping the brakes with the bleed screw open doesn't really work. Each time you release the brake pedal the fluid will get sucked back into the caliper. The right way to manually bleed brakes is the open the bleed screw. Push the pedal down. Close the bleed screw. Release the pedal. Repeat. I still think the easiest way to change brake fluid is with a mity vac hand pump. This way you can crack the bleed screw, and apply a vacuum at the bleed screw to pull the fluid out. The only downside is that, unlike a pressure bleeder, you need to check the reservoir to make sure it does not get to low. I think I paid 15$ for mine from Sears. | | | 05-24-2007, 09:39 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 388 | Pumping with the bleed screw open works fine if you use the one man bleeder, it prevents it from being sucked back in, I had no trouble getting my brake fluid all clear. Your method sounds easier though if you have someone to monitor the fluid level. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |