Brake fluid type & vacuum brake bleeding in '97 LSC

[Shevretti]

Hello!

I finally got vacuum brake bleeder and already used it in some older vehicles without ABS with good results. I was wondering if it will work well in ABS/TCS system in my Mark VIII?

I'm not sure which fluid I should use, I thought about ATE Super Blue Racing DOT4, but there's also ATE SL.6 (DOT 3 & 4 compatible) it's low viscosity fluid specially formulated for ABS/TCS/ESP systems, do you think I could use LV fluid?

Thanks!
Mariusz...

 

[Roadboss]

You should have no problem with the brake bleeder, just make sure that you bleed in the proper sequence (PS rear,DS front, DS rear, PS front). I use Super Blue in all my cars and have been happy with it for years. Note, if you need to bleed system later on for any reason they also offer it in Yellow color as well.

 

[steve]

when i did road racing with my vette i would go from blue to yellow so you knew when you got all the old stuff out.

 

[driller]

I have bled the brakes on my Mark VIII's multiple times without any ABS issues or special procedures. Work from the furthest caliper to the closest and never let the reservoir get too low.

 

[tonybrooklyn]

I have bled the brakes on my Mark VIII's multiple times without any ABS issues or special procedures. Work from the furthest caliper to the closest and never let the reservoir get too low.

Gotta agree with JP i do it the same way never an issue.

 

[Shevretti]

Thank for sharing your experience!

It was pretty easy and fast, the bubbles are from the air getting around bleeder threads.

Brake pedal feels perfect now

 

[beerdog]

I was going to start a post relate dot this. How do we flush the ABS unit? Isn't there are special controller for doing this?

 

[driller]

How do we flush the ABS unit? Isn't there are special controller for doing this?

You need the Ford NGS tester to activate the ABS system to flush the brake fluid from the ABS.

That said, as long as you do not introduce air into the ABS while doing a typical brake bleeding routine, there are no concerns with the ABS function. If done on a regular preventative maintenance schedule, the ABS system will effectively flush itself.

 

[LSCmuscle]

I thought I read in a different thread that a member used one of those rotunda/teves units after multiple brake bleeds did not help his mushy pedal. I know he stated that air did actually get to the ABS which is why he needed this particular tool, however he said that the fluid expelled from the ABS unit was milky/the nastiest fluid he had ever witnessed.

I know I've heard that bleeding the ABS isn't needed unless air actually gets to it, but that particular thread lead me to go out and buy one. I'll be trying it out to this spring to see what nastiness is lurking in mine. I got it for a good price so even if it turns out to be overkill I won't feel so bad.