Brake System Flush
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Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
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From: Central Oklahoma
Brake System Flush
I have not yet delved into the Ram manual that was available here in the "Merry Christmas" thread. If there a method in that manual that details how to effectively flush the brake system? I took my block to the machine shop last week and am preparing for some other fixes for my truck, such as getting the radiator rebuilt/pressure checked, replacing the tie-rod ends, and flushing the brake system. If the procedure is in the manual, then that's great. If anyone has any details or experience with flushing the brake system of one of these vehicles, that would be great as well.
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2006
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RE: Brake System Flush
The manual doesn't specify a procedure really...no certain order of wheels to bleed...I usually make a circle...lr, rr, rf, and lf...if you don't have a vacuum or pressure bleeder, you'll need a helper, or you can buy Russell Speed Bleeders, I believe they're called...
It's best to somehow remove as much old fluid from the resivoir first using a vacuum bleeder, suction gun, or something like that...fill with new fluid...go to the lr bleeder and open it (making sure it's going into a drain pan, not the ground, it may stain)...have the helper slowly push the pedal to the floor...close the bleeder...do this until clean, bubble-free fluid comes out...repeat for each wheel, making sure to top off the fluid. Some people say that pushing the pedal to the floor is bad...I've done it for 10+ years without problem...supposedly, it'll make the push rod travel past normal braking travel, and the push rod is somehow rusty from never being moved that far...I don't have any proof of that...I do know that the master cyl. is nicely sealed, and the pushrod usually has a synthetic lube on it, so how it gets "rusty", I can't make sense of it
It's best to somehow remove as much old fluid from the resivoir first using a vacuum bleeder, suction gun, or something like that...fill with new fluid...go to the lr bleeder and open it (making sure it's going into a drain pan, not the ground, it may stain)...have the helper slowly push the pedal to the floor...close the bleeder...do this until clean, bubble-free fluid comes out...repeat for each wheel, making sure to top off the fluid. Some people say that pushing the pedal to the floor is bad...I've done it for 10+ years without problem...supposedly, it'll make the push rod travel past normal braking travel, and the push rod is somehow rusty from never being moved that far...I don't have any proof of that...I do know that the master cyl. is nicely sealed, and the pushrod usually has a synthetic lube on it, so how it gets "rusty", I can't make sense of it
Champion
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,119
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From: Sycamore, Illinois (displaced to Arkansas)
RE: Brake System Flush
fiveliterbtr is correct, the manual doesn't specify in which order to do it. However, my Dakota's manual says to go in this order: right rear, left rear, right front, left front.
See picture for instructions copied from the service manual.
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/18C4B5FEECCA40DFA298CD1C7B63C5DB.gif[/IMG]
See picture for instructions copied from the service manual.
[IMG]local://upfiles/948/18C4B5FEECCA40DFA298CD1C7B63C5DB.gif[/IMG]
Thread Starter
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Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
Likes: 8
From: Central Oklahoma
RE: Brake System Flush
Guys, that's awesome. I've done brake system flushes before; however, I did not know if there was a special procedure for the anti-lock system. I might just remove the reservoir, clean it in my solvent tank, re-install, add fluid, and begin flushing.