Grand Caravan Brake Problem
Asked by GuruDH8LH Aug 31, 2017 at 09:06 AM about the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
After removing the right rear ABS socket and hearing the air escape I tried to bleed the brake (no helper, bleeder tool) and can't get anything but air to come out, no fluid after many tries. What did I do? Just replaced the Master and wanted to bleed the brakes. I know that the ABS should not have been removed but do not know how to remedy what I did. Help?
13 Answers
beatupchevy answered 7 years ago
did you bench bleed the master cylinder ? abs is an electrical thing and should have nothing to do with the hydraulic part . Open the bleeder with a piece of rubber tubing on it so that no air gets back into the line ,, open the cap on the master cylinder and brake fluid should flow out from gravity , don't tighten the bleeder too much because next time it won't loosen , it'll break . You should only press the peddle an inch or two a few times to bleed a system out . The whole " open the line , step on the brake , let it up " is confusing and a PITA.
Appreciate the response. I did bleed the master. I did bleed the brakes yesterday and still have a very soft pedal? Actually the second time bleeding them. Can't understand what I have done wrong?
I failed to mention that my ABS warning light started recently to come on but go off after a short period of time. I am also thinking that the ABS is not all electrical and does have fluid related to it. I am thinking that something happened after I removed the right rear ABS socket and heard the hissing sound. I was having brake problems prior to the socket removal??
beatupchevy answered 7 years ago
you're right , the abs has to sense the brake fluid pressure , if you removed the entire thing like you said and heard hissing then you either learn more about the system or take it to a garage , seeing as fluids don't compress the sensor may need air in that system to work right , not sure how it all works , don't like it and try to avoid it .
beatupchevy answered 7 years ago
got disk brakes in the rear ? if by chance you have drum and shoe brakes a small amount of wear and play despite adjustments will make a peddle mushy no matter how much you bleed them .
They are drum but brand new. I called a Dodge dealer and was told that it takes a scanner tool to sync the ABS and braking system after a new master cylinder is installed. Does anyone know if this is true? Very frustrating!
beatupchevy answered 7 years ago
did you do the rear brakes , new drums and shoes , are they adjusted ? I've never heard of the abs having to be synced FYI . You can always get a second opinion , For me the dealer is one of the last places to take my vehicle .
Aren't the rear drums supposed to be self adjusting?
beatupchevy answered 7 years ago
yes they generally are but if the parts are worn it won't matter , it doesn't seem like much but it makes a difference in the brake peddle
I absolutely hate giving my money to a ripoff garage. I will keep at this until I figure it out. Can anyone tell me how the ABS and the brakes are integrated? Mostly, if the rear sensor was off, what can it do to the rest of the brakes or if when it is hooked up again what happens or is needed to sync everything? I have looked extensively for leaks, nothing. Still have a very soft pedal??
ABS unit is a self contained hydraulic sealed system, unto itself. If you got air in it, the air has to be bled out through the service brake system, a job that can only be done with an ABS (Dealer) scan tool. It is a multi step lengthy procedure that cannot be done any other way.
I bleed my brakes put a new wheel cylinder in and bleed the brakes and feel like it still have air in it and want stop
Had to do a suburban that had abs system on it and I didn't have a scan tool to cycle the abs. I wasn't able to get fluid through the system so I assembled the vehicle took it in a field smashed the brakes and it set off the abs thus releasing the system and then was able to be bled.