Bleeding Brakes?

[HWill]

I'm going to have to bleed my brakes as I'm replacing a caliper due to some cosmetic damage.

I already have a replacement caliper and everything to normally do the swap and bleed the brakes.

I know you have to enter the Brake Service Mode, which you can do manually. I only need to do this to remove and install the need caliper.

I have the Ford Service Manual and it just states to bleed using the diagnostic scan tool following the on-screen instructions. Videos I have seen of this make it look very easy to do.

I'd be ok buying a scan tool or even using Forscan to do the Job. There is not much information on scan tools that are affordable and if they and Forscan even have the ABS bleed option. I can buy the latest Forscan obd connector and see later this week. I even have a few emails to some scan tools to see if they have this function as most don't even list the newer Fords.

I have seen some limited information with the method to bleeding the 6 piston Brembos that differs from the normal way.

I know some track their cars will bleed the brakes a lot and was wondering if they had any input.

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[Zig]

Is service mode only required if you set the e-brake before power off?

 

[WayneK]

Isn't service mode only needed if you are changing e-brake pads? I use a pressure bleeder on all my cars using the normal procedure. ABS has minimal amount of fluid so I have never activated it and 3 of my cars are 20+ years old and I've never had a problem with the system. Can someone confirm that to do a bleed service mode is required?

 

[HWill]

Isn't service mode only needed if you are changing e-brake pads? I use a pressure bleeder on all my cars using the normal procedure. ABS has minimal amount of fluid so I have never activated it and 3 of my cars are 20+ years old and I've never had a problem with the system. Can someone confirm that to do a bleed service mode is required?

No according to the service manual it is needed during any brake service. You need to enter "brake service mode' because we have electronic brake booster and electronic
parking brakes

As far as having the vehicle in "brake service mode" for bleeding I would think you don't need to as it will reduce brake system performance. I just mention it because I will be removing and replacing the caliper.
I will edit my original to reflect that.

One tip when changing pads on a modern vehicle never be tempted to manually force the pistons back in without opening the bleed valve.
You may think you're saving time without having to bleed the brakes after a pad change but abs controllers can be damaged in the process.

Is the e-brake a separate pad / shoe or is it integrated into the rear brakes ?

This is not true. You do not have to bleed the brakes /open the bleed valve when changing pads.

The e-brake is a separate caliper on the rear altogether.

 

[thornclaw]

has anyone bled the brakes in an s650 yet? if so please tell us the procedure

 

[LouG]

If the brake hose to the caliper is capped to stop fluid flowing, then it should be just a matter of reattaching the hose and bleeding manually. Pumping the brake pedal and opening/closing the bleeder.

 

[krisk]

has anyone bled the brakes in an s650 yet? if so please tell us the procedure

I’ve flushed the brake fluid in mine once and then bled them a couple more times between track events. I put the car in brake service mode and use a Motive power bleeder. Start at passenger rear, then driver rear, passenger front, driver front. Bleed the outside of the caliper first then the inside on each wheel. Pretty much like any other vehicle except for entering brake service mode. I’ve done it without being in brake service mode as well without any issues, but after removing a caliper without being in brake service mode, I learned my lesson. Better safe than sorry, so I always use brake service mode now.

 

[thornclaw]

thank you
that is what i wanted to know
same procedure as s550 + brake service mode

 

[Ryunker]

has anyone bled the brakes in an s650 yet? if so please tell us the procedure

Bleeding is done and you do not touch any caliper during the procedure. You use the dealer scan tool and do it from there, no fluid comes out during the bleeding procedure.

 

[krisk]

Bleeding is done and you do not touch any caliper during the procedure. You use the dealer scan tool and do it from there, no fluid comes out during the bleeding procedure.

Bleeding without fluid coming out? How does that work?

 

[Ryunker]

Bleeding without fluid coming out? How does that work?

Really well. Brakes here are actuated thru the abs system, the abs motor (electronic brake booster) runs and somehow goes back to the reservoir. Crazy I know. My car received an electronic brake booster (Master cylinder), the car never left the floor.

 

[krisk]

Really well. Brakes here are actuated thru the abs system, the abs motor (electronic brake booster) runs and somehow goes back to the reservoir. Crazy I know. My car received an electronic brake booster (Master cylinder), the car never left the floor.

Very interesting. I’m assuming you have to actually use some sort of Ford computer tool to perform a bleed this way. I’ve looked and did not see an option in Forscan. Fortunately the old fashion way works as well.

How is a full system flush done? Is the fluid drained through the calipers?

 

[thornclaw]

there must be a misunderstanding here. when i say bleed the brakes i mean push it out through the caliper. what you are referring to is flushing air bubbles out of the abs module i think

 

[Ryunker]

I have not had a need yet on my DH, I test the fluid quarterly for copper content and for water. When I do it, I will do it by gravity. Open all bleeders at the same time, car raised up level until clean fluid comes out all bleeder screws, then snug them up followed by the Ford scan tool proceedure.

 

[krisk]

there must be a misunderstanding here. when i say bleed the brakes i mean push it out through the caliper. what you are referring to is flushing air bubbles out of the abs module i think

I am thinking along the same lines. I don’t see how you could possibly get air bubbles in the fluid at the calipers, which is the most likely place for them, out by actuating the ABS module. The brake system is not a loop where fluid cycles through it; that is the whole reason the brakes work. You push the fluid and it has nowhere to go but to compress the caliper piston. Without opening a bleeder screw and forcing fluid (or air) in or out, I don’t get how the fluid in the caliper is going to get back to the ABS module.

Getting air out of the lines between the reservoir and the ABS module I could see working by actuating the ABS, but I don’t see that working for forcing air in the lines out of the entire system, which is the whole point of a brake bleed.

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