Renault Safrane brake bleeding issues

[25v6turbo]

A friend of mine has a 2.5 RXE Safrane phase 2 1998 i think and has been working hard to get it back on the road,he has removed the rear subframe to do some work and replace a brake pipe/caliper he now has this issue,this is direct from his email to me

 

Replaced two rear brake lines - that were able to drip dry over the period of a week while a subframe was removed and repaired. Then had to remove a front caliper for a day while that was repaired - also able to drip dry in that time.

 

It was then refilled and bled for the second time. The pedal now sinks all the way to the floor but does still mildly apply the brakes. If I pump the pedal multiple times it will momentarily become harder but then soften up again.

 

 i know he is trying to bleed them with the normal method of someone pumping the pedal and him under the car.

He fears the ABS pump has a huge airlock in it.

Any ideas to help him out?

[tommotech]

Ideally a pressure bleed system is required for ABS systems. The Gunson unit that takes pressure from the tyres is good enough and start bleeding furthest away from the master cylinder, pumping the pedal does help but don't go full travel.

If all else fails burn it with fire!

[R9UKE]

My mechanic had similar issues with my Avantime.

 

He had to do three stages of bleeding bizarrely, with the engine off completely, the ignition on, then with the engine running. This was needed to clear a lock in the ABS block apparently.

[twosmoke300]

I never had to bleed an abs car any different to a normal one . Even when i rebuilt modulators.

Abs should not affect normal brakes in anyway so just a straight passage through the modulator under normal situations.

 

I use a vacuum bleeder and have no issues .

The only systems I know that are different are ones with Teeves power brakes (granadas , some range rovers etc) , old Honda Alb and citroens

 

A top tip in future is to use a piece of wood to hold the brake pedal down an inch before stripping the brakes . This stops the fluid draining out of the system.

[twosmoke300]

Oh and check he hasnt put a caliper on upside down ( swapped left to right ) with the nipple at the bottom cos it will never bleed .