Gen 4 (2008)Brake/Clutch flush

apeas2

Enthusiast
Joined
May 14, 2013
Posts
93
Reaction score
0
Location
Maryland
Hello Everyone. Just got a 08 vert with 2300 miles on it. I would like to change the brake and clutch fluid myself. I am going to buy a mightyvac so I can do it myself. I know there are two bleed valves on each caliper. My car has ABS. Do I need to depressurize the ABS before I flush the fluid? I have flushed fluid before on conventional non abs cars, but I am a bit nervous on the viper. Also, do I **** out as much fluid from the master cylinder first so I dont have to waste as much time flushing the old? Thanks!
 

Boxer12

Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 6, 2006
Posts
2,618
Reaction score
1
Location
Colorado High Country
With the Mightvac you don't need to do any vacuuming, just run about a bottle of fluid through it. Use Motul RBF600 if you can get it. If you have a helper, its easy to have someone step on the brake to pump the fluid through as you bleed the brakes.
 
OP
OP
A

apeas2

Enthusiast
Joined
May 14, 2013
Posts
93
Reaction score
0
Location
Maryland
"If you have a helper, its easy to have someone step on the brake to pump the fluid through as you bleed the brakes
'.

I thought my using the mityvac one person bleeder, I dont need a helper to stomp on the brakes. Also, do I need to do anything different because of the ABS?
 
OP
OP
A

apeas2

Enthusiast
Joined
May 14, 2013
Posts
93
Reaction score
0
Location
Maryland
With the Mightvac you don't need to do any vacuuming, just run about a bottle of fluid through it. Use Motul RBF600 if you can get it. If you have a helper, its easy to have someone step on the brake to pump the fluid through as you bleed the brakes.

I thought by using the mityvac one person bleeder, I don't need a helper to stomp on the brakes. Also, do I need to do anything different because of the ABS?
 

Steve M

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Posts
1,093
Reaction score
214
Location
Dayton, OH
Yes, **** the old fluid out of the reservoir and refill before bleeding. As for doing anything with the ABS, there's nothing you can do without the appropriate scan tool, so just bleed the brakes like you normally would on a non-ABS car. Many will say that you need to cycle the ABS module to do the procedure properly, but it can be done without that step provided you haven't introduced any air into the system. I use a pressure bleeder that hooks up to the master cylinder reservoir, and didn't have any problems bleeding the brakes after installing new calipers just bleeding the normal way (no cycling the ABS module).

Do the same for the clutch fluid (**** the old fluid out and refill before bleeding). Hopefully a Mityvac will be a little less messy than normal bleeding on that one, because the normal bleed procedure was messy.

You'll need an 11mm wrench for the bleeder screws (brakes and clutch).
 

Allan

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Posts
2,546
Reaction score
0
Location
La Junta Colorado 81050
I use the Mightyvac on my car. I also empty the master cylinder reservoir first with a battery filler bulb. (looks like a turkey baster)
No need to worry about the ABS unless you get air in the system by not refilling the master cylinder while bleeding.
I have a full-function scan tool, and I do the 'automated bleed' with it periodically ( just because I can ), and the brakes work the same weather I do that or not.

The main reason I do the automated bleed is to make sure all the electric/hydraulic portion of the ABS is working properly.
The scan tool runs the pump motor, cycles all the solenoids, opens and closes all the dump valves, and monitors the system for any malfunctions.
-just for my own piece of mind that it all works the way it's supposed to.
 

Allan

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Posts
2,546
Reaction score
0
Location
La Junta Colorado 81050
............Oh yeah, for my clutch fluid, I have been just using the battery filler bulb to **** the fluid out of the reservoir, and then I just fill it back up with DOT-4. I have never opened the bleeder screw on my car. -never had to, yet.
I do this after every track day, as the fluid get dark real quick.
I have not had any clutch issues in 52,000 miles of 'balls to the wall' driving.
I know it would be better to occasionally bleed at the slave cyl and flush the whole system, but while what I'm doing has kept me trouble-free, it's hard for me to change my method now.
 

SSGViper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Posts
203
Reaction score
0
Location
Golden, CO
Good info. Is there a certain order to bleed/flush each brake such as passenger rear first, driver rear second, etc?
 

Allan

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Posts
2,546
Reaction score
0
Location
La Junta Colorado 81050
The general practice is to start with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder (hydraulically) and work your way forward.
Right rear, left rear, right front, left front.
 
OP
OP
A

apeas2

Enthusiast
Joined
May 14, 2013
Posts
93
Reaction score
0
Location
Maryland
Awesome, thanks EVERYONE for chiming in. Can't wait to flush brakes and clutch next weekend. I need to know about coolant so please check my next thread.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
153,609
Posts
1,684,960
Members
18,179
Latest member
Luigi93
Top