function bleeding ? I want to flush fluid from my ABS unit What do I need to do?

[abdiver]

My 2005 has low miles but it is now abt 20 years running the same Brake fluid. (I had a brake line rust out ( the black coating on the line must had a rock chip it and figure it rusted slowly until it ruptured lucky I was now taking a hair pin turn at the time or trailering a heavy load.)
Do I need a OBDII scanner flush the ABS unit ? If so any suggestion to a unit is under 500 bucks ? Thanks

 

[Ozymandias]

Leave the ABS alone, no need to try around and end up with an air bubble like I did. The amount of fluid inside the unit is marginal, once the unit activates on ice or gravel it just mixes with the fluid in the lines.
I recommend just a normal brake flush, which should take place about every 5 years.

 

[Ozymandias]

If you really want that stuff out - do a first flush, then go on a gravel road and do several braking where the ABS kicks in, then do a second full flush.
Problem solved, costing no more then an additional quart of brake fluid.

I recommend a pressure bleeder to do it, to many broken Master cylinders along the way with the old style pump-bleeding. Pressure bleeders are cheap on Amazon.

 

[CharlesinGA]

The pressure bleeder is a lot of work, and you go thru a lot of fluid, but thr process is vastly superior to old methods which I have done for over 50 years. Prior to replacing the brake system with a complete Power Stop Z36 kit and all new flex hoses, I did a complete flush of the 21 year old fluid, cycled the ABS pump on a dirt road, and a couple of weeks later, replaced everything and did a through flush and bleed afterward.

It takes a lot of fluid to fill the bleeder reservoir and throughly flush. Then it takes a bunch of denatured alcohol to flush out the bleeder hoses, fittings, and clean it up for storage. I bought a Mityvac MV7840 kit and first tested it out on my 20 year old Pontiac Vibe. I did find the master cylinder adapter in the kit fit the Vibe fine, but was a little off for the RAM. I ended up buying another brand and using it.

I was working by myself, and the bleeder allowed me to do a better job without any help.

Charles