No fluid coming out when bleeding rear brakes

[Sama8525]

Hey All,
2015 LR4. Need some help. Land Rover dealer quoted me $1600 for a couple pads and rotors and since I've done those before I decided to do it myself.

I replaced the right rear rotors and pads but in the process, the cylinder/piston in the caliper dropped out and a ton of brake fluid came out into the floor (maybe half to 1 cups). I put the piston back in and finished the job (I didn't know about bleeding brakes at this point). I tried driving the car but the brake was super soft and the pedal had a lot of play.

Looked into it and figured I needed to bleed the brakes. I started with that same wheel, took it off, put a tube on and released the bleed valve, absolutely nothing came out. I took the valve out completely. Been pumping the pedal with car off and car on. Nothing is happening. What am I missing? I'm assuming I only have front brakes at the moment.

 

[f1racer328]

What level is the fluid reservoir at?

 

[Sama8525]

What level is the fluid reservoir at?

Full at the max line

 

[ftillier]

I didn't know about bleeding brakes at this point

A normal pad change shouldn't require a brake bleed.

I'm assuming I only have front brakes at the moment.

They used to be setup in diagonal circuits, but now with ABS the ABS pump tends to treat each wheel individually.

Make sure the reservoir cap is loose so that air can come into the reservoir as the fluid works its way through the system. I've used a pressure bleeder before, and found that worked really well and allows for a single person to do the job. With pumping the pedal, you need to have two people: person one manning the bleeder ******, person two the pedal. Crack open the bleeder, push the pedal down, tighten the bleeder, release the pedal. Otherwise on release the fluid just goes back and you draw in air through the bleeder.

 

[Sama8525]

A normal pad change shouldn't require a brake bleed.

The piston fell out of the caliper and spilled a bunch of brake fluid in the process. I didn't know I had to bleed it when that happens.

Make sure the reservoir cap is loose so that air can come into the reservoir as the fluid works its way through the system. I've used a pressure bleeder before, and found that worked really well and allows for a single person to do the job. With pumping the pedal, you need to have two people: person one manning the bleeder ******, person two the pedal. Crack open the bleeder, push the pedal down, tighten the bleeder, release the pedal. Otherwise on release the fluid just goes back and you draw in air through the bleeder.

I'll give that a shot, that might be the issue.

 

[Sama8525]

Make sure the reservoir cap is loose so that air can come into the reservoir as the fluid works its way through the system. I've used a pressure bleeder before, and found that worked really well and allows for a single person to do the job. With pumping the pedal, you need to have two people: person one manning the bleeder ******, person two the pedal. Crack open the bleeder, push the pedal down, tighten the bleeder, release the pedal. Otherwise on release the fluid just goes back and you draw in air through the bleeder.

Ok I got a pressure bleeder, opened the main fluid tank under the hood and tried pumping it out at the wheel. I tried creating a vacuum in the pump and then opening the valve (immediately loses pressure quickly). I tried opening it, pumping to about 15, closing it, release the air from the pump and then repeating. I tried just pumping it fast. I tried cracking the seal for that wheel at the abs module.

Still nothing coming out.


Judging by what I can see of the length of the pipe and how much fluid spilled out, I would guess that it emptied pretty much everything in the pipe between the wheel and the ABS module. Is there a different procedure to get air out of the module /fluid through it?

 

[ftillier]

I'm a bit confused by your description, what do you mean by "tried pumping it out at the wheel" and "credating a vacuum"? The pressure bleeder I've used (Motive brand) will add fluid to the tank as you go (so you don't accidentally run it dry - careful to release pressure before loosening the reservoir cap!)

Instructions here: https://www.motiveproducts.com/pages/power-bleeder-instructions

Note that most brake fluid reservoirs have two compartments, so that a loss of fluid on one wheel doesn't result in loss of the entire system. Make sure you start with fluid in the reservoir, too.

I have heard of procedures to cycle the ABS pump to bleed it of air for other cars, but I don't know what those are for the LR4.

 

[mm3846]

You probably need to bleed the ABS pump. You need a diagnostic tool for that.

 

[Sama8525]

I'm a bit confused by your description, what do you mean by "tried pumping it out at the wheel" and "credating a vacuum"? The pressure bleeder I've used (Motive brand) will add fluid to the tank as you go (so you don't accidentally run it dry - careful to release pressure before loosening the reservoir cap!)

It's a hand pump to pull it out from the valve on the brakes, not to pump into the reservoir.

I'm keeping the tank full when I do it but it's not seeming to take anything down.

 

[Sama8525]

You probably need to bleed the ABS pump. You need a diagnostic tool for that.

Is that something most mom and pop mechanics can do? Or does it have to be land Rover?