Squishy brake pedal...Bleed the ABS system???

[Imprezive]

Is it possible to bleed the ABS system? MY brakes have been squishy ever since I installed new pads and braided brake lines. I've bled them twice since then and it did not help.

[Legacy777]

Go out on a wet road without traffic, and slam on the brakes to activate the ABS. Do this a few times, then rebleed the system.

Also, how are you bleeding the brakes. Slowly pump the brake pedal about 15-20 times, hold on the last pump, and have someone open the bleeder screw. Repeat 2-3 times per wheel.

[Imprezive]

Both times I bled them I bled each corner in the specific order my repair manual tells me. 15-20 pumps seems a little excessive. I usually pump it about 6 steady pumps and hold it, and have the bleeder guy drain the fluid, then repeat.

TO find a wet road I'll have to wait until it rains. SO that might be a problem, although I am sure I could activate the ABS system without the road being wet

[IronMonkeyL255]

I just bled the piss out of it doing it normal.

Also, for some odd reason, my pedal feel got DRAMATICALLY better when I replaced the dry, cracking 17-year-old brake booster hose.

[Legacy777]

It may sound excessive, but I've used that method on my cars and other cars with a brake pedal that just didn't feel right, and that was the only method that worked, especially if you had the system open to replace lines or what not.

Hell....I used that method with a dry MC, and it worked like a charm.

[Imprezive]

hmm, well my brake booster hose is in good condition. I'm going to try and bleed the crap outta my brakes one last time, and if that doesnt work then it must be just the brake booster.

[Legacy777]

In that the brake booster is bad, or that how the brakes feel is just a result of the brake booster design?

Remove the vacuum line from the booster & plug it, drive around, and see how the brakes feel (be careful since you won't have any assist)