Brake bleed question. Newb here.

[mr wrong]

I've never attempted to bleed the brakes on my Alltrack. Always left it to the dealer. Considering the car has ABS is there anything beyond using a power bleeder and the correct order, or do I need to activate the ABS pump with VCDS?

Thanks!

 

[ZuMBLe]

I've never attempted to bleed the brakes on my Alltrack. Always left it to the dealer. Considering the car has ABS is there anything beyond using a power bleeder and the correct order, or do I need to activate the ABS pump with VCDS?

Thanks!

Never needed vcds for bleeding the brakes. Just power bleed it in the correct order.

 

[StorableComa]

Power bleed is all the Erwin guides call for. 30PSI is required to flush the ABS module.

 

[lou06483]

FWIW-
In general you start with the caliber furthest from the master cylinder--in our case that's the passenger rear.
If you review the service manual, however, it describes something very different---- you start at the closest caliber and work back
1- Front left brake caliper
2 - Right front brake caliper
3 - Left rear brake caliper
4 - Right rear brake caliper
If you're flushing the braking system you'll need a bunch of pressure to get fluid through the ABS pump---at least 2bar, nearly 30psi (as stated above)
NO VCDS required
Be advised--make sure the adapter you place on the master cylinder reservoir can hold the 30 psi or you'll make a BIG mess.....
I tighten down the adapter on my pressure bleeder and wrap the top of the reservoir with an old bath towel---I've had this blow off the first time I did this..... (Motive bleeder)
ALSO
I collect some 15 oz of fluid from each caliber and needed some 2-1/2 quarts of new brake fluid to complete the flush...
If you're not flushing out the entire system set your bleeder to 15 psi and just bleed the calibers in the order shown above.

 

[StorableComa]

FWIW-
In general you start with the caliber furthest from the master cylinder--in our case that's the passenger rear.
If you review the service manual, however, it describes something very different---- you start at the closest caliber and work back
1- Front left brake caliper
2 - Right front brake caliper
3 - Left rear brake caliper
4 - Right rear brake caliper
If you're flushing the braking system you'll need a bunch of pressure to get fluid through the ABS pump---at least 2bar, nearly 30psi (as stated above)
NO VCDS required
Be advised--make sure the adapter you place on the master cylinder reservoir can hold the 30 psi or you'll make a BIG mess.....
I tighten down the adapter on my pressure bleeder and wrap the top of the reservoir with an old bath towel---I've had this blow off the first time I did this..... (Motive bleeder)
ALSO
I collect some 15 oz of fluid from each caliber and needed some 2-1/2 quarts of new brake fluid to complete the flush...
If you're not flushing out the entire system set your bleeder to 15 psi and just bleed the calibers in the order shown above.

I'd recommend the Motive Euro Power bleeder black label, comes with a Aluminum reservoir cap vs the plastic cap the regular motive euro bleeder comes with.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/eu...Lck4wc-_dRfSo1ryjG9272giWORA-d9EaAtSlEALw_wcB

 

[ZuMBLe]

I'd recommend you guys get speed bleeders for the calipers also! It makes it so bleeding the brakes are an easy one person job if you don't have the power bleeder. Works with the power bleeder also. No lose situation.

 

[Acadia18]

FWIW-
In general you start with the caliber furthest from the master cylinder--in our case that's the passenger rear.
If you review the service manual, however, it describes something very different---- you start at the closest caliber and work back
1- Front left brake caliper
2 - Right front brake caliper
3 - Left rear brake caliper
4 - Right rear brake caliper
If you're flushing the braking system you'll need a bunch of pressure to get fluid through the ABS pump---at least 2bar, nearly 30psi (as stated above)
NO VCDS required
Be advised--make sure the adapter you place on the master cylinder reservoir can hold the 30 psi or you'll make a BIG mess.....
I tighten down the adapter on my pressure bleeder and wrap the top of the reservoir with an old bath towel---I've had this blow off the first time I did this..... (Motive bleeder)
ALSO
I collect some 15 oz of fluid from each caliber and needed some 2-1/2 quarts of new brake fluid to complete the flush...
If you're not flushing out the entire system set your bleeder to 15 psi and just bleed the calibers in the order shown above.

I believe the proper VW order is different. @GTIfan99, you're the brake bleed master. Which is it?

 

[GTIfan99]

I believe the proper VW order is different. @GTIfan99, you're the brake bleed master. Which is it?

Factory manual says bleed the system LF, RF, LR, RR.

 

[StorableComa]

Erwin guide for the 1.8T. Pre-bleed, which I'd have to look up but assume is low pressure at the top. Standard below. They have a post bleed procedure if you still have soft pedal I can post if needed:

 

[Luva]

Thanks for the bleeder procedure and proper order. Curious, anyone know the technical reason to bleed starting from the calipers closest to the master cylinder for the MQB platform? I'm used to the reverse order, coming from the Mazda and Honda world.

 

[GTIfan99]

Thanks for the bleeder procedure and proper order. Curious, anyone know the technical reason to bleed starting from the calipers closest to the master cylinder for the MQB platform? I'm used to the reverse order, coming from the Mazda and Honda world.

It has to do with the abs system, not specifically sure the details though.

 

[nok513]

Looking to do this myself as I'm coming up on 3 years with the car. Would it make sense to bleed the clutch when I replace the brake fluid?

 

[GTIfan99]

Looking to do this myself as I'm coming up on 3 years with the car. Would it make sense to bleed the clutch when I replace the brake fluid?

Yes.

 

[nok513]

Yes.

I should have probably asked this question as well, in what order should I approach this? I understand the brakes are from FL, FR, RL, RR. What I'm not sure of is when do I bleed the clutch line? Before / after the brakes are flushed? I can't seem to find this info.

 

[OldVWFan]

I should have probably asked this question as well, in what order should I approach this? I understand the brakes are from FL, FR, RL, RR. What I'm not sure of is when do I bleed the clutch line? Before / after the brakes are flushed? I can't seem to find this info.

does not matter as the clutch is a separate circuit even though it comes of the same reservoir.