Replacing brake pads on an ABS car - Antilock brakes

If your car has antilock brakes, changing the pads is a bit different than what most people are used to. With a normal (non-ABS) car, you just unbolt the caliper, press apart the old pads to retract the piston, then replace the pads. This procedure forces much of the brake fluid out of the caliper and back into the master cylinder. The fluid is put back once you step on the brakes.

With an ABS car, you CAN'T force the fluid back; if you do you'll damage the ABS valve body ($1500). Instead, you must open the caliper bleed screw and drain the excess fluid out of the caliper while you press the piston back into the bore. This is very important! If you force the dirty, water-contaminated fluid back through the relatively fragile valve body, you'll ruin it.

Also, did you know that you are supposed to replace all of the brake fluid in an ABS car once each year? That's different from older-style cars too.

If you have any questions, just email us.

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