I am about to replace the rusting brake lines on my 98 Ram before they burst. I have all the tubing, line nuts, flaring tool and tubing bender needed for the job. My question is in how to bleed the 4 wheel ABS system? Can I just bleed the system normally or do I have to use a tool to cycle the ABS pump?

The factory shop manual says trucks with the rear wheel antilock system can be bled manually but the 4 wheel antilock system requires manual bleeding first followed by the use of the DRB scan tool to cycle and bleed the pump and solenoids.

After doing a search on “Bleeding ABS Brakes” I came up with 3 pages of posts but only one suggestion of finding a gravel road to exercise the ABS system. Is that the only way? If anyone has found another way to avoid using the scan tool please share the answer.

 

When I bled the brakes on the '02 with 4 wheel ABS, I used a motive brake bleeder and did not have any issues whatsoever with the ABS. I have bled the brakes on my '05 as well this way and no issues with it either...

 

As long as you don't let the reservoir run dry no air gets in the 4w ABS unit.
Bleed just as you would any non-ABS system.

 

get some speed bleeders

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I guess it is not as complicated as I first thought.

The plan is to rebuild both front calipers and replace the rubber brake hoses along with some of the rusted lines (good old New England salt). I am now thinking, to keep the master cylinder full, placing some saran wrap under the cap to stop it from leaking down. It may take some time before everything is back together.

One post I found in my search said that by pushing down on the brake about ½ inch with a stick between the pedal and seat, the master cylinder will not allow fluid to enter when compressing the brake pads. I wonder if this works in reverse and would prevent fluid loss when the lines are open. I’ll test the theory.

 

Maybe your answer covers it, but can you gravity bleed the 4 wheel ABS system?

Floyd

 

http://www.phoenixsystem.com/

 

I do it all the time

 

Just to close out this thread about bleeding all wheel ABS brakes, I found this site:

http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/Brakes/beeding.htm

And just as mishkaya and johnh suggested, using a vacuum bleeder will pull fluid and air through the ABS pump without the need to activate the motor or solenoids. Now I will be able to change some of the lines connecting to the ABS unit.

Here is what 11 years of New England salt can do to steel brake lines. These lines are under the hood and connect to the ABS pump.

 

I think Rustoleum makes a spray paint or a brush paint that's in clear or any color you may want to use to improve your engines appearance. My point is a mechanic told me he sprays a rust preventative paint on his lines like that. Especially the metal lines that run under the vehicle. Something I do is leave my truck running at the car wash, and then pop the hood and spray everything down with a degreaser, then I take the brush around the edges and the underside of the hood, then spray under the vehicle, after all that I rinse it with the wax setting to kinda add a little protection. Another alternative is to hit large water puddles as kindof a rough rinse. I have noticed to that others with my year and type of truck a 04 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee have rusted fender wells and other rust areas I don't have. Anyways hope I gave some helpful tips and save you a little $$ and labor time........Happy Holidays

 

I agree, best invention since toilet paper...

 

Are we talking the kind they use in public restrooms or what a person has in their house?
If the latter, I may need to check out speed bleeders.

 

Bent valves , my 98 lines are rusted bad in the exact same spot . We live in simmilar climates , I could never figure out why they rust there in that one spot so bad , its up and out of the way of any salt road spray from hitting it .