I tried to replace my breaks today (front only) on my 99 dodge 2500 (diesel). I replaced the pads no problem and then replaced the rotors.. Did it wrong according to my searches tonight, but got them off. ( I took the big nut off and used a puller to pull the rotor and bearing out.) I got the bearing and rotor back in and got the lugs into place after a lot of work.

The problem I am having now is, I was stupid I guess and started the truck and baked up. I had no break pressure at all. I stopped the car let off the brake and pressure resumed. The problem I have now is:

Both the ABS and the Brake warning lights are on. The breaks seem to be working, but I have both those indicator lights on now. Is there a way I can reset them or is there somthing really wrong. I have tried disconnecting the batteries for 30 min, but that did not reset them.

Any help would be appreicated. I was supposed to leave out of town tommorow, but want to get this resolved before I have major problems. Thats what I get for trying to do them myself.

 

I think you have 4 wheel abs. Did you remove the abs speed sensors BEFORE you removed the hubs and rotors? If the fronts are the only thing you had apart, it is most likely in the speed sensors. You could try bleeding the brakes to make sure there is no air.

 

Check the fluid level in the resevoir first.

I agree with bleeding the brakes. I'm not sure if your truck has a proportioning valve but if it does, it probably got out of whack when you first applied the brakes and they went to the floor. Hopefully bleeding the brakes will get the valve back to center.

When you took the brakes apart, did you compress the calipers with the bleed screw open or closed? If the bleed screw was closed then I doubt there is air in the lines.

Hang in there. Don't be so hard on yourself. I doubt that anything is actually broken plus just think how much you've learned.

 

I always open the bleed screw when compressing the cylinders on trucks with 4w ABS.
Found out the hard way to do otherwise can damage the ABS unit.

 

I did compress the caliper with a c-clamp and a piece of wood. Did that slow, but in answer to your questions I had the bleed screw closed. I also had the resivour cap on, don't know if that matters.