[skweky]

Hello All !
I have a 97 Venture Van. I'm having brake problems. The pedal goes to the floor after I start the Van. When its not running I can get pressure on the pedal, but when I turn key on it goes to the floor. I have changed the power booster 2 times. The first I damaged putting it in. This time I took more stuff out and it went in fine. But the problem is still the same. Pedal goes to the floor when I start it. I have NOT bleed the brakes yet the second time because a friend told me ASB brakes need to be bleed at a shop. The first time I changed the booster we bleed the old fashion way and got pressure even after starting van. But an air leak in the booster was clearly being heard inside the van and I could not get it to stop very well. Pedal was like it should be but hard to stop. So that's why we changed it a second time. I have not tried bleeding them the old fashion way yet because it got to late. DOES it have to be bleed a special way? ABS systems.

Thanks for any help. I will come home from work and check out any help and get back to work on this project which I hope can get done before cold comes.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Your friend gave you bad advice. Just bleed them the standard way: RR, LF, LR, RF. Afterwards, on a safe street, cause the anti-lock brake system to engage--this changes the fluid in the internal ABS reservoir.

[skweky]

You're the man TXGrease Monkey! I will try this in the morning. Also will let you know how it goes.

From Boise Idaho, over and out.

skweky

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Be sure to only use ABS-approved brake fluid. It's less viscous and won't generate as much heat in your ABS as traditional brake fluid.

[skweky]

Tks again TxGreaseMonkey!

I bleed the brakes in the order you told me. I have brakes now but the pedal still seems to go a little closer to the floor than before. But it stops. The back brakes when bleeding seem to have lots of air in them. Must have pumped the pedal 10-15 times opening them up. My father in law says that's most he's ever seen when bleeding brakes. The front only 4-5 times got the air out. When the motor is off they pump up tight. But I drove it all around and it would stop. I'm still worried about pedal going so far down. I'm going to bleed them again tomorrow on my day off. Thanks again and I will keep you imformed.

skweky

[TxGreaseMonkey]

With my one-man bleeder, I normally depress the brake pedal 8 to 10 times for the front brakes and 12 to 15 times for the rear brakes.