Are there any special steps necessary to bleed the Mini brake system? I have an old Motive brake bleeder that has served me well - just wanted to ensure there aren't any incremental steps for the ABS or anything..

Also, what is the best way to get the car up on 4 jack stands? I typically use the mounting points to jack the car for wheel changes but haven't yet had all wheels off the ground..

 

If you let the resivoir go dry and get air in from the top, that can be a pain as you can get air into the ABS system.

For jacking all four corners, I tend to do the one side at a time, using the front jacking point for getting the car in the air, and then use jackstands not on the jacking points in the front to support. But you need a jack with LOTS of travel.

For more information on both of these, search around, they've been covered before....

hope this helps....

Matt

 

On my 300ZX you had to bleed in a certain order, back pass, front driver, etc.
Is there an order for bleeding a MINI

 

For the MINI you need to bleed the right hand rear, left hand rear, right hand front and then left hand front. Just remember to do it right and keep the air out of the brake system. Good luck.

 

My understanding was that you also need to bleed the clutch at the same time as it works from the same reservour. (Of coursre that might apply only to changing the fluid. )

 

They don't share the same pressure lines. So only for a fluid change...

Matt

 

Right rear, left rear, right front, left front. If you are doing a transfusion, take the Mini out after fluid exchange/bleed and brake hard enough to activate the ABS. This will open up the fluid trapped in the ABS system to mix with the fluids in the lines then check bleed again.

 

As for bleed sequence it's always been my understanding that you should begin with the corner farthest from the fluid reservoir and work your way in.. Another thought -- in past was best to have car level on 4 stands to bleed the brakes as used to do manual pump, bleed each corner, fill up fluid. W/ motive tool, reservoir is pressurized w/ fluid feed, so is is necessary to have entire car up at once?

 

Your age is showing...

This is the norm for single circuit systems. We have not had those in many years. Furthest away will purge the air from the system and not draw back from the other feeds.

Today with four independant lines you no longer need to begin at one corner. In fact I'll counter by saying that regardless of any listed factory order, if all you want to do is bleed you can begin and end anywhere. Seeing the reservoir does not run dry all you are doing is displacing fluid. If you plan to open the system for other reasons an order may be needed to fill the valve bodies in the ABS pumps.

I've installed more than my share of brakes and not had any issue with the order if I just kept the fluid levels up. In fact, doing one side at a time is going to be the quickest. No need to raise the car at all, if you don't mind crawling on the ground.

 

I'm going to replace my '02 front calipers with '06s. Am I looking at a pain or is it fairly straight forward? I've done my fair share of brakes but never an ABS caliper swap.

Just what am I in for?

Thanks....Les

 

What is the difference? Why not upgrade a bit rather than swap out? Just curious

 

I gotta work with what I got.

....Les

 

Yeah, whats the diff between 06 and earlier models?

As for jacking, the rears are easy to get at without jacking. I usually jack the front, or turn the wheel out that I'm working on.

 

There's a wheel speed sensor that looks at the hub, but the caliper doesn't show any "ABSishness" at all. Just the same as swapping non-ABS calipers...

Matt

 

Thank you for the insight. My age may surprise as I'm not too old; just thinking back to guidance from old 2002s I cut my teeth on, so to speak, when I first began working on cars back in my college days in the early 90s With respect to opening the system, should I decide to install stainless lines would there be a risk of air getting into the ABS? Finally, does your business offer braking components other than big brake kits for Minis?

 

Opening the hoses to change them out is not going to put air into anything above the junction. Unless...you let the reservoir run dry. It would probably take about twenty minutes to have this happen. A simple hose change is going to make a mess for about two minutes. Once you have the hoses in place simply open the bleeder on the top of the caliper and let it gravity bleed down into a drain pan. Keep the reservoir relatively full and after about five minutes close the bleeder and you will have purged the air from the caliper. Now if you wish you and a helper can pressure bleed the caliper about three strokes per unit and you'll be a done deal.

No I don't do parts other than the BBKs. Many vendors here will be happy to help you with your hose/pad/rotor needs however so please support them.

*One other thing; when you go to clean up the brake fluid mess, don't waste money on brake cleaner. Use a sponge and a bucket of water. Works wonders.