Can I bleed brakes as usual

[BurtShaver]

The hose 68204418AC is leaking between the master and the HCU, can I bleed the brakes as usual after changing this line?
Back story, I was backing some trailer up on my front lawn this winter and the brake peddle went to the floor while doing it, couldn’t see any leaks, master cylinder reservoir didn’t appear to have went down so I thought it was the master cylinder. I still had brakes at the last inch of travel but the peddle went all the way down without applying any pressure at all.
Left it, as I was going to wait till snowmobile season was over to fix it. Then I wanted to use the truck to go get a snowmobile lol, and when I was moving it, I could see a fair amount of fluid on the ground leaking out from around the front left wheel, after looking I found it was the line from the master to HCU.
After noticing the leak, th master reservoir was about half full, I filled it back up, it’s never been below half full.
Ny plan to change the line was to remove the end from the master first and use a rubber cone that comes with my mity vac set to plug the hole in the master, take the other end of old line off of HCU, then put the end that goes to master in first so that fluid will fill the new line and then connect other end of new line to HCU.
My big question is will I be ok with bleeding the brake system at each wheel or will I need to pay someone to bleed it with a special tool?
What order would I bleed this system? Furthest from master first? Then other back wheel l, then right front wheel and left from last?

 

[Ken226]

The hose 68204418AC is leaking between the master and the HCU, can I bleed the brakes as usual after changing this line?
Back story, I was backing some trailer up on my front lawn this winter and the brake peddle went to the floor while doing it, couldn’t see any leaks, master cylinder reservoir didn’t appear to have went down so I thought it was the master cylinder. I still had brakes at the last inch of travel but the peddle went all the way down without applying any pressure at all.
Left it, as I was going to wait till snowmobile season was over to fix it. Then I wanted to use the truck to go get a snowmobile lol, and when I was moving it, I could see a fair amount of fluid on the ground leaking out from around the front left wheel, after looking I found it was the line from the master to HCU.
After noticing the leak, th master reservoir was about half full, I filled it back up, it’s never been below half full.
Ny plan to change the line was to remove the end from the master first and use a rubber cone that comes with my mity vac set to plug the hole in the master, take the other end of old line off of HCU, then put the end that goes to master in first so that fluid will fill the new line and then connect other end of new line to HCU.
My big question is will I be ok with bleeding the brake system at each wheel or will I need to pay someone to bleed it with a special tool?
What order would I bleed this system? Furthest from master first? Then other back wheel l, then right front wheel and left from last?

If air got into the line between the master cylinder and the HCU, there is a good change you won't be able to get it out by bleeding at the wheels. You can try it, but if it doesn't work you will need a scan tool to activate the HCU for the ABS bleed procedure.


I recently had this happen on an Audi, and none of my scan tools seemed capable of doing the ABS bleed procedure on VW/Audi cars. Turns out, VW/Audi decided to make that a dealer only thing and not even a scan tool can do it.

I was still able to do it by hauling ass down a dirt road and hammering the brakes a few times to active the ABS unit, and pump the air down into the lines. Then just did another bleed at the wheels and got it all out.

 

[BurtShaver]

it doesn't work you will need a scan tool to activate the HCU for the ABS bleed procedure

And I have no idea what scan tool to use or how to use it. I think I will just try to bleed at the wheels and if that doesn’t work I will have the dealer bleed it. I would think a scan tool that will work would cost enough?

 

[Ken226]

And I have no idea what scan tool to use or how to use it. I think I will just try to bleed at the wheels and if that doesn’t work I will have the dealer bleed it. I would think a scan tool that will work would cost enough?

Your best bet, if you need to bleed the ABS unit yourself would probably be AlfaOBD.

To get started, you'll need a hardware dongle that is compatible with AlfaOBD. I have the OBD Link MX+ (about 130$), which is really good. If you do a google search, or search around on the forum you can find other devices that will work too.

Then you will need the AlfaOBD program. It's about 50$ in the google play store on your phone.


There is also a windows version that you can use with a laptop. I also have the laptop version of AlfaOBD. Since my laptop has bluetooth, I can also use it with the OBD Link MX+.

 

[BurtShaver]

Your best bet, if you need to bleed the ABS unit yourself would probably be AlfaOBD.

To get started, you'll need a hardware dongle that is compatible with AlfaOBD. I have the OBD Link MX+ (about 130$), which is really good. If you do a google search, or search around on the forum you can find other devices that will work too.

Then you will need the AlfaOBD program. It's about 50$ in the google play store on your phone.


There is also a windows version that you can use with a laptop. I also have the laptop version of AlfaOBD. Since my laptop has bluetooth, I can also use it with the OBD Link MX+.

Oh god; I’m old. I just hate anything that has to do with computers. Thanks Ken

 

[BurtShaver]

So I changed the leaking brake line that goes from master to HCU today. Put the end of the new line that goes on the master, on first, opened the cap on the master reservoir and let the brake fluid flow out the other end of the new line and let some of the drip into the opening in the HCU, put the the other end on. Got in the truck and drove it and the brakes are acting exactly as they did before this brake line started leaking. Not spongy, seem to start grabbing at the same travel distance, just feels exactly as it did before.
Is it possible that I won’t need to bleed the brake system at all?

 

[Ken226]

So I changed the leaking brake line that goes from master to HCU today. Put the end of the new line that goes on the master, on first, opened the cap on the master reservoir and let the brake fluid flow out the other end of the new line and let some of the drip into the opening in the HCU, put the the other end on. Got in the truck and drove it and the brakes are acting exactly as they did before this brake line started leaking. Not spongy, seem to start grabbing at the same travel distance, just feels exactly as it did before.
Is it possible that I won’t need to bleed the brake system at all?

Of course it's possible. Pretty improbably, but definitely not impossible.

It's up to you how to proceed.

Perhaps drive it for awhile and see what happens, but on the other hand, brakes are pretty important and doing the ABS bleed is pretty easy. You're in a better postion than me to know if they feel right, so It's up to you.

 

[joesstripclub]

I haven't had a car fancy enough yet that I've had to use a scan tool to bleed the brakes. I changed the fluid on my 2018 1500 when I still had it and just vacuum bled at each wheel and never had any issues with it. I would think your truck would work similarly. Probably worth pulling new fluid through all your lines if its never been changed.

 

[BurtShaver]

Thanks for the replies, I’m in eastern Ontario where it’s been the best snowmobile season since 2018 so I’m going to leave it as is for now. I barely drive it in the winter anyways so I will wait for some warmer weather to bleed the brakes if needed. I’m not looking for short cuts but from just driving it in my laneway it feels identical to before the leak in the line ever happened. I’m thinking by allowing fluid to fill the new line before attaching to HCU and letting it flow while attaching it I was able to not have any air in the lines. I will take it for a drive on some country roads here mid day first and be cautious. I will let you know what happens

 

[BurtShaver]

I haven't had a car fancy enough yet that I've had to use a scan tool to bleed the brakes. I changed the fluid on my 2018 1500 when I still had it and just vacuum bled at each wheel and never had any issues with it. I would think your truck would work similarly. Probably worth pulling new fluid through all your lines if its never been changed.

Thank you, yes I like to bleed some brake fluid from each wheel every year or 2 at the most, keeps my calipers from ever seizing

 

[Ken226]

Thank you, yes I like to bleed some brake fluid from each wheel every year or 2 at the most, keeps my calipers from ever seizing

It may or may not be something you can do. But, it works. Since you live somewhere with lots of ice and snow, maybe even easier:

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