Retracting brake pads

[Penhallow]

Hi, I have to renew front and rear pads on a v70 (2003) On other cars that I have owned the manuals always state that if the vehicle has ABS then the the bleed valve should be opened whilst pushing back the piston(s) so not to damage the ABS unit, If the pads are being renewed there could be an overflow of fluid at the master cylinder,so maybe that advice is the way to go ?

[June]

It seems to me if the bleeder valve is open the excess fluid will exit the bleeder valve rather than backup through the system to the master cylinder. After all isn't that the point to opening the bleeder before retracting the caliper piston? June

[abscate]

Open the bleeder, since you are going to replace your > 24 month old brake fluid anyway, per the Volvo recommendation, right?

[oragex]

Some had luck pushing the piston back without opening the bleeder. However, I've read of few people who had problems with the ABS afterwards, perhaps some valve was forced/damaged. So play it safe, open the bleeder. Rear bleeders can be very stuck, don't force or they will break.

[jbeebo]

Open the bleeder, don't force that nasty fluid in reverse back thru the ABS valve body. An analogy is drinking the water that comes off a reverse flush of a water filter - blech. or when your drain line gets backed up and effluent reverses flow out of the shower drain all over the floor - double blech.

After you've replaced the brakes you may need to add fresh brake fluid to replace what was lost.

[Penhallow]

Thanks for the replies, I will open the bleed valves as I have done on other vehicles,may do a whole flush at a later date, also went for the annual (mot,itv) test today, passed with flying colours,the emissions were way down !! (Blocked off EGR ) !