Crown Victoria V8-281 4.6L SFI (1998)
Brake Bleeding: Service and Repair
Master Cylinder Bleeding
When a new brake master cylinder has been installed or the brake system has been emptied or partially emptied, fluid may not flow from the bleeder
screws during normal bleeding. It may be necessary to prime the system using the following procedure.
1. Use a tubing wrench to remove the brake tubes from the master cylinder.
CAUTION: Brake fluid is harmful to painted and plastic surfaces. If brake fluid is spilled onto a painted or plastic surface, immediately wash it
with water.
2. Install short brake tubes in the brake master cylinder and position them so that they point back into the reservoir and the ends of the pipes are
submerged in brake fluid.
3. Fill the reservoir with new Ford High Performance DOT-3 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid C6AZ-19542-AB or DOT-3 equivalent meeting Ford
specification ESA-M6C25-A.
4. Cover the reservoir with a clean shop towel.
5. Pump the brakes until clear, bubble-free fluid comes out of both brake tubes.
6. Remove the short brake tubes and reinstall the tubes from the vehicle.
7. Bleed each brake tube at the brake master cylinder using the following procedure:
a. Have an assistant pump the brake pedal 10 times and then hold firm pressure on the brake pedal.
b. Loosen the front brake tube fitting with a tubing wrench until a stream of brake fluid comes out. Assistant should maintain pressure on the
brake pedal until the brake tube fitting is tightened again.
c. Repeat this operation until clear, bubble-free fluid comes out from around the tubing fitting.
d. Repeat this bleeding operation at the rear brake tube fitting.
8. If any of the brake tubes or calipers have been removed, it may be helpful to prime the system by gravity bleeding it. This should be done after the
brake master cylinder is primed and bled.
To prime the brake system:
a. Fill the brake master cylinder reservoir with new Ford High Performance DOT-3 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid C6AZ-19542-AB or equivalent
meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A.
b. Loosen both rear caliper bleeder screws and leave them open until clear brake fluid flows out. Do not let brake master cylinder reservoir run
dry, check it often.
c. Tighten the bleeder screws.
d. One at a time, loosen the front caliper bleeder screws. Leave the bleeder screws open until clear fluid flows out. Do not let brake master
cylinder reservoir run dry, check it often.
e. Tighten the bleeder screws to 8 - 20 Nm (71 - 177 inch lbs.).
9. After the brake master cylinder has been primed, the lines bled at the brake master cylinder and the brake system primed, normal brake system
bleeding can resume at each wheel.