tooloud10

I've done several searches and can't find much of a definitive answer to this issue, so I'm starting a new thread...

Does anyone have any advice or instructions on how to properly bleed the brakes using the Durametric tool on a 996 with PSM? My '99 C4 had the master cylinder replaced and now has a soft brake pedal no matter what process we use to bleed the brakes. My independent mechanic uses a power motive bleeder and the Durametric tool, but even after updating the software, it doesn't seem to properly activate the PSM module to remove all the air from the system.

I can't help but think we're missing or forgetting something basic here, or there'd be a dozen threads with the same complaint. Anyone know what to do here?

TIA!

dkraige

I don't know. I've tried to do mine for the sake of completeness as well, even though I don't have a soft pedal. Durametric seems to do nothing. I hear a relay click somewhere when I activate it, but no actual action from the ABS pump or anything. So as far as I can tell that part of the software is worthless. I've read other threads where people have had the same result, contacted Durametric, and gotten nowhere.

tooloud10

Yep, that's my experience, too. I guess it just amazes me that there's seemingly no way to properly bleed the brakes on these cars without going to the dealer or a shop with the full PST2 system. I've spent the last month watching people chuckle at this question like I'm just inexperienced, but nobody has been able to provide an answer.

...and I know the Durametric people are useless and just point the finger at someone else.

dkraige

The only actionable advice some people have had seems to be that if you activate the ABS during driving, you'll free up some air that's in there, which can then be purged by pedal or pressure bleeding again. An easy way to do this is to brake hard on painted crosswalks or other painted lines when it's raining. Super-slippery and guaranteed to trigger ABS action.

tooloud10

Ha, tried that. My neighbors already thought I was nuts before they witnessed me repeatedly launching my Porsche on my snow covered driveway and then slamming on the brakes.

Maybe it made a 5% difference after re-bleeding? But that's probably just my wishful thinking.

Phrog Phlyer

Yea, but I want to know - how hard was it to install an ABS system on that 356 lowrider?

dporto

^^ I'd like to know about the paint job? Who did it, & how much did it cost? Also, did it take a long time?

5CHN3LL

$20 worth of speed bleeders makes the 996 just as easy as any other car with $20 worth of speed bleeders.

To those of you who are curious: thus far I have not been contacted by any of the mainstream protestant German churches about this blasphemous practice...which is nice. Further, my hands have not burst into flames, and no more portals to hell than anticipated have appeared.

I even own one of those pump-em-up bleeder things - but honestly...speed bleeders.

Phrog Phlyer

What size are the speed bleeders you use?

TexSquirrel

+1

Scott at Team Harco

Hey Jake - I'll state the obvious - there are two bleeders per caliper, correct? You're not forgetting the inboard one?

Other than that, I have no input. Please update if you resolve the problem. I need to bleed my brakes soon too. Also looking for more aggressive pads. I think my 944s stop better...

tooloud10

They're good for what they are, but they won't do anything to activate and bleed the ABS/PSM module after replacing the master cylinder and introducing air into the system.

Nope, we're going in the right order and doing both bleeders. The pedal stays pretty spongy no matter how many times we do it.

I should clarify that my question isn't really about doing a normal brake bleed--that's basically the same as on any other car. The problem is that on PSM cars, the normal bleeding procedure is not able to remove air introduced into the ABS module after replacing the master cylinder. The 'official' Porsche PST2 system handles this by allowing you to activate the module during the bleeding process, but there doesn't appear to be a way to do it manually. The Durametric tool claims to be able to do it, but it sounds like everyone is having the same experience using it as I am--the function appears to be there, but it doesn't actually do anything.

Does this make any sense? I know how to get the air out of the brake lines, but I don't know how to get the air out of the PSM module. Other people have posted about the same problem, but I've never seen a solution.

tooloud10

Oh, I should also clarify that you shouldn't ever run into this problem during a standard bleed job, only if you lose the 'prime' in the ABS/PSM module by running the system dry.

Nickshu

The Durametric tool does NOT have the ability to run the ABS pump or PSM pump on the 996. I went round and round with Durametric on this and other members here have done the same. They won't admit it but it cannot.

Apparently it used to be able to but a few years ago after one of their software updates it lost this ability and they have not fixed the problem (and from what I can tell have no interest in fixing it).

Currently when you try to activate it you just hear a "click" and nothing happens.

Scott at Team Harco

Yes - I understood the idea of getting the Durametric to cycle the ABS module to get the air out. Just checking to be sure the obvious was not being missed. What about bench bleeding the master cylinder, you did this already?

Have you tried doing the bleeding with the engine running? Not sure it would make a difference, but I think I had to do this on some of my DSMs. Or at least it seemed to help...

Understood. Good information.