You’re driving a 2015 Toyota Camry, and after replacing the rear brake distributor pump, you notice that the brake pedal feels unusually soft and unresponsive. Even when you press harder, the braking distance seems longer than before. This is a typical sign that air has entered the ABS system, reducing braking sensitivity.
In such cases, simply changing brake fluid is not enough — you need to perform ABS Bleeding. This special function helps remove trapped air from the ABS unit, restores proper brake pressure, and ensures the anti-lock braking system can react quickly during sudden stops - and the VDIAGTOOL VD80BT is an excellent example.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through:
When ABS Bleeding is required (real-world scenarios).
How to use a diagnostic tool to perform ABS Bleeding step by step.
Tips to ensure safe and effective brake maintenance.
What Does “ABS Bleeding” Mean?
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) keeps the tires from locking up immediately when there are brakes. Keeping ABS in good condition can give full play to the effectiveness of the brakes, shorten the braking time and distance, prevent the vehicle from skidding and tailing during emergency braking, ensure good driving stability and steering maneuverability, and avoid violent friction between the tires and the ground to reduce tire wear. When the ABS con- tains air, the ABS bleeding function must be performed to bleed the brake system to restore ABS brake sensitivity.
ABS Bleeding can be performed in the following cases
● Replace the rear brake distributor pump or the front brake distributor pump. 2.
● Severe brake fluid shortage
● Change the brake fluid
The operation guidelines of the ABS Bleeding function are shown as below
1. Read the operating instructions and precautions that appear on the screen carefully before performing the operation to ensure that the equipment and car are in the correct condition
2. Attach bleeder bottle to the left rear bleeder screw.
3. Open the left rear bleeder screw.
4. When ready, click "OK" to enter the bleed procedure, and pumping the brake pedal continuously with steady applies every 2 seconds during the entire procedure.
5. Continue pumping the brake pedal, when air bubbles are no longer visible, select OK to
enter next bleed procedure for left front wheel.
6. Repeat the operation 3 times to complete the bleed procedure for the left front wheel, right front wheel and right rear wheel in turn.
7. Stop pumping the brake pedal, and close the right rear bleeder screw.
8. Click OK to complete the entire bleed procedure.
Caution
● The ABS pump screw needs to be unscrewed
● Brake fluid will be under pressure during this process. Secure the bleed hose and open
bleeder screws slowly
● Some vehicles do not support automatic bleeding, but manually bleeding
Final Thoughts
If you're replacing brake components or your pedal still feels soft after a manual bleed, chances are air is trapped in the ABS system. Instead of guessing or paying for a trip to the dealer, a bidirectional scanner like the VDIAGTOOL VD80BT lets you perform ABS bleeding the right way—quickly, cleanly, and confidently.
So whether you're a DIYer looking to level up, or a shop tech wanting to save time, VDIAGTOOL VD80BT gives you dealer-level power without the dealer-level price.
