Bleeding C8 Corvette Brakes Can Be Tricky And Expensive!

C8 Corvettes are getting modified almost as quickly as they are getting unloaded from the transport haulers. We’ve seen various nitrous setups, and even a twin-turbo version hitting the information super-highway. There is so much about this new car that everyone is trying to learn at their own rate, and sometimes, it’s the supposedly simple stuff that can throw you a curve.

A perfect example is shown in this video recently posted by the folks at GSpeed.com. They’ve been running fluid through brake bleeders longer than some of their customers have been alive. They know a thing or two about brake fluid and putting the new stuff in where it belongs. But, as we said, GM’s latest supercar is such a new bird, that it’s tossing many folks back to the starting board, even for some of the simple stuff.

In the video, the person doing the talking explains that GM instructs technicians to use the appropriate GM adapter to do a pressure-bleed the brakes whenever necessary. We’re sure the folks at GM didn’t expect the car’s all-but-new brake fluid to be flushed so soon, but thanks to this video, we see why the suggest doing it this way. Apparently, according to this video, there is another chamber filled with fluid besides the typical reservoir. By bleeding the brakes in the usual way of pumping the brake pedal, you can induce air into that additional chamber. The very thing you’re trying to eliminate by bleeding the brakes!

The video host explains, in the C8, you don’t have a mechanical link to the brake master cylinder. This means you won’t have the visceral feedback like you would have on a typical assembly. And, you guessed it, your brake pedal can now throw codes, and we’re not talking about the usual “low brake fluid” type stuff. Now, the brake pedal has a travel sensor to register the amount of brake pedal movement. This lets the car know when you start to get a “long pedal” situation. Typically a long pedal occurs due to low fluid or air in the line.

When that happens, the sensor tells all the electronic wizardry that something is amiss, and you get the world’s newest code, telling you electronically what you would have found out thanks to the pressure (or lack of) against the bottom of your New Balance sneaker. Also, there’s not just one, but TWO codes to cover this condition. Appropriately named “Fade Warning 1” and “Fade Warning 2”, each one has varying levels of a mushroom cloud attached to them.

According to the video, “Fade Warning 1” means you should stop, and fix the problem. In the video, the host explains it this way, “Do not pass go, do not collect $200.” Now, we’ve yet to learn all the snafus that could cause a “Fade Warning 1”, so the typical cure isn’t yet clear.

“Fade Warning 2” is an entirely different animal apparently. At this point, you’re starting to feel the heat from the blast. According to the video, if you get “Fade Warning 2”, it’s a lot of work and you need to go to the dealer. Of course, we don’t know all the causes of a “Fade Warning 2” yet, but it apparently includes a trip to the dealer and their computer that makes all things better. When you consider that trip is likely going to involve a roll-back, it’s easy to see how the second option can begin to get rather costly.

About the author

Andy Bolig

Andy has been intrigued by mechanical things all of his life and enjoys tinkering with cars of all makes and ages. Finding value in style points, he can appreciate cars of all power and performance levels. Andy is an avid railfan and gets his “high” by flying radio-controlled model airplanes when time permits. He keeps his feet firmly grounded by working on his two street rods and his supercharged C4 Corvette. Whether planes, trains, motorcycles, or automobiles, Andy has immersed himself in a world driven by internal combustion.
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