How to Bleed Land Rover ABS Brakes (Fix Spongy Pedal)

You did a great job replacing that leaking brake caliper or the old rubber brake lines on your Discovery 3 or Range Rover.

You bled the brakes the old-fashioned way: "Pump, hold, loosen screw, tighten screw." You did it five times. Clear fluid is coming out.

But when you start the engine, the brake pedal still feels spongy and sinks almost to the floor. Why? Because you have air trapped in the ABS Modulator.

No amount of manual pumping will get that air out. You need a tool to cycle the ABS valves. In this guide, we’ll show you how to perform an "ABS Auto Bleed" using the iCarsoft LR V4.0.

Why Traditional Bleeding Fails

The ABS module is a complex maze of valves and pumps. When you let the brake system run dry (like when changing a caliper), air bubbles get stuck in these tiny corners.

The manual pedal method only pushes fluid through the main lines; it doesn't open the ABS valves. To get the air out, the pump needs to run and vibrate the bubbles loose.

The "Auto Bleed" Procedure

Note: This is a two-person job. One person sits in the car with the scanner, and the other person works at the wheel to open the bleeder screw.

Step 1: Setup

• Lift the car safely. Remove wheels if necessary to access bleed screws.
• Top up the brake fluid reservoir with fresh DOT 4 fluid. Keep it full! If it runs dry, you have to start over.

Step 2: Connect LR V4.0

1. Plug in the tool. Ignition ON (Engine Off).
2. Select Service > ABS Bleeding > Land Rover.
3. The tool will give you instructions. Usually, it starts with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder (Right Rear).

Step 3: The Active Bleed

1. The tool will tell you: "Press and hold the pedal" and "Open the bleed screw."
2. Then, the magic happens: You will hear the ABS pump buzz loudly and feel the pedal pulse under your foot. This is the tool forcing the valves open and vibrating the air bubbles out.
3. The tool will say "Close screw, release pedal."

Repeat this process for all four wheels as directed by the screen prompts.

The Result: Rock Hard Pedal

Once the cycle is complete, the spongy feeling will be gone. The pedal should feel firm and responsive.