I just changed the rotors, calipers and brakes on the rear of my car. Tried bleeding the brakes with the car not started, and could not get pressure on the brake pedal. Does the car have to be started to bleed the brakes? Generally on other vehicles it doesn't have to be started to bleed the brakes but wasn't sure if Jaguars do or not. Please advise. Thanks

 

If you have calipers with integral park brake it could be difficult to get them bleeded. if you have access to the X350 workshop manual you'll find a 17 step procedure on bleeding new calipers with intral park brake.

fritz

 

You do not need the engine started to bleed the brakes. These cars use a very conventional ABS hydraulic brake system. If you're not getting any fluid out of the rears, it's possible there is a problem with the master cylinder or fluid got too low and it needs to be bench bled. You might have luck using a power bleeder.

Attached is the info for bleeding new rear calipers. You should still get plenty of fluid out the rear bleeders even if this procedure is not followed. This just fixes a soft pedal.

 

Is there a trick to this, I can't get the passenger side to extract the piston, is there a sequence that you have to do this?

 

I am getting a lot of air when I am bleeding the brakes.

 

Yeah, that's why you bleed them...

I don't really mean to sound sarcastic. The rears are a long way from the master cylinder and the ABS box, so there is a LOT of brake line to clear out.

I just went through this on a Miata, but had to replace a rear caliper, but had to bleed all four corners as the fluid level dropped during the time the car was parked with the leak. Fronts were pretty quick, left rear, not so bad, took FOREVER to get the right rear clear of air! No ABS, and brake lines maybe 60% the length of the Jaguar's!

 

Im about the do the supplementary bleeding steps for the integral rears as i have just upgraded to XFR all round. To help reduce loss of fluid while brake lines are open a latex glove trapped under the lid, then tightened down to trap it over the opening really help to prevent fluid loss.