ABS Pump

Remove and replace the ABS hydraulic control unit (pump) on a 2008 Dodge Viper, including brake fluid evacuation, electrical disconnection, and brake line removal.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• ABS hydraulic control unit (pump assembly) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Brake fluid DOT 4 × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• brake — 1 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and apply parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
3. Open the hood and locate the battery in the rear cargo area (accessed from inside the cabin behind the seats).
4. Disconnect the negative battery cable and secure it away from the terminal.
5. Remove as much brake fluid as possible from the master cylinder reservoir using a turkey baster or fluid extraction pump to minimize spillage.
6. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands rated for the vehicle weight.
7. Remove the left front wheel.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove left front inner fender liner
   Remove the plastic inner fender liner (wheelhouse liner) from the left front wheel well. The liner is secured by multiple fasteners along the fender edge, bumper edge, and rocker panel. Remove all fasteners and pull the liner away to expose the ABS pump mounting area. Note the fastener locations for reinstallation.
2. 2

   Locate ABS hydraulic control unit
   Identify the ABS pump assembly mounted on a bracket near the left front frame rail. The unit is a black metal assembly with multiple brake lines entering from the top and bottom, and an electrical connector on the side. Note the orientation and routing of all brake lines before proceeding.
3. 3

   Disconnect ABS pump electrical connector
   Locate the main electrical connector on the side of the ABS pump assembly. Press the locking tab and pull the connector straight out from the pump. If the connector is difficult to release, use needle-nose pliers to depress the tab while pulling. Secure the connector away from the work area.
4. 4

   Prepare for brake line removal
   Position a brake fluid catch pan beneath the ABS pump assembly. Have plastic cap plugs or tape ready to seal the brake line ends immediately after removal to minimize fluid loss and prevent contamination.
5. 5

   Remove brake lines from ABS pump
   Using the appropriate size flare nut wrench, carefully loosen and remove each brake line fitting from the ABS pump. There are 4 brake lines connected to the unit. Work slowly to avoid rounding the fittings. As each line is removed, immediately plug or cap both the line end and the pump port to prevent excessive fluid drainage and dirt entry. Label each line with its position if needed for reinstallation reference.
6. 6

   Remove ABS pump mounting fasteners
   Remove the 3 mounting bolts securing the ABS pump assembly to its mounting bracket using a 13mm socket. Support the pump with one hand while removing the final bolt to prevent it from dropping.
7. 7

   Remove ABS pump assembly
   Carefully lift the ABS pump assembly away from the mounting bracket and out of the wheel well area. Tilt and maneuver as necessary to clear surrounding components. Place the old unit on a clean work surface. Check the mounting bracket and surrounding area for corrosion or damage.
8. 8

   Prepare new ABS pump for installation
   Unpack the new ABS pump assembly and verify it matches the original unit in connector type, mounting hole pattern, and brake line port configuration. Remove all shipping plugs from the brake line ports on the new pump. If the unit came pre-filled with brake fluid, verify there are no leaks. If it came dry, it will be filled during the bleeding process.
9. 9

   Install new ABS pump assembly
   Position the new ABS pump onto the mounting bracket, aligning the mounting holes. Install the mounting bolts and tighten them in a crisscross pattern to the factory-specified torque value (verify in service manual). Do not overtighten, as the HCU mounting hardware is typically low-torque.
10. 10

    Reconnect brake lines
    Remove the caps or plugs from the brake line ends and pump ports. Thread each brake line fitting into the corresponding port on the new ABS pump by hand first to ensure proper alignment and avoid cross-threading. Once all 4 lines are hand-started, tighten each fitting using the flare nut wrench. Tighten firmly but do not over-torque the fittings. Verify each line is properly seated and there are no gaps at the fittings.
11. 11

    Reconnect electrical connector
    Plug the electrical connector back into the ABS pump until it clicks into place. Verify the locking tab is fully engaged by attempting to gently pull the connector away from the pump.
12. 12

    Reinstall inner fender liner
    Position the left front inner fender liner back into place in the wheel well. Install all fasteners in their original locations, ensuring the liner is properly seated against the fender, bumper, and rocker panel edges.
13. 13

    Refill brake fluid reservoir
    Fill the master cylinder reservoir with fresh brake fluid meeting OEM specification (DOT 3) to the MAX line. Keep the reservoir topped off throughout the bleeding process.
14. 14

    Bleed brake system
    Bleed the brake system in the sequence specified by the factory service manual (verify order). Use a pressure bleeder or have an assistant pump the brake pedal while you open each bleeder valve. Use a pressure bleeder or have an assistant pump the brake pedal while you open each bleeder valve. Continue bleeding each corner until fluid runs clear with no air bubbles. After bleeding all four corners, perform an ABS pump bleeding procedure by reconnecting the battery, turning the ignition to ON (do not start), and cycling the ABS pump using a scan tool with ABS bleeding function, The ABS module bleed must be performed using a scan tool with the ABS/HCU bleed function to cycle the internal pump and valves; manual pedal pumping will not evacuate air trapped in the HCU.. Rebleed the system if necessary. Monitor the reservoir level constantly and do not allow it to run dry.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the left front wheel and torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
2. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
3. Reconnect the negative battery cable.
4. Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and top off to the MAX line with DOT 4 brake fluid.
5. Inspect all brake line connections at the ABS pump for any signs of leakage.
6. Clean any spilled brake fluid from painted surfaces immediately with water.

Verification

• With the engine running, pump the brake pedal several times and verify it feels firm with normal travel. A soft or spongy pedal indicates air remains in the system and further bleeding is required.
• Start the engine and verify the ABS warning light illuminates briefly during the self-test and then turns off. If the light remains on, scan for ABS fault codes.
• Perform a low-speed test drive in a safe area and apply the brakes firmly to verify normal operation.
• With the vehicle parked, recheck all brake line fittings at the ABS pump for any signs of leakage.
• Verify the brake fluid level in the reservoir is at the correct level.

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