I always do most of my car maintenance and haven't really had too much trouble manually bleeding brakes in the past.

I decided to do the Octy brakes using just my right foot and a one-way bleed valve... so far so good, lots of dark fluid out, lots of clean new fluid in.

Nothing like being thorough so I had a go at the clutch, couldn't get the fluid to expel initially but when it did it was like **** coloured milk. I'm guessing it's never been done in the 8 years since it left the factory.

Try as I might I could not get the clutch circuit to pressurise properly and the pedal would flip flop between fully up and fully depressed.

Eventually I enlisted the assistance of a Gunsons Eezi bleed which sorted that out and I have a good clutch pedal.

Problem is, although the master cylinder reservoir is filled to the max the brakes are pretty gash, not exactly spongy but definitely room for improvement.

Would I be correct in assuming that even bleeding brakes carefully, old skool stylee, you need a machine to properly fill and purge a modern abs system and a gizmo to exercise the abs itself?

I'm reluctant to waste more money and time on brake fluid and diy and will be looking to have a garage bleed it fully.

I always do most of my car maintenance and haven't really had too much trouble manually bleeding brakes in the past.

I decided to do the Octy brakes using just my right foot and a one-way bleed valve... so far so good, lots of dark fluid out, lots of clean new fluid in.

Nothing like being thorough so I had a go at the clutch, couldn't get the fluid to expel initially but when it did it was like **** coloured milk. I'm guessing it's never been done in the 8 years since it left the factory.

Try as I might I could not get the clutch circuit to pressurise properly and the pedal would flip flop between fully up and fully depressed.

Eventually I enlisted the assistance of a Gunsons Eezi bleed which sorted that out and I have a good clutch pedal.

Problem is, although the master cylinder reservoir is filled to the max the brakes are pretty gash, not exactly spongy but definitely room for improvement.

Would I be correct in assuming that even bleeding brakes carefully, old skool stylee, you need a machine to properly fill and purge a modern abs system and a gizmo to exercise the abs itself?

I'm reluctant to waste more money and time on brake fluid and diy and will be looking to have a garage bleed it fully.

 

Not on a Skoda, but I have had the same issue on a Ford Mondeo (spits in disgust) a few years back. They needs to be purged properly with a machine to ensure there aren't any air pockets in the system. 

 

Other more knowledgeable folk who have done this will know more

When i changed my brake fluid i used a ezibleed & had no problems,i didnt bleed the clutch though,both have been fine for the last year now. You may have to bleed your brakes again using the ezibleed & see if that improves things. 

I vaguely remember there was some arcane routine for bleeding brake on the mk1 at least. Done a search?

Ezibleed is a fine tool.

Worst case is that you have air in the abs block, in which case you need VCDS to purge the air.

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Always bleed with engine running lovely firm pedal no travel.