Replacing brake fluid

[jhm]

I want to replace my brake fluid. A guy at work says every year he just uses the turkey baster and sucks out the master then refills. I said I dont think that is doing anything because the fluid is not circulating so you are just putting new fluid in the master. He says eventually it gets mixed in???????

[mcreyaufmiller]

Your best bet is to do a brake bleed type of procedure. It takes a little while, but it will work the fluid into all of the brake lines.

 

Mike

[100R1]

STEP 1 I use a LARGE syringe to first suck out the excess fluid from the master cylinder resv.

 

STEP 2 then top off with new clean fluid

 

STEP 3 normal bleeding procedure for the entire brake system

 

 

 

brake fluid asorbs moisture over time reducing the boiling point

no matter if its in the RESV / Brake lines or Wheel cylinders it will still asorb moisture

 

out iwht the old in with the new

[Blue-2001-Z71]

That's how I did mine, nothing fancy required. Just the baster for the master cylinder, a hose long enough to go from the caliper to the container, and a container to catch the old stuff. Drain your cylinder to where there's just enough to cover the ports in the bottom. Then top it off with new stuff. Now just hook your hose up to the bleed ports and pump th new fluid through till it comes out clean. Go right rear, left rear, right front, left front. Goes in order of distance from the master cylinder, longest to shortest. Made a slight differance in pedal feel, but then again, I didn't let it wait too long before flushing it out.

[mcreyaufmiller]

The autoparts stores have a suction pump that makes it even eaiser. I think they run about $20 - $25.

 

You hook the pump up to the nipple, open it slightly, remove the cap, and pump away. Of course, you want to clean the old fluid out of the resvior first. Sorry for the babble.

 

Mike

[kdm101]

I took this one step further. Bought a pressure bleeder kit off ebay (made by Motive Products) for all of $59. Just pour in 2 qts of your preferred brake fluid, attach the adapter plate to the top of the master cylinder, pressurize the container, and then you go to each corner, pop open the bleeder screw and just let the stuff flow until clear.

 

I did go the extra step and siphon out as much of the master cylinder first, just so I'd be getting clean fluid into the system as fast as possible. The kit I bought included several different adapters, so I can do just about any car made. The basic kit with only 1 adapter was only $39. It's a hell of a lot faster than a Mighty Vac (that damned container doesn't hold squat! I spent more time emptying it out than I did on drawing out the old fluid!)

 

With as easy as it is now to flush the system, I'll probably be doing it every year. It's cheap insurance.

[jhm]

I took this one step further. Bought a pressure bleeder kit off ebay (made by Motive Products) for all of $59.  Just pour in 2 qts of your preferred brake fluid, attach the adapter plate to the top of the master cylinder, pressurize the container, and then you go to each corner, pop open the bleeder screw and just let the stuff flow until clear.

 

I did go the extra step and siphon out as much of the master cylinder first, just so I'd be getting clean fluid into the system as fast as possible.  The kit I bought included several different adapters, so I can do just about any car made.  The basic kit with only 1 adapter was only $39.  It's a hell of a lot faster than a Mighty Vac (that damned container doesn't hold squat!  I spent more time emptying it out than I did on drawing out the old fluid!)

 

With as easy as it is now to flush the system, I'll probably be doing it every year.  It's cheap insurance.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I went to the Motive site, too bad they only go up to 2001 with metal reservoir. If I remember right, my '01 has plastic. Looks like a real nice system though.

[Taaaaaaahoe?]

It's a hell of a lot faster than a Mighty Vac (that damned container doesn't hold squat!  I spent more time emptying it out than I did on drawing out the old fluid!)

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Thats the d**n truth! I like that idea of yours...have to look into it!!!

 

 

My freaking brake pedal lets out a squeek as it returns to the top..ANy ideas? I have blead my system before...?