How to change brake fluid?

P

Phantom

New Member
Dec 9, 2005
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Los Angeles
Okay, my question is how do I change the brake fluid?

I don't recall there being a drain plug of some sort.

Do I just bleed the brakes and keep on adding brake fluids until it is clean brake fluids?

I did search and that was what I found. Oh, and DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids are compatible.

Brakes are working fine, I just need to change the fluid because it has gone dark in color.
 
p5150

p5150

ASE and FAA A&P Certified
Mar 31, 2005
1,176
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Central Idaho
Good move on changing the brake fluid before your calipers rust up.

I siphon or use a turkey baster to pull out the old fluid from the reservoir first. Refill it with new fluid and then go about bleeding your brakes.

Start with the caliper that is the furthest from your reservoir (RR) then do RL then FR then FL....

Or I guess you could do FL and then FR because once you count the anti skid box the lines are actually shorter to the front right wheel....

Either way it doesnt matter. You basically will pump the fluid through the line until it is clear and then you are done! Just bleed the brakes clean.
 
I

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
I pump as much out of the bleeders as I can then Flush the system with Metholated spirits (denatured alcohol as it's attracts water encloses it and carries it out of the system)

I then fill with my fluid of choice and pump an extra Qt rhrough the bleeders till I'm happy it's only clean brake fluid coming out.

I use a MityVac pump and a one man bleed kit to do all this as it doesn't aerate the fluid like pumping the pedal can and means I can do it on my own.

I do this on 2 year intervals as the cost of replacing hard parts far outweighs even good fluid and one case of the pedal going to the floor from boiled old/dity fluid will ruin your whole day ;).
 
F

figgie

Supramania Contributor
Mar 30, 2005
5,225
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Twin Cities, Minnesot-ah
IJ.;978771 said:
I pump as much out of the bleeders as I can then Flush the system with Metholated spirits (denatured alcohol as it's attracts water encloses it and carries it out of the system)

I then fill with my fluid of choice and pump an extra Qt rhrough the bleeders till I'm happy it's only clean brake fluid coming out.

I use a MityVac pump and a one man bleed kit to do all this as it doesn't aerate the fluid like pumping the pedal can and means I can do it on my own.

I do this on 2 year intervals as the cost of replacing hard parts far outweighs even good fluid and one case of the pedal going to the floor from boiled old/dity fluid will ruin your whole day ;).
Click to expand...


Indeed!

Ask Jerry Sienfeld on what happens when brakes fail! ;)
 
suprarx7nut

suprarx7nut

YotaMD.com author
Nov 10, 2006
3,811
1
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Arizona
www.supramania.com
When using the bleed through method, about how much brake fluid is required? I searched the TSRM for the capacity, but to no avail.

I have a qt of Castrol GTLMA but it seems I may need at least 2 quarts. How much does the system hold?

Thanks!
 
Orion ZyGarian

Orion ZyGarian

Jeff Lange wannabe
Apr 2, 2005
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SupraOfDoom;1024532 said:
I wish I had a bleeding machine. I just bled mine but they still get squishy... sigh guess they are coming off again very soon.
Click to expand...

Even with a friend, its REALLY hard to get ALL of the air out. I had trouble when I was pumping and the shop foreman was bleeding it..although it was an ABS vehicle which mightve had something to do with it.

On a related note, does anyone know if on our cars, with the ABS computer unplugged, the entire system works as if it didnt have ABS?
 
W

Who

Supramania Contributor
Feb 13, 2008
570
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Palm Beach, FL
www.smartmediarepair.com
I bought a 32oz bottle of Valvoline dot 3 - 4 synthetic at advance auto. I almost used the whole bottle.
Get yourself a empty gallon milk jug and a small clear rubber hose to connect to the bleeder valve and a friend to help. I started on the drivers rear only because the ABS is on the passenger front and I figured that was the furthest distance. My order was Drivers rear, Passenger rear, drivers front, passenger front. Number one rule!!! Do not let the reservoir tank get low. If you do you will suck air into the system and then you will have to bleed the master cylinder. Worse yet if you push air through the ABS you will really make a easy task turn into a nightmare. You could remove some old fluid from the reservoir but only half way and then top it off with fresh fluid before you start bleeding. Make sure you and your friend got your act together and push on the brake, open the bleeder valve, close the bleeder valve and then release the brake. Make sure you brake pushing helper isn't stomping or standing on the brake pedal full force or you will have another problem on your hands. Its takes some time to see clean fluid coming out of the bleeder valve thought the hose so be patient and fill that brake reservoir often do not let it get low. One last thing. Do not let the reservoir get low.
 
miekedmr

miekedmr

mkiii in hibernation
Jul 12, 2005
513
2
18
Upstate NY
need to pump LIGUIDS?

you need one of these.

n505443274_749646_6438.jpg
 
M

Mk3runner

Supramania Contributor
Nov 19, 2006
2,033
0
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Nor Cal
ha, cold beer and someone to help is how I do it. oops guess details could help. well in that case, lots of beer!
 
Orion ZyGarian

Orion ZyGarian

Jeff Lange wannabe
Apr 2, 2005
1,490
0
0
35
Sarasota, FLorida
www.suprastore.com
miekedmr;1024838 said:
need to pump LIQUIDS?

you need one of these.

[THUMB]http://photos-274.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v197/250/109/505443274/n505443274_749646_6438.jpg[/THUMB]
Click to expand...

Fuck, I bought one of those at walmart for my tranny fluid. I never even thought about using it for brakes/clutch! Wow. I'll have to try that now.
 
MikesFixedRoof

MikesFixedRoof

New Member
Mar 23, 2009
134
0
0
Queens, NY
Who;1024741 said:
I bought a 32oz bottle of Valvoline dot 3 - 4 synthetic at advance auto. I almost used the whole bottle.
Get yourself a empty gallon milk jug and a small clear rubber hose to connect to the bleeder valve and a friend to help. I started on the drivers rear only because the ABS is on the passenger front and I figured that was the furthest distance. My order was Drivers rear, Passenger rear, drivers front, passenger front. Number one rule!!! Do not let the reservoir tank get low. If you do you will suck air into the system and then you will have to bleed the master cylinder. Worse yet if you push air through the ABS you will really make a easy task turn into a nightmare. You could remove some old fluid from the reservoir but only half way and then top it off with fresh fluid before you start bleeding. Make sure you and your friend got your act together and push on the brake, open the bleeder valve, close the bleeder valve and then release the brake. Make sure you brake pushing helper isn't stomping or standing on the brake pedal full force or you will have another problem on your hands. Its takes some time to see clean fluid coming out of the bleeder valve thought the hose so be patient and fill that brake reservoir often do not let it get low. One last thing. Do not let the reservoir get low.
Click to expand...

I was wondering how some guys say they remove as much old fluid from the mc reservoir as possible with a turkey baster or whatever. I read that and was thinking to myself how nearly emptying the reservoir can be in any way a good idea when you're about to crack open a bleeder screw. I'd feel far more comfortable keeping that fluid level nice and high, as dirty as it may be. It'll get clean eventually.
 
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