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How to change the brake fluid (properly)
smart51 - 27/7/09 at 07:48 AM

Last time I replaced brake fluid, I drained equal amounts from each wheel until the reservoir level was at minimum, topped it up with new fluid and again drained equal amounts from each wheel and finally topped up with new fluid. All this using an eezeebleed and spare tyre for the pressure. I did it this way so that there was no chance of introducing air into the pipes, brakes or master cylinders.

I was always a bit unsure of this as there was still a fair bit of old fluid in the reservoir when I topped it up so a bit of old and perhaps contaminated fluid remained. Are you supposed to completely drain the fluid and refill from empty?


r1_pete - 27/7/09 at 08:05 AM

A Gunsons Easi Bleed makes life really easy here, well worth the money.


spdpug98 - 27/7/09 at 08:10 AM

It's the same way that I always do it


Mr Whippy - 27/7/09 at 08:24 AM

As your not actually bleeding any air out, only circulating new fluid through the pipes, a rubber hose is more than sufficient. I’ve tried the easy bleed thing a few times and been less than impressed tbh. If the seals are ok in the master cylinder one person can without difficulty bleed the brakes using nothing more than the hose for the vacuum advance. What often helps is wrapping PTFE tape round the bleed screw thread to prevent air being drawn back in to the slave cylinder. As the hose is under the fluid surface in the jar, air can’t be drawn in through that.


Cousin Cleotis - 27/7/09 at 08:24 AM

push all your caliper pistons back, this will reduce the volume of old fluid in the system.

i always drain the resevoir completely, if you leave some fluid in the resevoir it will contaminate your new fluid.

i never worry about introducing air into the system, its going to bleed anyway.

Paul


wicket - 27/7/09 at 10:56 AM

Never had a lot of success with the Eze Bleed but find the Mityvac Brake Bleeding Kit (Plastic) MV6820 excellent, more money though. Rescued attachment JS-MV6820-1.jpg
Rescued attachment JS-MV6820-1.jpg


Gazeddy - 27/7/09 at 11:44 AM

i got access to a pressure bleeder and can honestly say it beats any other method.

basically i drain reservoir replace wit fresh fill bleeder and connect then open nipples until im getting clean fluid out of it. job done