Flushing Brake Lines?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
Flushing Brake Lines?
I'm still bleeding out very dirty brake fluid from my lines. Is there anything that really cleans out the lines that is not hard on the caliper seals and the residue won't hurt the fluid? I have a lot of 99% and 70% isopropyl alcohol here at work.
Thanks,
-Dan
Thanks,
-Dan
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
I'm pretty sure that you need to flush out the lines with denatured alcohol. As far as the calipers and master cylinder are concerned, I would try to flush with a syringe, tube and clean brake fluid. If you don't want to take everything apart, I would just keep buying break fluid and keep flushing with a vacuum pump or pressure bleeder.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Keep away from the brake pedal during this operation. Use a turkey baster to suck all the fluid from the master cylinder then wipe the crud out of the bottom carefully with a lint free/clean cloth. Then refill with new fluid and gravity bleed in the correct order. 1 quart of fluid is approximately 3 times the brake system capacity. Don't forget those inner rear bleeders. Have fun.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Originally Posted by mvftw
That pressure bleeder look pretty nice. I know it can be built for less, but for $54 I might spring for one.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
99$? Wow, I made mine a lot cheaper than that. Flat piece of aluminuim, piece of rubber (actually old lid seal from truck) cur ro expose pressure hose conenction, then hook it up to a compressor or even a small bicycle tire pump will do, overall cost maybe 5$
As for the slits for the clamps, a pair of c-clamps are real handy for clamping a plate down, those one hand pull trigger clamp devices are even nicer and most people have one or the other... 50$ saved, hello new performance parts
As for the slits for the clamps, a pair of c-clamps are real handy for clamping a plate down, those one hand pull trigger clamp devices are even nicer and most people have one or the other... 50$ saved, hello new performance parts
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Arvada CO
Get the motive bleeder... it works wonders in minutes... i'd suggest also getting either C-clamps or hex nuts to hold down the attachement to fit your MC because the wing nuts they provide are worthless.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by CruisinCO
Get the motive bleeder... it works wonders in minutes... i'd suggest also getting either C-clamps or hex nuts to hold down the attachement to fit your MC because the wing nuts they provide are worthless.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
I pumped a large bottle of dot 3 through the system last night. Once the collection jar settled, there are four distinct layers that seperated. Yellow on the bottom, reddish brown(the most volume), dark brown and the top layer a milky clear.
It is running clear now but for $4.00 another big bottle goes through tonight.
Why should I stay away from the brake pedal?
I'm going to make a flusher like twin_turbo suggested today here at work.
-Dan
It is running clear now but for $4.00 another big bottle goes through tonight.
Why should I stay away from the brake pedal?
I'm going to make a flusher like twin_turbo suggested today here at work.
-Dan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
One more quick question. When I was at NAPA yesterday I noticed they carried Dot 3, Dot 4 and Dot 5. I have stock rebuilt calipers. I know that there is also synthetic. What should I use when I finish flushing the system.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
70 Shark,
I have used methylated spirits for decades to flush out brake fluid. It works fine and it's cheap. It helps to use coloured brake fluid (most are!) when filling so you can see the difference between metho and brake fluid.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
I have used methylated spirits for decades to flush out brake fluid. It works fine and it's cheap. It helps to use coloured brake fluid (most are!) when filling so you can see the difference between metho and brake fluid.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
