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

 

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.

 

you can get a big bottle of cheap Dot 3 to use

 

Thanks, That is what I will do.

 

This what you need...

http://www.motiveproducts.com/02bleeders.html

 

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.

 

That pressure bleeder look pretty nice. I know it can be built for less, but for $54 I might spring for one.

 

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

 

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.

 

I have used and love the Snap-on vacuum unit. It connects to a regular air line, but sucks the fluid out at the caliper bleeder. You watch the fluid come out, stop it when there's no bubbles.

 

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

 

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!

 

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

 

A Mityvac for about $40 works well too. You can get them at any Pep Boys.