Changing brake fluid with turkey baster?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 27
From: Minneapolis MN
Changing brake fluid with turkey baster?
So I was reading an article today where a mechanic talked about a temporary way to change brake fluid, with a turkey baster!
I know it works for the power steering fluid, but has anyone done this with brake fluid? It seems much easier than flushing the whole system, at least as a temporary measure. What do you think?
:seeya
I know it works for the power steering fluid, but has anyone done this with brake fluid? It seems much easier than flushing the whole system, at least as a temporary measure. What do you think?
:seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (FlyboyZR1)
Using a turkey baster to remove the old fluid from the M/C resevoir saves having to bleed all of that old fluid through the brake lines. Suck the old fluid out until you get to the hole where the fluid goes into the M/C and then refill with fresh fluid and then bleed the brakes.
It's not a "temporary" way as the old fluid remains in the lines and calipers and still must be flushed from the entire system. BTW, it will take about 1 quart to replace the fluid.
It's not a "temporary" way as the old fluid remains in the lines and calipers and still must be flushed from the entire system. BTW, it will take about 1 quart to replace the fluid.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 5
From: CASTLE ROCK CO
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (c4cruiser)
I did that (with the turkey baster for two weeks, like every other day as long as I drove it) Used about 3 pints then bleed all the brakes the fluid came out clean. I wiped the inside of theReservoir with a clean rag.
Worked great till i saw what looked like a little spec of dirt in the reservoir, I had a little piece of paper towel in my hand I thought was a rag. The break fluid destroyed the paper towel and I got disolved paper towel in my reservoir.
Another 3 0r 4 pints later and all is well.
:crazy:
Pretty stupid huh.
Worked great till i saw what looked like a little spec of dirt in the reservoir, I had a little piece of paper towel in my hand I thought was a rag. The break fluid destroyed the paper towel and I got disolved paper towel in my reservoir.
Another 3 0r 4 pints later and all is well.
:crazy:
Pretty stupid huh.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (FlyboyZR1)
A turkey baster makes a flush go faster, but it's not a substitute. Brake fluid doesn't recirculate like the power steering system. The old fluid in the calipers and lines will just sit there.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (FlyboyZR1)
Your brake calipers always need working on first. The reason is because absorbed moisture from the air in the brake fluid goes to the lowest point, your calipers. Sitting there it corrodes the caliper bores and causes leaks and sticky pistons. A turkey baster allows you to replace the brake fluid in the master cylinder but not the calipers. If you want longevity out of your brake system, bleed the whole system, not just the master cylinder. This should be done at least once a year. The easiest way to do it is to buy the replacement bleeders for your calipers meant for one person bleeding. Leave the turkey baster to the turkeys if you know what I mean. :D
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 27
From: Minneapolis MN
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (jfb)
Leave the turkey baster to the turkeys if you know what I mean. :D
Thanks everyone for the info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Az
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (FlyboyZR1)
Been using the wifes kitchen stuff in the garage 4 years.........
Maybe that's why I've divorced a couple times??????
:lol:
Maybe that's why I've divorced a couple times??????
:lol:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? (FlyboyZR1)
Leave the turkey baster to the turkeys if you know what I mean. :D
I'll take your advice on that jfb. :D
I'll take your advice on that jfb. :D
The baster gets as much of the old fluid out of the master cylinder first as possible, then it will push the "clean" fluid through to the calipers. With no fluid in the M/C to mix with the clean fluid, iy makes the job go much faster.
I've used it for years and never had any problems. Like a previous post said, bleeding that way takes about 1 quart of fluid. I bleed the brakes about every 2-3 months during the racing season, and at some tracks need to bleed them after a single day of racing.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: ST Inigoes MD
Re: Changing brake fluid with turkey baster? can't hurt
no a turkey will not take the place complet flush but any time you can get dirty fluid out and replace it with new clean fluid it has do some good. I do it to the power steering to :iagree:
