Brake fluid change?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 8
From: North\East Wisconsin
Brake fluid change?
The brake fluid in my vette is pretty black and old enough to vote, 18 years. I think it's time to change it. I have been wanting to do this for several years so now it's going to happen. I could pay a shop 60 - 80 bucks but maybe I can do it myself. All the lines, and hubs are nice and clean. Any advise and or instruction on this would be appreciated. Do many of you guys do it yourself? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Re: Brake fluid change? (Derf)
It should have been changed 14-15 years ago.
Do it yourself, have a buddy over for beers and have him pump the brake pedal.
Anybody want to place a bet on how long it will be till the MC dies with a new fluid flush?
Do it yourself, have a buddy over for beers and have him pump the brake pedal.
Anybody want to place a bet on how long it will be till the MC dies with a new fluid flush?
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
Re: Brake fluid change? (Jeffvette)
I don't know, mine didn't die after waiting almost 10 years. MS still works great even after taking it apart for the DRM proportioning spring install...
Mine was done w/ SS line installs at the same time.
I used my Mighty Vac to suck the fluid from the reservoir, then wiped it clean w/ some non-lint cloths I had (for cleaning IBM tape drives). Fill w/ fresh Motul dot 4 synthetic & power blead the system again w/ my mighty vac unit until fresh fluid arrived at each corner.
Mine was done w/ SS line installs at the same time.
I used my Mighty Vac to suck the fluid from the reservoir, then wiped it clean w/ some non-lint cloths I had (for cleaning IBM tape drives). Fill w/ fresh Motul dot 4 synthetic & power blead the system again w/ my mighty vac unit until fresh fluid arrived at each corner.
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Re: Brake fluid change? (Derf)
The brake fluid in my vette is pretty black and old enough to vote, 18 years. I think it's time to change it. I have been wanting to do this for several years so now it's going to happen. I could pay a shop 60 - 80 bucks but maybe I can do it myself. All the lines, and hubs are nice and clean. Any advise and or instruction on this would be appreciated. Do many of you guys do it yourself? Thanks
I would suspect that you might have MC problems not too far down the line.
All that sludge you see in the reservoirs is in the MC and in the wheel cylinders.
:seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Brake fluid change? (Derf)
That is an ideal do-it-yourself job.
Get good instructions on how to co-ordinate pumping the pedal and opening the bleed valves if you are doing it the old fashioned way.
Before you start, empty the resevoir with a turkey baster or other sucky device and replace the fluid in the resevoir with clean fluid. That shortens the job.
If the system is really cruddy, you may want to do a second bleed job in a few weeks if the fluid gets dark again.
BTW, I think the old fashioned pup the pedle way is the best way if done right. When you friend is mashing down on the peddle, you have a couple hundred psi of pressure to blast the fluid through the lines and knock the dirty stuff out. With a pressure bleeder you are only working with 10 to 20 psi and with a vacuum device only working with partial atmospheric pressure.
Get good instructions on how to co-ordinate pumping the pedal and opening the bleed valves if you are doing it the old fashioned way.
Before you start, empty the resevoir with a turkey baster or other sucky device and replace the fluid in the resevoir with clean fluid. That shortens the job.
If the system is really cruddy, you may want to do a second bleed job in a few weeks if the fluid gets dark again.
BTW, I think the old fashioned pup the pedle way is the best way if done right. When you friend is mashing down on the peddle, you have a couple hundred psi of pressure to blast the fluid through the lines and knock the dirty stuff out. With a pressure bleeder you are only working with 10 to 20 psi and with a vacuum device only working with partial atmospheric pressure.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: OH
Re: Brake fluid change? (xs650)
I changed mine after 18 years, it was BLACK. Haven't had any problems so far with the MC, fluid is nice a clean now. Maybe I was lucky, either way new fluid makes a world of difference. I will now be doing a full flush every year.
You might want to look into getting some SpeedBleeders, they really make the job a lot easier if you don't have a buddy around. Still need someone to help you if you replaced the lines because it needs some fluid in the lines to start working properly.
[Modified by rsafier, 6:15 PM 3/1/2004]
You might want to look into getting some SpeedBleeders, they really make the job a lot easier if you don't have a buddy around. Still need someone to help you if you replaced the lines because it needs some fluid in the lines to start working properly.
[Modified by rsafier, 6:15 PM 3/1/2004]
