Brake Fluid Flush
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 43
From: ABQ NM
Cruise-In II Veteran
It would be the preferable thing to do. I am under the impression that water in the fluid could have a deleterious effect on some of the brake components. The factory brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air; it will occur as a function of age, not mileage.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Livingston TN
If the fluid is dark it probably has absorbed moisture along with other contaminates from normal wear. I have a 99 and have changed the fluid when it darkens, not to difficult if you just use a turkey baster and suck it out refill , drive then repeat untill it is golden....good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
Originally Posted by CARRJET
If the fluid is dark it probably has absorbed moisture along with other contaminates from normal wear. I have a 99 and have changed the fluid when it darkens, not to difficult if you just use a turkey baster and suck it out refill , drive then repeat untill it is golden....good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Originally Posted by CARRJET
If the fluid is dark it probably has absorbed moisture along with other contaminates from normal wear. I have a 99 and have changed the fluid when it darkens, not to difficult if you just use a turkey baster and suck it out refill , drive then repeat untill it is golden....good luck
This method is ok if you are street-driven only as you will never see high enough brake temps to make water absorption a major issue. It's still a good idea to replace fluid to avoid corrosion though.
The best and complete way to do this is to remove all old fluid from the resevoir as people have said, then bleed all four calipers. The fluid in the calipers is what is exposed to the majority of heat and it is important to have fresh fluid in the calipers. Replacing only the fluid in the resevoir will not necessarily refresh the fluid in the calipers - there's alot of hardline between the resevoir and calipers.
Also, the moisture in the old fluid left in the lines will more quickly contaminate the new fluid.
A complete flush/bleed is really pretty straightforward if you have the ability to get the car up and have basic tools. You can even lift one corner at a time and do it, it is just more of a PITA that way. You'll need speed bleeders, a motive, OR a buddy/wife willing to press the brake pedal a few hundred times
I had to buy a motive, my wife gave out after the first full bleed
