Changing brake fluid
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 22,116
Likes: 1,663
From: South Carolina
I did this on my ranger first lol. I sucked out and re-filled the reservoir with fresh brake fluid every three days or so or until the fluid "browned" up. I used a tall bottle of fluid. After about 2/3rd bottle the fluid stayed clean. Truck had 60k on it and it made a huge difference in pedal modulation.
I did it in the Vette at 15k...tall bottle just because....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 0
From: Skippack PA
I also can't remember the last time I changed anti-freeze in any car I've owned (or replaced the battery). I'm sure the next person who bought the car didn't have any issues either. I'm still fairly **** about oil changes, but follow the DIC for the most part. I'll do the transmission at 50K at best, but thats about it for things like that.
But this is just like oil changes and such, your car, your time and money, and if it makes you feel better, have at it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,773
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I change the brake fluid on the Vette several times per year, change the 03 Tahoe every 3 years, and will change the 08 Malibu in another 18 months. As for coolant I change it once every 5 years.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 44,976
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Yes...juts don't pump the pedal with the lid off or the tank empty.
I did this on my ranger first lol. I sucked out and re-filled the reservoir with fresh brake fluid every three days or so or until the fluid "browned" up. I used a tall bottle of fluid. After about 2/3rd bottle the fluid stayed clean. Truck had 60k on it and it made a huge difference in pedal modulation.
I did it in the Vette at 15k...tall bottle just because....
I did this on my ranger first lol. I sucked out and re-filled the reservoir with fresh brake fluid every three days or so or until the fluid "browned" up. I used a tall bottle of fluid. After about 2/3rd bottle the fluid stayed clean. Truck had 60k on it and it made a huge difference in pedal modulation.
I did it in the Vette at 15k...tall bottle just because....
I think it's a good practice. I do it. It's sort of a lazy mans way to change the brake fluid. I also do the Ranger method clutch fluid change and this is a similar concept, except you do NOT want to pump the brake pedal. It may not be all that effective though, since the brake fluid sort of goes "back and forth", it doesn't really circulate.
You are blending the new fluid with the old, which would clean it up. As mentioned above brake fluid attracts water, so by blending it with fresh, you are reducing the water content.
I would prefer to completely flush all of the brake fluid, but I do not like taking my C6 to a shop, and I do not have a Tech II. On the bright side, my Cy is pleasure only so I don't put that many miles on it.
Last edited by need-for-speed; Jan 21, 2010 at 09:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 44,976
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 44,976
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Define "longterm". How many years and miles would I have to own the car and drive to make doing this worth while? I have never done this or lots of other "necessary" maintainance that others do on any car. My wife and I get a new car every 3-4 years, she usually goes 4 with about 50-60K miles. So unless its highly recommended and going to affect my warranty, why bother?
I also can't remember the last time I changed anti-freeze in any car I've owned (or replaced the battery). I'm sure the next person who bought the car didn't have any issues either. I'm still fairly **** about oil changes, but follow the DIC for the most part. I'll do the transmission at 50K at best, but thats about it for things like that.
But this is just like oil changes and such, your car, your time and money, and if it makes you feel better, have at it.
I also can't remember the last time I changed anti-freeze in any car I've owned (or replaced the battery). I'm sure the next person who bought the car didn't have any issues either. I'm still fairly **** about oil changes, but follow the DIC for the most part. I'll do the transmission at 50K at best, but thats about it for things like that.
But this is just like oil changes and such, your car, your time and money, and if it makes you feel better, have at it.
We replace the wife's car (Tahoe) at about the same interval as you, and I never change the antifreeze or brake fluid in her cars. As you, I do change the oil per the DIC in her cars and once every year in my other cars (they never have more than 4K miles per year) My C5 was my first Vette and I only changed the oil on it. But it was 5 years old and only had 18K miles on it when I sold it. I will most likely keep my C6 longer than my C5, so I will need to change the antifreeze and a complete brake fluid flush (including the Tech II ABS thing).
I do change those fluids in my '86 Silverado and '79 Camaro, but those are long term "retention"
vehicles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,250
Likes: 6
From: Glassboro New Jersey
See below: Except that it doesn't really attract moisture, but it absorbs moisture.I agree with the "every 2 years", except that Pat Goss is an absolute moron on every other subject. Ask any experienced auto tech.
DOT 5 is not recommended for everyday street use. It is not compatable with DOT 3 and DOT 4, so the entire system needs to be completely flushed. DOT 5 is silicone based and does not absorb moisture like DOT 3 and 4 fluid, and that is not a good thing. If DOT 5 is not changed frequently, you run the risk of internal corrosion. DOT 5 being silicone based is also highly compressible, meaning it can give you a spongier brake pedal. The ONLY advantages to DOT 5 are a high boiling point and it is generally used in show cars because it will not damage painted surfaces like other brake fluids.
If you run your car hard on track days, you want to use DOT 5.1 fluid. It is POLYGLYCOL ETHER based like DOT 3 and 4, is completely compatible and exceed the higher boiling points of DOT 5.
Last edited by Marc V.; Jan 21, 2010 at 09:58 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
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From: Rushsylvania Ohio
Not the same article referenced by the OP, but very similar:
http://www.corvettefever.com/tipstri...4_5/index.html
http://www.corvettefever.com/tipstri...4_5/index.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,977
Likes: 2,690
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
When I was doing HPDE weekends in the C5, most events required a brake fluid flush (not just a bleeding) within two WEEKS before the event.
They didn't get that additude for nothing. The reduced boiling point of your brake fluid caused by moisture absorbtion can cause nearly complete brake failure if you get the fluid hot enough to boil. For your grocery-getter, the only problem would be eventual corrosion inside the calipers. Same for the 'vette if you don't use the brakes very hard. But if you use the brakes hard, fresh fluid can save your life.
I have all our cars flushed every two years.
They didn't get that additude for nothing. The reduced boiling point of your brake fluid caused by moisture absorbtion can cause nearly complete brake failure if you get the fluid hot enough to boil. For your grocery-getter, the only problem would be eventual corrosion inside the calipers. Same for the 'vette if you don't use the brakes very hard. But if you use the brakes hard, fresh fluid can save your life.
I have all our cars flushed every two years.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,773
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Yes. I have a lift and a pressure bleeder so it is much easier to do. The Tahoe is the only one that has given me problems so far. The calipers are cast iron and the vehicle is driven on roads with lots of salt and dirt on them so the bleed screws tend to get frozen in the calipers. The Malibu may have the same issue but I will be pulling the wheels on both vehicles over the next couple of months to check the brakes before they go in for NY State Inspection so will check the bleeders then to see if they will be a problem.
Bill
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,250
Likes: 6
From: Glassboro New Jersey
Not the same article referenced by the OP, but very similar:
http://www.corvettefever.com/tipstri...4_5/index.html
http://www.corvettefever.com/tipstri...4_5/index.html
This article confirms everything that I posted above.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 90
I am convinced that it is $$ well spent as a maintenance item. My brother who owns a gaggle of tire stores in the Seattle area confirmed.
Since he does not directly benefit from the advise I take it seriously. For all the reasons other have listed via articles, etc.
Thanks everyone.
Since he does not directly benefit from the advise I take it seriously. For all the reasons other have listed via articles, etc.
Thanks everyone.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 44,976
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
When I was doing HPDE weekends in the C5, most events required a brake fluid flush (not just a bleeding) within two WEEKS before the event.
They didn't get that additude for nothing. The reduced boiling point of your brake fluid caused by moisture absorbtion can cause nearly complete brake failure if you get the fluid hot enough to boil. For your grocery-getter, the only problem would be eventual corrosion inside the calipers. Same for the 'vette if you don't use the brakes very hard. But if you use the brakes hard, fresh fluid can save your life.
I have all our cars flushed every two years.
They didn't get that additude for nothing. The reduced boiling point of your brake fluid caused by moisture absorbtion can cause nearly complete brake failure if you get the fluid hot enough to boil. For your grocery-getter, the only problem would be eventual corrosion inside the calipers. Same for the 'vette if you don't use the brakes very hard. But if you use the brakes hard, fresh fluid can save your life.
I have all our cars flushed every two years.
My first "performance car" was an '86 IROC-Z (don't laugh - it was fast for it's day). I used to drive it pretty hard on the way to work on the Houston freeways. I had never experienced brake fade before that because I had never owned a car that was fast enough to tax the brake system that hard.
Having your brakes "disappear" when you need them the most will make you sh!te your pants. It was one of the most scary feelings I've ever had. I'm lucky to be alive.
I didn't even catch that. I guess I would make a terrible proof reader or editor. 