scope103

When I had my relay-rod recall completed (yes, it took them a while to find me), the dealership suggested that I replace the brake fluid. I'd like to say that it was "coffee-colored," but not even I would drink coffee that strong.

First: empty the reservoir. I planned to put my vacuum-type fluid-sucker in through the fill cap, empty the resevoir completely, and fill with new fluid before pulling the old fluid through the bleeder screws. Of course, the reservoir has two parts (front and back), and I can only reach the back half through the cap. So it emptied the back half, but that only pulled the front half down to the "min" line. So I had to pull all the bad fluid out of the front half of the reservoir through a front wheel bleeder.

Then, suck out the rest of the bad fluid (in the lines and cylinders/calipers) through the bleeders. But ... the bleeder screws are at the very top of the cylinders/calipers (of course, because air goes up), so that I was able to flush the lines, but presumably the old fluid in the cylinders/calipers stayed put.

Which means I only did 1/2 of the job. I suppose I could have removed each wheel, then compressed each wheel cylinder/caliper with a clamp to squeeze the fluid back up to the master cylinder. But that sounded too much like work.

Has anyone else done a job like this? Did you figure out a better way to do it?

(Incidentally, with dark brown brake fluid it was really easy to tell if the translucent fluid reservoir was full. With my new crystal-clear brake fluid, I have to remove the cap to see the level!)

Matt16

Bleed the brakes twice and most of the old fluid is removed. Removing the wheels and compressing the calipers, jambing some stuff between the pad and the rotor, THEN bleeding the brakes would get more of it out.

There's a very good chance your calipers aren't in the best of shape due to crud in the brake fluid. Inspect the pads for even wear. If uneven, rebuild or replace the calipers.

PCE91V64x4

Based on your having a vacuum bleeder, pulling off the calipers and compressing the pistons and then bleeding the system is really no problem. That is what I did a few months back and it is not a big deal.

Have a large C clamp handy to compress the pistons using the old pads.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

I flush my brake fluid with a vacuum bleeder. Mine has a 4 oz. collecting jar. I go around in the normal bleeding sequence and pull 1 jar of fluid out, dump it, top off the reservoir then pull most of a 2nd jar of fluid until it runs clear. Then repeat at the other brakes and by the time you are done, you run about 1 qt. of fluid through and it is all fresh.