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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / January 2006

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How do you flush the brake fluid from system?

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pinfun - 12 Jan 2006 02:48 GMT
THANKS GROUP
Jimbo - 12 Jan 2006 05:58 GMT
> THANKS GROUP

Just like bleeding but waiting until you see the new, clean fluid coming
out.  Can be easily done two man with no special tools or one man with a
bleeding kit.

Jimbo
Alex Rodriguez - 12 Jan 2006 22:34 GMT
>THANKS GROUP

take turkey baster and syphon all fluid from master cyclinder reservoir.
wipe down master cylinder reservoir with a clean towel.
fill master cylinder reservoir with fresh brake fluid.
bleed brakes starting with the brake farthest away from master cylinder.
bleed each corner until the fluid coming out is clean.  
-------------
Alex
larry moe 'n curly - 14 Jan 2006 05:11 GMT
> take turkey baster and syphon all fluid from master cyclinder reservoir.
> wipe down master cylinder reservoir with a clean towel.
> fill master cylinder reservoir with fresh brake fluid.
> bleed brakes starting with the brake farthest away from master cylinder.
> bleed each corner until the fluid coming out is clean.

Can't the lint from a towel hurt the brake system?  Because on my
Escort the reservoir opening has a nylon mesh screen.    Also the
reservoir has two compartments, and there's no way a towel can clean
out the second compartment.  I had to use a syringe with a thin tube to
empty it.
Doug Warner - 14 Jan 2006 21:26 GMT
>Can't the lint from a towel hurt the brake system?  Because on my
>Escort the reservoir opening has a nylon mesh screen.    Also the
>reservoir has two compartments, and there's no way a towel can clean
>out the second compartment.  I had to use a syringe with a thin tube to
>empty it.

I think the idea in wiping out the resevoir is to remove any crud that
may have collected on the bottom.  If it looks clean, don't bother.
The amount of old fluid that remains there is nothing compared to
what's left in the system, expecially the ABS pump and calipers..
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Alex Rodriguez - 20 Jan 2006 17:39 GMT
>> take turkey baster and syphon all fluid from master cyclinder reservoir.
>> wipe down master cylinder reservoir with a clean towel.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>out the second compartment.  I had to use a syringe with a thin tube to
>empty it.

Use a paper towel.  Make sure it pieces don't break off and get sucked into
the MC.  That would complicate things.  The mesh screen should come out.  
I have no ideas on how to clean up the second compartment.  I do know that if
you don't clean the reservoir, it takes a substantial amount of brake fluid
to flush the system clean.  If you do clean the reservoir, a quart will do
most cars.
-------------
Alex
Steve - 20 Jan 2006 18:54 GMT
>>>take turkey baster and syphon all fluid from master cyclinder reservoir.
>>>wipe down master cylinder reservoir with a clean towel.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> -------------
> Alex

Most modern cars (since the early 80s anyway) have an aluminum master
cylinder with a plastic reservoir that snaps onto the MC and seals by
means of O-rings. You can pop the whole reservoir off the MC, flush it
with Brakleen solvent, let it dry, put it back on, and re-fill it. Or
remove the whole MC from the vehicle and rinse repeatedly with brake
fluid (don't run Brakleen through an assembled MC).
larry moe 'n curly - 21 Jan 2006 07:05 GMT
> Most modern cars (since the early 80s anyway) have an aluminum master
> cylinder with a plastic reservoir that snaps onto the MC and seals by
> means of O-rings. You can pop the whole reservoir off the MC, flush it
> with Brakleen solvent, let it dry, put it back on, and re-fill it. Or
> remove the whole MC from the vehicle and rinse repeatedly with brake
> fluid (don't run Brakleen through an assembled MC).

I'm afraid of cracking the plastic reservior where it slips into the
grommets on the MC, and it seems that reserviors are a harder to buy
tha MCs.
John S. - 14 Jan 2006 22:11 GMT
> THANKS GROUP

Be sure to use either a vacuum or pressure bleeder to move fluid
through the system.  Don't pump the mastercylinder.
Unless you can be sure of completely cleaning the reservoir I would be
wary of wiping it with a paper towel.  You might loosen some crud and
move it into the system.
DG - 15 Jan 2006 16:05 GMT
When I flush, I use ATE super blue or yellow brake fluid.  I alternate the
color each time (every 2 years).  It's real easy to tell when the fresh
fluid is coming through!  Use a pressure bleeder if you can too.  No need to
be sticking any rags in the master cylinder.  Just suck it out with the
mentioned turkey baster.

'05 Subie WRX
'02 Subie RS
'99 Subie Outback Sedan Limited edition
'98 Volvo V70 AWD

> THANKS GROUP
Alex Rodriguez - 20 Jan 2006 17:43 GMT
>When I flush, I use ATE super blue or yellow brake fluid.  I alternate the
>color each time (every 2 years).  It's real easy to tell when the fresh
>fluid is coming through!

On my cars, mostly bought used, it is easy to tell old from new fluid because
the old is much, much, much darker than fresh fluid.

>Use a pressure bleeder if you can too.  No need to
>be sticking any rags in the master cylinder.  Just suck it out with the
>mentioned turkey baster.

You obviously flush regularly.  On the cars I have bled, if I don't wipe down
the reservoir I get more crud flowing through the system and it takes alot of
fluid to flush that crud through the system.  I prefer to stop that crud before
it gets into the MC and through the system.
--------------
Alex
 
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