Bled my brakes again ...

[Realtech214]

One year ago (about 10K miles) i bled through some new supertech dot3 fluid, getting rid of all the greenish oem fluid that had about 80000 miles and ten years on it. Today, I bought some Prestone Dot3 to do it again, because i thought maybe there was some air in there still. Bled the new prestone through and the supertech came out very dark green/black. Did that until new clean fluid was comming out of each bleeder. For some reason, inside my resavoir, there are black flakes. There was before too. Dont really know how to get rid of them, i sucked all the stuff out but theres still more in there.

Anyways, if your still with me at this point, My brakes are firm again and not squishey.

 

[The_Jeff]

Good job! Are you in the humid part of Florida (dumb question

) as water is murder on brake fluid.

 

[Donald]

How were the brakes after you bled them 1 yr ago? What was done (in the brake system) 1 yr ago to need brake bleeding?

What method are you using to bleed brakes?

 

[GutsyGecko]

I'm surprised the bleeders opened after 10 years...

 

[Realtech214]

I didnt need to do it at first, i just wanted to flush some new fluid throught there. I wasnt having any problems. I took a clear hose put it in a bottle and did it that way. The back bleeders were a pita but some hammering did the trick.

 

[tomcat27]

I'd be concerned about the black flakes. Seals disintegrating? Time for a new master cylinder?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: GutsyGecko
I'm surprised the bleeders opened after 10 years...


Mine open after 30.

OP, Id be concerned with what you saw. Due to heat and moisture, some discoloration is expected, and you flush it until fresh fluid arrives.

But Id be worried that low-bid super tech doesn't include enough inhibitors if the result after such a short time was so bad. Brakes aren't a place to scrimp.

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: GutsyGecko
I'm surprised the bleeders opened after 10 years...


If you don't have the black rubber caps on the bleeders...see about getting some.

 

[285south]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
Time for a new master cylinder?


Agreed

 

[Realtech214]

Brakes are perfect. Its like a thin coating the original fluid left in the reservoir. Its always been there. It flakes off when you suck the fluid out with a hose.

 

[artificialist]

I find that nearly every plastic master cylinder reservoir gets permanently stained.

I wouldn't worry, so long as your brakes perform well.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


But Id be worried that low-bid super tech doesn't include enough inhibitors if the result after such a short time was so bad. Brakes aren't a place to scrimp.


It meets DOT 3 standards so it should be fine in that and all other critical respects.

 

[SuperDave456]

I received a 1998 F150 as a wedding present.

It had a very scary slow breaking ability at first.
2 bleeds later, it's breaks were working like they were supposed to.
It works like that sometimes.
You have to get all the crud and water out of the lines in order for things to work like they are supposed to.

Also, not sure how old the Master Cylinder is on the F150, but on my 2002 Taurus the Master Cylinder started leaking from the rear seal and I just replaced it.
Pretty simple job, once you get the right part.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
I received a 1998 F150 as a wedding present.

It had a very scary slow breaking ability at first.
2 bleeds later, it's breaks were working like they were supposed to.
It works like that sometimes.
You have to get all the crud and water out of the lines in order for things to work like they are supposed to.

Also, not sure how old the Master Cylinder is on the F150, but on my 2002 Taurus the Master Cylinder started leaking from the rear seal and I just replaced it.
Pretty simple job, once you get the right part.


Was this a recent wedding?

Actually if there was water in the brake lines it would not make the brakes spongy. They would brake fine. In order for the brakes to be spongy there needs to be something in the brake system that is compressible like air. Water is not.

But obviously water would not be good to have in the brake system for other reasons like rust.

 

[deanm11]

I always felt the # 1 reason to keep water out of brake fluid was for maintaining a high boiling point. In real mild driving it may never be a problem- but who is to say when you might be in a emergency or otherwise need your brakes at max capacity.



[/quote]

Was this a recent wedding?

Actually if there was water in the brake lines it would not make the brakes spongy. They would brake fine. In order for the brakes to be spongy there needs to be something in the brake system that is compressible like air. Water is not.

But obviously water would not be good to have in the brake system for other reasons like rust. [/quote]

 

[Hyde244]

^ Indeed. That is why we refer to the dry and wet boiling points of brake fluid, the wet being once water is diluted into the mixture.