Bleeding brakes - just another reason to do it

[V1]

After 2.5 years and 60,000 miles, I finally got around to flushing the brakes.

The old fluid was very dark and murky. It had a green tint to it. I thoroughly flushed every corner until fresh yellow fluid came out.

After I finished, it felt like I had allowed some air to get in, so I briefly re-bled each corner.

This is what came out the SECOND time around:

http://i4.tinypic.com/2604cnp.jpg
http://i6.tinypic.com/2604dh3.jpg
http://i4.tinypic.com/2604e2e.jpg

The old fluid had even more of the murkiness in it, but overall it was just too dark for my camera to capture.

Don't ask me what the stuff is, but I'm willing to bet that it's a combination of moisture, dirt, and possibly algae. Well, maybe not algae, but you get the idea! Among all the other reasons, seeing this convinces me that brake bleeding is a necessity.

Feedback welcome.

 

[Kestas]

Probably seal wear debris... maybe some corrosion.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

I did a complete brake job on a 74 Beetle that appeared to have the original master cylinder, lines and brake cylinders on it. I had no idea of it's history, but I bled...and bled..and bled. Drove. Bled some more. It never did stay clear until I ended up replacing the master cylinder and all hoses. I ended up going through 2 quarts of fluid before I felt good about the pedal feel. Goes to show you how stuff can hide from you even when you work your butt off.

 

[Tones]

I always thought the black gunk was rubber hose material that breaks down. I agree about the flushing. I did this recently on my 5 year old truck. My fluid still looked clear, just amber colored--about like your showing for your second round. Really improved the pedal feel. I did it to replenish the corrosion inhibitors in the fluid.

 

[Steelers]

Recently bleed brakes on my truck with 70K on it. Took 40oz to get clean fluid out of all 4 brakes. Pedal feel is much improved, firmer with no mushiness.

 

[Auto-Union]

When I bleed a old used car, I do it again in 6 months.

 

[labman]

I routinely run Prestone DOT 4 5-10 years with no problems.

 

[kgb007stb]

Yup, except that mine was completely black on the rear lines, don’t know what that is but I am glad its out.

 

[ALS]

I do mine every 20-30K
342K with no brake problems. YET

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Recently did bled the brakes on the wife's 02 Explorer. The Ford dealer "flushed the brake lines" at one point about 2 years becuase they said that the fluid looked dirty. They charged $120 bucks for that! Anyway, I said that I would never pay that again, so I got my own bleeder kit from Sears tool section. It works real nice in that it has three of four rubber connecters for the various size bleeder nipples out there. It also came with some clear plastic hose and a plastic cup with a lid that seals tight. You can set this up and go pump the brakes a few times... It worked real nice when I used it...

 

[labman]

Do you change your oil too as soon as it ''looks dirty''?

 

[V1]

Navel Orange/ Naval Aircraft Carrier

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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Do you change your oil too as soon as it ''looks dirty''?

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Comparing engine oil to brake fluid is brilliant. A real nugget of relevance.

 

[Master ACiD]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:
I routinely run Prestone DOT 4 5-10 years with no problems.

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just because you can does not mean you should.

 

[metroplex]

Our 2003 E-250 was factory ordered. After ONE year on the factory fill brake fluid, it was totally black (like used motor oil). We did not drive it hard at all. This was my experience with the 2000 Crown Vic's factory fill brake fluid after 1 year.

 

[94Acclaim3.0]

I have almost 160k on my car and i don't think the brakes have even been flushed. At least not while i have owned then car since about 45k miles. I geuss i have always thought if it ain't broke don't fix it. After seeing that though i better bleed them out soon and get some new fluid in there.

 

[labman]

I am beginning to think it may be important to dump the factory fill many cars come with early and replace it with a more stable material like the Prestone that lasts indefinitely for me along with the GM factory fill. I guess the manufacturers that recommend changing brake fluid know the quality of their factory fill.

You used to be able to run the factory fill on most cars until the rubber parts started to go after 10 years. Still that way with GM.

 

[ARB1977]

I have mine done every two years, cheap insurance.

 

[par]

>> You used to be able to run the factory fill on most cars until the rubber parts started to go after 10 years. Still that way with GM.
Maybe the rubber started going bad because the fluid was never changed?

 

[labman]

quote:

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Originally posted by par:
>> You used to be able to run the factory fill on most cars until the rubber parts started to go after 10 years. Still that way with GM.
Maybe the rubber started going bad because the fluid was never changed?

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I am still waiting for my explanation on how changing the fluid lends immortality to the boot that the fluid never touches. After 10 years, you need to replace that stuff.