Brake fluid change!??

[JeffKeryk]

Im pretty sure the turkey baster is just for taking the old fluid out of the reservoir, that way you don't have to waste time bleeding it out through the calipers. In the end you still replace a majority of the old fluid.

Yes, the turkey baster is a good start. I am under the impression many consider this the only step if done regularly.
Funny thing about our Lexus GS350; Lexus recommends a brake fluid service @ 60K but considers the ATF a "lifetime fluid".
What a bunch of bozos....

 

[350Rocket]

Yes, the turkey baster is a good start. I am under the impression many consider this the only step if done regularly.
Funny thing about our Lexus GS350; Lexus recommends a brake fluid service @ 60K but considers the ATF a "lifetime fluid".
What a bunch of bozos....

Probably because of safety concerns when neglecting the brakes, whereas neglecting transmission fluid the worst case is a failed transmission.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Probably because of safety concerns when neglecting the brakes, whereas neglecting transmission fluid the worst case is a failed transmission.

Good point. Of course the transmission manufacturer, Asin, recommends a transmission service.
I fully expect Toyota to go belly up any day now...

 

[350Rocket]

Good point. Of course the transmission manufacturer, Asin, recommends a transmission service.
I fully expect Toyota to go belly up any day now...

Yes, it's clear for a while that our best interests aren't always the first thing in manufacturers mind's.

 

[miden851]

oh well the tool is here however it is going to take a weekend

 

[Wolf359]

Yes, the turkey baster is a good start. I am under the impression many consider this the only step if done regularly.
Funny thing about our Lexus GS350; Lexus recommends a brake fluid service @ 60K but considers the ATF a "lifetime fluid".
What a bunch of bozos....

Mercedes did the same thing, first it said their transmissions had a lifetime fluid and no need to change it. Then they later changed it to changing the fluid every 39k.

 

[BHopkins]

I still don’t get why you guys are using turkey basters! Syringes are cheap online and at Walmart and result in absolutely zero mess.

I couldn't agree more!! I have never been impressed with the turkey baster method. It is a lousy tool for removing fluids.

First, the bulb sometimes comes off. Second, the end of the baster is too large to get down inside brake reservoir or a p.s. reservoir. But worst of all, fluid drips out of turkey basters like crazy. They are a mess to use.

I pick up vet style syringes at the local farm supply stores. They are very inexpensive. Then I push a short length of 1/8" ID vinyl tubing. I cut the tube just long enough so I can get all the way to the bottom of the reservoir. Almost no dripping. Better control. No bulb to come off. Since the tubing is flexible, I can position the syringe wherever I need to.

There is no reason to put up with a turkey baster when there is so much better of an option.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

Gravity bleed works well if you’ve got the time. I make sure the bleed bottle and tubing are above the caliper and the end of the tubing is in fluid. Make sure the tubing is on tight, use a zip tie and only open the bleeders a 1/4 turn, no air will get in from there. You can also pump the brakes by yourself this way since air will not enter through the tubing when you let off the pedal.

Is how I do it. Works great. I did my 17 accord last summer this way, plan on doing it again either this summer just to do it or may wait 1 more year.
-I did use a turkey baster to suck the old fluid out of the reservoir ( not sure why some say it’s messy and whatnot, I just take my time and I have no to minimal spills or runs) and kept refilling the master while I flushed all the lines

 

[02zx9r rev2]

I still don’t get why you guys are using turkey basters! Syringes are cheap online and at Walmart and result in absolutely zero mess.

I use a TB cause that is what I have on hand and it works for me. If I happen to see something like that my next trip to the Walmart I may take a gander at it

Edit: just wanted to clarify, I don’t use the TB method and just siphon out the master and refill, I use the TB to siphon out the master, refill and then flush all four wheels while refilling master as I go

 

[gathermewool]

I use a TB cause that is what I have on hand and it works for me. If I happen to see something like that my next trip to the Walmart I may take a gander at it

Edit: just wanted to clarify, I don’t use the TB method and just siphon out the master and refill, I use the TB to siphon out the master, refill and then flush all four wheels while refilling master as I go

Yea, I meant for both. I do same.

I think that the TB method has become synonymous with an incomplete job, though.

 

[odie]

" I pick up vet style syringes at the local farm supply stores. They are very inexpensive. Then I push a short length of 1/8" ID vinyl tubing. I cut the tube just long enough so I can get all the way to the bottom of the reservoir. Almost no dripping. Better control. No bulb to come off. Since the tubing is flexible, I can position the syringe wherever I need to. "

Use this same method . There are also cheap meat injectors that can be found in grocery stores with cooking products . This is what I used for brake fluid removal .

Have thought of using a zip tie(s) to secure the plastic hose ( aquarium pump hose ) to the syringe as mentioned above . Had the hose come off a few times due to lubricant seeping in between hose and syringe . Not good .

 

[JeffKeryk]

Turkey baster? Syringe? Get a MityVac. You will love it.
Go big or go home.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

Turkey baster works fine for me

 

[BHopkins]

Turkey baster? Syringe? Get a MityVac. You will love it.
Go big or go home.

I don't think anyone is using a turkey baster or syringe to change brake fluid. One or the other is used to empty the master cylinder reservoir.

Whenever I change brake fluid, the first step is to empty the master cylinder reservoir of old fluid, then fill the reservoir with fresh fluid. Then I proceed with pushing out the old fluid and replacing it with the fresh fluid.

If you don't change the fluid in the reservoir first, the fluid that is being pumped down into the brake lines and to the brakes is mixed with all the old fluid from the reservoir. You end up with less than fresh brake fluid.

 

[NormanBuntz]

For what it's worth, I've driven several vehicles well beyond 200K miles...and a couple past 300K miles and never changed the brake fluid in any of them. Never had any issues.

A mechanic at my local indie shop told me last week that a brake fluid change on a Honda is just a money grab by the dealer. I'm not sure I believe that.

 

[Averroes]

For my commuter cars, every three years. For my summer car, every two.

 

[350Rocket]

A mechanic at my local indie shop told me last week that a brake fluid change on a Honda is just a money grab by the dealer. I'm not sure I believe that.

A lot of mechanics don't believe in it any more than they do synthetic oil or other things they don't know a lot about.

One mechanic I worked with complained about other mechanics over selling brake fluid flushes, then one day I saw him flushing the brake fluid on his own truck. So he believed in it, just not at very frequent intervals.

 

[odie]

Turkey baster? Syringe? Get a MityVac. You will love it.
Go big or go home.

Have the MITYVAC . Like a change of pace .

 

[edyvw]

A mechanic at my local indie shop told me last week that a brake fluid change on a Honda is just a money grab by the dealer. I'm not sure I believe that.

Ask mechanic to give you scientific explanation why it is money grab. Does he make his own fluid? Bcs. such scientific mind should not be in garage.

 

[Wolf359]

Ask mechanic to give you scientific explanation why it is money grab. Does he make his own fluid? Bcs. such scientific mind should not be in garage.

I think he means it's a money grab because the dealers can charge for the labor. The cost of the fluid is nothing compared to the labor. I think Mercedes is about $200-$300 for a brake fluid flush and they recommend it as standard maintenance every 2 years. The $15 in fluid is nothing compared to the labor charge.