Brake Fluid woes

[zerosoma]

I was made aware that the last time my brake pads were changed ($250 for the service) the shop did not bleed the brakes. Boo. Braking is still a little on the heavy side, where you must press down a fair bit to get response, then they react when you really dig in.

Figured it could be partly the brake fluid. So I pumped the reservoir tank out and replaced with new, but I don't feel a difference. Unfortunately I think the brake lines need to be bled but I've heard of people that just turkey baster out the reservoir and it fixes them.

Did I forget something or am I out of the loop on what to do? I don't have a jack and I don't really want to bleed the lines...

 

[Billbert]

You are wasting your time if you don't bleed the brakes at the wheel cyls / calipers.

 

[NateDN10]

The fluid doesn't really circulate, so you still have old fluid in the brake lines and calipers.

 

[2oldtommy]

Any shop that does not bleed the brakes after replacing the pads is not worth your patronage IMO. This is an incomplete job. Find another shop. FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[gathermewool]

I almost bit when I asked how much a brake fluid change at my local dealer cost. I was busy and they only wanted $40, IIRC. After digging a little deeper, he finally admitted that their "preferred maintenance plan" version only included siphoning out the reservoir and refilling.

I passed and eventually found time to do it myself. It's really one of the simpler jobs, so long as you have enough fluid and obviously the tools and time.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Siphon reservoir and refill with less than 1/2 pint brake fluid for $40 ? You can do the exact same thing in less than 2-3 minutes for less than $4.

Speaking of bleeding the brake lines, the most time consuming is raise the vehicle, remove the wheel then reinstall the wheel. With the right tool (a good fluid extractor), bleeding a corner can be done in 1-2 minutes, but other works above take a lot longer. The best time to flush brake fluid at the caliper is when you replace brake pads and/or rotors

 

[zerosoma]

Yeah, obviously I won't be going back to that place again. The only thing that makes me happy about that whole ordeal is that I talked the guy down from $400 ($100 a pad) to $250. I figured he could negotiate and he did. He also cleaned the rust off the rotors and wheels.

I'll just find a place that will bleed brakes next time I need to replace the pads as these Santa Fe's eat through pads pretty fast especially in city driving.

 

[fdcg27]

zero,
You seem like a guy who wants to get more involved in the maintenance and repair of your vehicles.
Why not bleed the brakes yourself?
It isn't at all hard.
Why not also plan on doing your own brakes?
A pretty easy job.
$250.00 for what sounds like a pad slap is insane.
You'll kick yourself after your first pad replacement for having paid so much, you'll probably use a better quality set of pads, and you'll even buy and use the right grease for the caliper slides.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Siphon reservoir and refill with less than 1/2 pint brake fluid for $40 ? You can do the exact same thing in less than 2-3 minutes for less than $4.

Speaking of bleeding the brake lines, the most time consuming is raise the vehicle, remove the wheel then reinstall the wheel. With the right tool (a good fluid extractor), bleeding a corner can be done in 1-2 minutes, but other works above take a lot longer. The best time to flush brake fluid at the caliper is when you replace brake pads and/or rotors


Exactly, though a fair price for an actual brake bleed, which is why I asked. I had all four corners bled (8 total zirc fittings on the Brembos) in less than an hour, including helping others and shooting the poo with others in the shop.

I'm not even sure why I considered letting the dealer do it, to be honest. I really enjoy working on my car, as well as being in the shop with other guys. I'm still a relative newb when it comes to complicated issues, but good enough to help others with the the simple PM. I always put off going to the shop, but when I get there I really enjoy myself.

 

[beanoil]

Find, rent, beg, borrow, steal, or buy a Motive bleeder with the fitting that works with your master. For your first bleed with dark fluid, use your choice of brake fluid. Install the Motive, fill it, pump it, and crack the wheel cylinder furthest from the master, then next closest, and onward. The whole thing won't take 30 minutes. Next time you bleed, get a can of ATE Blue. When you see the color change, you are done with that leg of the system.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
zero,
You seem like a guy who wants to get more involved in the maintenance and repair of your vehicles.
Why not bleed the brakes yourself?
It isn't at all hard.
Why not also plan on doing your own brakes?
A pretty easy job.
$250.00 for what sounds like a pad slap is insane.
You'll kick yourself after your first pad replacement for having paid so much, you'll probably use a better quality set of pads, and you'll even buy and use the right grease for the caliper slides.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.




You're totally right. I love to work on my vehicels and find things to do. It's become a hobby of mine and I never thought I'd see the day. Everything is scary the first time you try it though, and I would have no idea what I was doing at first. I need to buy a jack first. Then where to I start...grease? pads? I wish I knew right off the bat! I'll have to read a book or something, as all o fmy reliatives just take their vehicles in to be serviced so there's no one to talk to aside from on here!

 

[ARB1977]

I had Honda do mine the other day. I'm a little worried about abs set ups.

 

[fdcg27]

If you've never touched brakes before, they might seem a little strange.
Maybe look at a service manual at the library or check online until you find either text with pictures or a video.
The manuals you'll find at the parts store are usually pretty lame.
Once you've done a set of front disc pads, you'll wonder why you ever paid anyone to change them.
Rotor R&R, if needed, ranges from pretty easy to pretty hard.
The rear discs range from easy to harder, depending on the parking brake arrangement.
Work slowly and carefully, especially your first time, and you shouldn't hurt anything.