How to flush brake fluid...

[sasilverbullet]

I know how to bleed the brakes and flush the fluid on older cars (pre ABS)using the old fashioned "push the pedal" method.

Is it any different for my 2014 Honda Accord and Civic?

 

[CharBaby]

Pushing the brake pedal down(2 person method) can often be dangerous in any vehicle. Although most people have decent success doing this, what can often happen is that the master cylinders piston, gets pushed further than is should and often scoring its own cylinder wall, causing permanent leaks(either fluid, air or both).

There isn't much difference when bleeding/flushing the brake systems with ABS brake. Sure, you can still use the 2 person method but, the potential issue/problem described above is the same. However it is much safer to use either a brake bleeder or, gravity bleed/flush the system(open the bleeder valve and let fluid drizzle out).

Honda vehicles usually(or used to) require a criss/cross bleed/flush pattern(LF/RR, RF/LR or visa-versa). Although I always bleed/flushed my Honda's brake systems the typical way...furthest away to closest to the master cylinder(RR, LR, RF, LF) without any issues whatsoever!

To answer your question about brake bleeding/flushing a non-ABS compared to an ABS system, the technique is the same as far as I know and from my own experience.

 

[larryinnewyork]

I have ABS Brakes.

I have been under the impression that the ABS Valve is always in the 'OPEN' position,
until the Valve is actuated while braking.

So changing the fluid is not a problem.

I have a device that pressurizes the Reservoir (and refills it) while I open the Bleeder Screws.

 

[demarpaint]

I gravity bleed to flush brakes. If I'm going to use the "push the pedal" method I put a block of wood under the brake pedal to stop me from possibly pushing it too far.

 

[RooflessVW]

I always take my car to the shop to have the brakes bled. Unpopular opinion, I know, but for $89 including the OEM fluid or $49 and I bring my own and you can't beat it.

No muss, no fuss, no mess, no friend or bleeder needed. Just drop the car off in the morning and pick it up later.

They also do my coolant flushes. I do both every 3yr/30k.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I always take my car to the shop to have the brakes bled. Unpopular opinion, I know, but for $89 including the OEM fluid or $49 and I bring my own and you can't beat it.

No muss, no fuss, no mess, no friend or bleeder needed. Just drop the car off in the morning and pick it up later.

They also do my coolant flushes. I do both every 3yr/30k.


With the post-Brexit, banana-republic-without-any-bananas exchange rate, that's almost A HUNDRED QUID FOR A BRAKE FLUSH! I can rather easily beat that.

Litre of DOT3 (enough for several changes if you keep it sealed) costs about 200NT. ($6.33) Syringe costs 30NT (about 95 cents) and is re-usable.

Probably takes me about half an hour.

Plus I don't know a Taiwanese mechanic I'd trust to work on my brakes, though I suppose they must exist.

 

[funflyer]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I gravity bleed to flush brakes. If I'm going to use the "push the pedal" method I put a block of wood under the brake pedal to stop me from possibly pushing it too far.



That's how I do it also. It helps avoid the communication problem between the wrench guy and his wife behind the wheel.

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
I know how to bleed the brakes and flush the fluid on older cars (pre ABS)using the old fashioned "push the pedal" method.

Is it any different for my 2014 Honda Accord and Civic?


No, it's still the same method. Of course, you have to make sure the master cylinder doesn't run dry, which introduces more air and more bleeding.

I prefer pressure bleeding, since it's a 1-man job.

 

[Boss302fan]

You can just open one bleeder at a time and let nature take its course. It does take time but it is a easy procedure. Make sure the master cylinder stays full with fresh fluid...

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I always take my car to the shop to have the brakes bled. Unpopular opinion, I know, but for $89 including the OEM fluid or $49 and I bring my own and you can't beat it.

No muss, no fuss, no mess, no friend or bleeder needed. Just drop the car off in the morning and pick it up later.

They also do my coolant flushes. I do both every 3yr/30k.


Great idea for someone who isn't capable-there are a lot of folks who simply aren't able to do it and taking it to the corner shop is a reasonable alternative. Much like Jiffy Lube and similar places, they cater to those without the skills to DIY the simple things. There's nothing wrong with not having the skills to DIY things like that-some people just focus their skills in other directions.

I have always found bleeding brakes or doing coolant changes/flushes simple enough that I just do them myself.

 

[supton]

I found a metal-body Mityvac at a fleamarket, in good shape, so I snagged that, and do my own. Empty out the master cylinder, refill. Then pull fluid from each corner. Done that on 4 different ABS vehicles now. Using a helper is great, if you have one available, and faster than a Mityvac. Then again, I can give a few pumps, then work on something else for a minute, come back, etc.

I figure, as long as I do every couple of years, then I don't have to worry about getting every drop of old fluid out. Plenty of vehicles out there with ancient fluid in them. With the right tools it's an hour's job, maybe, so doing it once a year isn't that bad, and would ensure "good" fluid is always in the system.

 

[RooflessVW]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I always take my car to the shop to have the brakes bled. Unpopular opinion, I know, but for $89 including the OEM fluid or $49 and I bring my own and you can't beat it.

No muss, no fuss, no mess, no friend or bleeder needed. Just drop the car off in the morning and pick it up later.

They also do my coolant flushes. I do both every 3yr/30k.


Great idea for someone who isn't capable-there are a lot of folks who simply aren't able to do it and taking it to the corner shop is a reasonable alternative. Much like Jiffy Lube and similar places, they cater to those without the skills to DIY the simple things. There's nothing wrong with not having the skills to DIY things like that-some people just focus their skills in other directions.

I have always found bleeding brakes or doing coolant changes/flushes simple enough that I just do them myself.


It's actually the simple things that I typically can't be bothered with, and choose to farm out.

Save $50 by bleeding my own brakes, or $100 trying to get all the air out of my PITA complicated cooling system? Pass.

Save $1200 by doing my own timing belt? Yup.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Install Russell Speed Bleeders and you won't need another person to help you.I do take the precaution of using heavy silicon grease around the bleeder threads to prevent air being pulled back into the brake system. The bleeder come with a thread sealant but I suspect the sealant becomes ineffective after several years of use.Also place a block of wood under the brake pedal to prevent the pedal going all the way to the carpet.Remember to keep the master cylinder topped off.For ease of access, I remove each wheel.

 

[meborder]

Surprised no one else has mentioned this.

I just use a simple one man bleeder kit available almost anywhere

Works every time for me. Every 4 or 5 pedal strokes I dump the little bottle and i can easily see when fresh fluid appears at that corner. Been using the same $10 kit for over 10 years.

I bled a clutch master with this kit as well.

https://www.amazon.com/AMPRO-T71658-One-Braker-Bleeder/dp/B00A8FOIH8

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Boss302fan
You can just open one bleeder at a time and let nature take its course. It does take time but it is a easy procedure. Make sure the master cylinder stays full with fresh fluid...


Gravity is faster/easier than people think.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Gravity is faster/easier than people think.

Definitely. I had never bothered with it for years, then tried it with my G37 when I was stuck doing some work by myself. It worked exceedingly well.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
Install Russell Speed Bleeders and you won't need another person to help you.I do take the precaution of using heavy silicon grease around the bleeder threads to prevent air being pulled back into the brake system. The bleeder come with a thread sealant but I suspect the sealant becomes ineffective after several years of use.


Using a syringe (and probably a Mightyvac, though I havn't used one) any air leakage through the threads is pulled into the suction device.

Pushing fluid in (as opposed to sucking it out) there is no air leakage, but its said that can evert seals on the master cylinder, and I've never tried it with an ABS-equipped system.

 

[rustypigeon]

Originally Posted By: Donald

Gravity is faster/easier than people think.


How long would it take to flush all 4 lines using gravity?

I have only done the pressure tank method and the helper push pedal method.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted By: rustypigeon
Originally Posted By: Donald

Gravity is faster/easier than people think.


How long would it take to flush all 4 lines using gravity?

I have only done the pressure tank method and the helper push pedal method.


I'd like to know also...

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Some of the early ABS systems had pressure accumulators that required special equipment to bleed the system, but I don't think the ABS systems today require any special procedure.