Replace your brake fluid!

[Sparky16]

The Motive Bleeder makes this job a snap. Decent engine vacuum is also key...

Motive bleeder works really well for my old ML320 but PITA for my Acura MDX. Motive adapters work great for vehicles with screw-on type(with threads) reservoir caps, but it's pretty tough to get tight seal with universal adapters.

 

[RamFan]

Kuods to you for doing it. That has to be one of the most important and neglected fluids in a vehicle. I do mine every two years or so, and it comes out as clean as it goes in. These ABS systems in use today are not cheap. I bought a little HF vacuum hand pump and it works great for pumping it out at calipers and wheel cylinders. I tie the brake fluid change in with either a tire rotation or a brake job.

Do you have a link to the pump? I’ve been looking at Motive, is it similar?

 

[The Critic]

Our '13 GS350 F Sport includes brake fluid renew at the 60K service. Since the car was under CPO, it was covered. I have couple of pressure bleeders that work well, so no big deal.

Lexus requires brake fluid changes every 3/30k, Toyota does not.
Lexus CPO covers up to 4 scheduled services (for a 2/20k period) from the date of purchase. If a 60K service comes up during this time then you hit the jackpot.

 

[zfasts03]

pretty sure GM states every 5 years, I think that is what I read in the owners manual.

 

[demarpaint]

Do you have a link to the pump? I’ve been looking at Motive, is it similar?

Here ya go. HF Brake Bleeder I paid about $20 I think. I've used it for caliper replacements, brake fluid exchanges and replacing wheel cylinders. It works quite well, and saved me a lot of time.

 

[RooflessVW]

It's probably time to have both cars done. It's been almost 2 years for the Atlas since new and 25k miles in the Touareg.

$69.95 @ my dealer, no reason to mess with it myself.

 

[gathermewool]

It's probably time to have both cars done. It's been almost 2 years for the Atlas since new and 25k miles in the Touareg.

$69.95 @ my dealer, no reason to mess with it myself.

Do they actually bleed the brakes or just suck and fill the reservoir?

My local dealer charged something like $40 for a brake fluid service, but admitted that they don’t actually bleed the brakes for that price...

 

[nthach]

But theres a lot of gel like junk in neglected brake cylinders and calipers. It's a mixture of rust, aluminum, water and brake fluid. Had several cars where the calipers or brake cylinders couldn't be pushed back because of it. No amount of flushing gets this mess out that sits at the lowest point while the bleed is at the highest point. So there's a point of no return when it comes to brake fluid changing...

I’ve slapped on a new set of aftermarket calipers on a friend’s VW Vanagon. The old calipers were nice and seized and would need to be hot-tanked and media blasted to get rid of that sludge and pitting.

I’ve seen that sludge in reservoirs as well.

 

[atikovi]

This makes no sense to me. A broken bleeder screw will not "stick" you, because it will not allow fluid to flow. It will actually warn you that you need to replace the caliper, but give you time to source one and do it at your earliest convenience.

No need to replace calipers just for a stuck bleeder screw if you have the right tools. https://surrauto.com/kits/bb007/

 

[02zx9r rev2]

No need to replace calipers just for a stuck bleeder screw if you have the right tools. https://surrauto.com/kits/bb007/

IF being the optimal word

 

[Trav]

That tool works pretty well, I use it often along with other techniques and have not needed to replace a caliper because of a broken screw for a long time.

 

[atikovi]

IF being the optimal word

How much does a new caliper cost? How much is the inconvenience cost of having to run out to the parts store to pick one up, if they even have it? Or wait days when ordering online and not being unable to use the car?

 

[Jetronic]

I’ve slapped on a new set of aftermarket calipers on a friend’s VW Vanagon. The old calipers were nice and seized and would need to be hot-tanked and media blasted to get rid of that sludge and pitting.

I’ve seen that sludge in reservoirs as well.

Yeah I open them and then judge what needs replacing. It also happens that the piston isn't coming out anymore, easy decision then....

 

[atikovi]

I’ve seen that sludge in reservoirs as well.

I remove and clean most every reservoir when changing the fluid the first time. Otherwise, it's like changing oil without replacing the filter.

 

[edyvw]

Motive bleeder works really well for my old ML320 but PITA for my Acura MDX. Motive adapters work great for vehicles with screw-on type(with threads) reservoir caps, but it's pretty tough to get tight seal with universal adapters.

I use Schwaben bleeder. BMW and VW are piece of cake as reservoir on Euro cars is same. On Toyota it is always issue with sealing adapter.

 

[odie]

I use a plastic meat injector and attach clear plastic tubing . Less than $5 . Just used this method on 2nd generation FIT . Have to repeat .

 

[amblerman]

I never understood the use of turkey basters for this purpose, though. I read about its use and bought one just to do a brake job way back when and was not happy with how sloppy it was.

Syringes are very easy to find and will not drip, drop or gurgle out.

Thank you for the syringe suggestion. Every time I use a turkey baster for power steering or brake fluid it is a complete mess. Something about the viscosity of the fluid and the fact that my turkey baster is ancient leads to it dribbling out all over the place. What a mess

 

[02zx9r rev2]

How much does a new caliper cost? How much is the inconvenience cost of having to run out to the parts store to pick one up, if they even have it? Or wait days when ordering online and not being unable to use the car?

Don’t know.
Won’t know until the day happens.
I can use my wife’s car if need be.

slow your roll son. All I said was “IF being the optimal word” to you saying it’s easy IF you have the right tools. Most diy’s, me included, are not going to have The Ultimate Brake Bleeder Removal Tool in their toolbox, shed, garage. So sure it’s easy as you say IF you have the right tools

 

[drtyler]

You may already have this, but the Power Probe BA10 adapter works pretty well for Toyota brake reservoirs.

I have this one and it works well, speedi-bleed C800. It's essentially the same as the Power Probe.

https://www.speedibleed.com/c800-toyota-lexus-brake-bleeder-adapter.html

I use Schwaben bleeder. BMW and VW are piece of cake as reservoir on Euro cars is same. On Toyota it is always issue with sealing adapter.

 

[nthach]

You may already have this, but the Power Probe BA10 adapter works pretty well for Toyota brake reservoirs.

I have this one and it works well, speedi-bleed C800. It's essentially the same as the Power Probe.

https://www.speedibleed.com/c800-toyota-lexus-brake-bleeder-adapter.html

It’s a good bit cheaper - I need to get that for the future.