Using A Fluid Extractor On A Rear End ?

[billt460]

Has anyone done this? I don't have one. And I wouldn't use one for an oil change. But for something like a rear end, or a power steering, or brake fluid change they would seem to have a degree of usefulness. If any of you guys have done this, how did it work out?

For brakes it wouldn't be as effective as using a bleeder system. But if you sucked the reservoir down low enough, but without getting air in the system, then refill with fresh fluid, it would help. Then just repeat it a few times a month, and you would be getting the bulk of it out. Brake fluid and rear end oil is fairly cheap.

 

[Slick3914]

Just remember brake fluid does not circulate

 

[Lubener]

I agree, a waste of time for brake fluid. I have used a pump from Harbor freight for rear end gear oil changes and to drain the fuel tank to replace a fuel pump. This one works great for me. For power steering, a turkey baster works best.

https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-63144.html

 

[2013ecof150]

I’ve used one of those 12v fluid pumps from Amazon many times to change rear axle oil on vehicles that I didn’t want to pull the cover on. They work very well, as long as the gear oil is hot

 

[billt460]

I agree, a waste of time for brake fluid. I have used a pump from Harbor freight for rear end gear oil changes and to drain the fuel tank to replace a fuel pump. This one works great for me. For power steering, a turkey baster works best.

https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-63144.html

I have that pump, but admittingly I've never used it. I was thinking more of this one....

https://www.harborfreight.com/23-gallon-manual-fluid-extractor-62643.html

 

[billt460]

I used a turkey baster for the power steering fluid in my truck. I sucked out as much as possible from the pump, refilled it, then drive around while turning the steering from lock to lock several times. Then repeating the process. After 3 times the fluid was almost as clear as it went in.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Just remember brake fluid does not circulate

It was a while ago but I saw one fluid dynamics thing that showed the brake fluid when brakes are applied pushes through the center of the lines but very slightly. The stuff along the outside has some resistance against the wall. Combine with when you let off the brake and pistons retract slightly.

Circulate, not really. Move through and back to reservoir.....eventually, yes. Look at the sludge build up in reservoirs as part of it.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I have that pump, but admittingly I've never used it. I was thinking more of this one....

https://www.harborfreight.com/23-gallon-manual-fluid-extractor-62643.html

I have both. I use the extractor pump for brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, oil (sometimes in OPE also).

The other pump I used for OPE many times prior to getting the extractor one.

When I worked at Jiffy lube we had an air powered vacuum extractor we used often for doing rear diff's.

 

[supton]

Had to use an extractor on the front diff on my Tundra. It had been rbuilt to replace a bearing under warranty—and every bolt the tech touched was over tightened. The drain was not coming out, but the fill somehow did.

 

[billt460]

I have both.I use the extractor pump for brake fluid,...........

How does it work for that application. Can you explain your, "method"? Do you do it several times?

 

[charbaby]

Yes, I have used this one from Harbor Freight on a rear differential.

https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-63144.html

 

[NibbanaBanana]

For brakes it wouldn't be as effective as using a bleeder system. But if you sucked the reservoir down low enough, but without getting air in the system, then refill with fresh fluid, it would help. Then just repeat it a few times a month, and you would be getting the bulk of it out. Brake fluid and rear end oil is fairly cheap.

I tried this on one of my cars. Every oil change I'd suck out the brake fluid reservoir with a turkey baster and refill with new fluid. As far as I could tell, it did absolutely nothing for the rest of the system. All the slave cylinders corroded up. Now I change the entire fluid every 30K miles and never have brake problems.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

How does it work for that application. Can you explain your, "method"? Do you do it several times?

Normally I'm just doing the reservoir before I flush the fluid. My HF extractor does have a more flexible hose and rubber fitting that fits over brake bleeders if you want to vacuum it through it.

After many years of not doing it and having junk in reservoir, I now do a full flush about every 3 years. The MM on my Pilot is actually calling for it again. It goes by date for 3 years.

My old Corolla started doing brake light on dash on turns even though reservoir was full. The sludge on bottom was blocking sensor from float. My brakes on that would last almost 100k so I didn't do the extra maintenance as all worked well....until it didn't.

 

[meep]

Mityvac works great on a rear end. (That sounds awful). Don’t use it for gas.

I personally won’t use mine for brake fluid. I’ve heard it’s fine, but brake fluid eats paint, eats rubber, and I just go old school bleeder and a foot long hose.

I might at some point move to a compressed air mityvac if this one (my second) wears out, but it’s holding up better than my first, which I used for many years. The first eventually wore out the pump and the casing was cracked. I gave it to a friend who I think got a couple more years from it.

 

[The_Jeff]

I use a mity-vac for brake reservoirs and PS systems. Make sure to use a clean hose dipping in the brake reservoir.

One should suck out and replace the MC reservoir before bleeding so you don't shoot old fluid down the lines, but otherwise it won't do you any good. People seem like they don't want to crack bleeders or somehow break the ABS system, a legit concern, but you're being ineffective.

Like said, if you're going to suck gear oil through a hose, make it hot first.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I need to try this on my F-150 rear end. I have a MityVac and will have to try it. I would think you would have to use a very small diameter hose because those gears are in there very close to the rear end housing.

 

[D60]

@GON waits until he has an upcoming trip then siphons it out over a period of days Apparently it flows slowly but works

I used a manual extractor recently on some rear axle. One of the blue metal ones that kinda looks like a grease gun body.

 

[4wd]

Get a 500cc super syringe off eBay for brake fluid and PS fluid

 

[wings&wheels]

I've used a fluid extractor for brake fluid flushes by getting a mason jar or similar, gromets and another pipe and routing the extractor pickup pipe to that then using the pipe from the jar for bleeding the caliper or cylinder, essentially creating another reservoir. I want to keep the brake fluid out of the main reservoir but use the large amount of vacuum it will pull. Just keep the master full.

Brake fluid doesn't really circulate through the system, especially on disc brakes where the amount of fluid pushed through the lines is minimal. Drum cylinders will move more as they have much more of a swept area. There will also be some fluid exchanged between the masters (brake and clutch) and reservoir(s) at initial push before the tip valves close, but otherwise there is little circulation and draining and refilling just the reservoir accomplishes little, but better than nothing I suppose.

 

[burbguy82]

Just remember brake fluid does not circulate

I am not so sure about that.

Of course it does not move around like ATF in a transmission, or power steering fluid, but it has to move around some, due to heat.