When To Replace Brake Fluid ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
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Bleed one or two and see if it looks new or rusty. Brake fluid absorbs water.
These work okay. Its not going to give you the boiling point or anything advanced but it will tell you how much moisture is in the fluid.
http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fluid-Tester/dp/B005HVG4GQ
This is much more advance unit with a much more advanced price, the one above is fine for what you want to know.
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-3890-Brake-Flu...ke+fluid+tester
http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fluid-Tester/dp/B005HVG4GQ
This is much more advance unit with a much more advanced price, the one above is fine for what you want to know.
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-3890-Brake-Flu...ke+fluid+tester
I flush my entire system every 2 years.
For me it's easy to do (no jacking up).
Brake fluid is not expensive.
I use a pressure bleeder made by Speedi-Bleed.
Use clear plastic tubing & drain into clear container.
After 2 years, my fluid looks 'tea' colored.
Bleeder Screws
1) Keep clean so they can be unscrewed
2) Keep rubber cap on ends
For me it's easy to do (no jacking up).
Brake fluid is not expensive.
I use a pressure bleeder made by Speedi-Bleed.
Use clear plastic tubing & drain into clear container.
After 2 years, my fluid looks 'tea' colored.
Bleeder Screws
1) Keep clean so they can be unscrewed
2) Keep rubber cap on ends
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
When the calipers are pushed in 99% of the fluid is returned to the master cylinder, I then remove the fluid with a (turkey baster) and replace it with new.
This takes less than a minute to perform, just don’t get any on the paint.
One precaution I take is to have a bug sprayer filled with water handy, if I spill brake fluid on the paint I rinse it off with water before any damage is done.
I also keep it handy when I’m using the torches under the vehicle; ya-gota be ready!!!
If there are drum brakes on the rear I will bleed them if possible.
Over the years found that removing the bleeders and lubing them with high quality brake grease and then installing them will prevent them from corroding.
After I'm finished bleeding and the bleeders are closed I will take lithium grease in the pressurized can and using the application straw I will spray grease into the bleeder opening to prevent moisture from entering if there are no caps for the bleeders.
90cummins
When the calipers are pushed in 99% of the fluid is returned to the master cylinder, I then remove the fluid with a (turkey baster) and replace it with new.
This takes less than a minute to perform, just don’t get any on the paint.
One precaution I take is to have a bug sprayer filled with water handy, if I spill brake fluid on the paint I rinse it off with water before any damage is done.
I also keep it handy when I’m using the torches under the vehicle; ya-gota be ready!!!
If there are drum brakes on the rear I will bleed them if possible.
Over the years found that removing the bleeders and lubing them with high quality brake grease and then installing them will prevent them from corroding.
After I'm finished bleeding and the bleeders are closed I will take lithium grease in the pressurized can and using the application straw I will spray grease into the bleeder opening to prevent moisture from entering if there are no caps for the bleeders.
90cummins
Visual inspection isn't reliable unless it's grossly contaminated. Just do it every other year.
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Ducati996
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
American car manuals don't give recommendations on brake fluid schedules as the Europeans do. My Volvo manual goes so far as to say every 40K or 2 years, whichever comes first.
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
American car manuals don't give recommendations on brake fluid schedules as the Europeans do. My Volvo manual goes so far as to say every 40K or 2 years, whichever comes first.
2 years.
Every 2-3 years for a complete change.
I crack mine and let them dribble for a few seconds every time I do a seasonal tire change to keep the bleeders from seizing and let some trapped water and dirt get out if I remember.
Gravity bleeding works very well.
I crack mine and let them dribble for a few seconds every time I do a seasonal tire change to keep the bleeders from seizing and let some trapped water and dirt get out if I remember.
Gravity bleeding works very well.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Donald
Bleed one or two and see if it looks new or rusty. Brake fluid absorbs water.
To me, what comes out of the caliper bleeds always looks horrible.
Bleed one or two and see if it looks new or rusty. Brake fluid absorbs water.
To me, what comes out of the caliper bleeds always looks horrible.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Ducati996
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
I'm with the every 10 years / with a full brake job group. Just did pads and rotors on both cars this year and a flush - won't touch the brakes for my remaining ownership of the vehicles now (have never needed to touch drums/shoes either in my experience).
90% (or more?) of the cars out there likely never have a brake fluid flush.
Originally Posted By: Ducati996
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
I'm with the every 10 years / with a full brake job group. Just did pads and rotors on both cars this year and a flush - won't touch the brakes for my remaining ownership of the vehicles now (have never needed to touch drums/shoes either in my experience).
90% (or more?) of the cars out there likely never have a brake fluid flush.
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Ducati996
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
I'm with the every 10 years / with a full brake job group. Just did pads and rotors on both cars this year and a flush - won't touch the brakes for my remaining ownership of the vehicles now (have never needed to touch drums/shoes either in my experience).
90% (or more?) of the cars out there likely never have a brake fluid flush.
And that probably works for most people, but I have worked brake systems to the point where the pads are making smells before. Just a little bit of water lowers boiling point significantly. So, I keep fresh fluid in it.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Ducati996
I replace the brake fluid every time I replace the brake pads.
That would be around 10 years for my cars. I do it every 2 years.
I'm with the every 10 years / with a full brake job group. Just did pads and rotors on both cars this year and a flush - won't touch the brakes for my remaining ownership of the vehicles now (have never needed to touch drums/shoes either in my experience).
90% (or more?) of the cars out there likely never have a brake fluid flush.
And that probably works for most people, but I have worked brake systems to the point where the pads are making smells before. Just a little bit of water lowers boiling point significantly. So, I keep fresh fluid in it.
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Originally Posted By: tig1
I turkey baster my fluid ever engine oil change. It very slowly transfers through out the system. This works well for me.
^^I do this as well.
I turkey baster my fluid ever engine oil change. It very slowly transfers through out the system. This works well for me.
^^I do this as well.
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: tig1
I turkey baster my fluid ever engine oil change. It very slowly transfers through out the system. This works well for me.
^^I do this as well.
Thats what Im doing with my CVPI since the caliper bleeders are frozen. Im going to slightly accelerate it and do it monthly just because of ow BAD it was. Seriously, it looked like it had something growing in it.
Originally Posted By: tig1
I turkey baster my fluid ever engine oil change. It very slowly transfers through out the system. This works well for me.
^^I do this as well.
Thats what Im doing with my CVPI since the caliper bleeders are frozen. Im going to slightly accelerate it and do it monthly just because of ow BAD it was. Seriously, it looked like it had something growing in it.
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