Topic: Brake fluid flush and change - feedback (Read 3668 times)

Allenm · « **on:** 29 August 2006, 21:15:06 »

Tunnie,

Great maint guide! well done.

Started a new thread so as to keep things tidy.

You have done a great job on describing this really clearly, only doubt on my part (never having touched brakes before) is the bit about removing the fluid from the calipers. Not sure I fully got that bit, but then that's probably just me

Give a few months and the H book will be a thing of the past!

Cheers
Merv

tunnie · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:19:48 »

cheers mate, i started a thread in gen chat to discuss it, if Jamie could delete that on and we stick with this? Thanks

Yeh sorry about the vagueness off the actual caliper bleed. It will become more ovious when you look at it, does anyone have a picture of the caliper bit??

Tbh just flushing the fluid and not doing the caliper bit, makes a big difference. Its just not the full correct way...

JasonH · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:23:53 »

And the big reason for changing the brake fluid is that the fluid gradually absorbs water over time.

New brake fluid boils at something like 300C, old brake fluid boils at something close to 100C.

Some hard braking with old fluid and the fluid boils, you are braking with gas = no brakes.

TheBoy · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:26:08 »

Brake fluid should really be replaced every other year - more regular if you do big miles...

tunnie · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:28:24 »

Quote

Brake fluid should really be replaced every other year - more regular if you do big miles...

Think i'll add that to the guide...

Kev · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:28:56 »

Excellent How2 Tunnie. Well done. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I noticed you have however missed out the final, and probably most important part, 'Once complete, sit back and crack open an ice cool can of beer.'

TheBoy · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:29:49 »

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'Once complete, sit back and crack open an ice cool can of beer.'

Maybe he's not old enough

tunnie · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 August 2006, 21:31:29 »

Quote

Quote
'Once complete, sit back and crack open an ice cool can of beer.'
Maybe he's not old enough

Oh ha de ha ha....

Cheers Kev [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

x25xe · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 August 2006, 22:33:00 »

Just wanted to add my thoughts:

A great guide and excellent pics. Having pics really does help IMO.

You say that you prefer the two person method. Have you ever tried the Gunson easyblead? I have used this device many times with great success, although not, I have to say, on any of my cars as I have always fought shy of bleading an ABS system. On my Transit vans - it is just the job.

One other advantage of changing the fluid - as we know it absorbs moisture and this can have an adverse effect on the valves of the ABS soleniods.

So, well worth doing all round!

Once again, great guide.

TheBoy · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 August 2006, 22:35:24 »

I have had various 'one-man' bleed kits, but always go back to 2-man method for various reasons. Usually, the kit never works as well as expected, esp after first use...

Markjay · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 August 2006, 22:36:24 »

Quote

Brake fluid should really be replaced every other year - more regular if you do big miles...

Also worth pointing out that the Vx official brake fluid change interval is 24 months, though as usual we recommend more frequent servicing...

tunnie · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 August 2006, 22:41:22 »

Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening

x25xe · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 August 2006, 22:57:46 »

Quote

I have had various 'one-man' bleed kits, but always go back to 2-man method for various reasons. Usually, the kit never works as well as expected, esp after first use...

I have to admit that I have found this. Kit works great then after a year in storage just does not "cut the mustard". However, I don't have any willing helpers so have to do the work on my own. Therefore, I just buy a new kit every two years and time all my vans so that their fluid needs doing at the same time. I have rather an extensive collection of esasy bleed bottles and washer sets!

Still, always work for me just fine.

Kev · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 August 2006, 00:49:19 »

Quote

Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening

So you cracked open that ice cold bottle of beer then.

TheBoy · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 August 2006, 08:58:49 »

Quote

Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening

Does your mother know?

tunnie · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 August 2006, 10:44:42 »

Quote

Quote
Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening
Does your mother know?

Well she knew I had one, but did't reliase i was on my 3rd

TheBoy · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 August 2006, 10:45:53 »

She should let you drink more often - it gets you up earlier in morning! Its not even 11:00am yet...

tunnie · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 August 2006, 11:06:20 »

thats cause i am at my nans, and i don't have my sofa bed so the dog work me up again!

Also I have just found out Thunderbirds is on BBC2 from 11 - 11.50

Allenm · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 September 2006, 15:25:21 »

Just been flicking through the book of lies, and noticed that it (and you guide) give the sequence for Post 1998 models. Not sure what the difference is, but according the B.o.L the sequence for Pre-1998 models is..

1. Front left hand brake
2. Front right hand brake
3. Rear left hand brake
4. Rear right hand brake.

The difference is apparently pre 98 has 3-channel ABS and post 98 has 4-channel ABS.

Anyone know how to tell the differnce for people with 1998 cars :-?

Cheers
Merv

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 September 2006, 16:03:11 »

Just had a look at it......two points.

1), You realy should open the bleed nipples and squeeze the brake calipers in to get the fluid that is in them out. Its this fluid that is most likely to boil and is rarely changed, it will be as black as anything if this has not been done before.

2) I work from the wheel with the longest pipe run to that closest to the ABS pump so thats OSR, NSR, OSF, NSF but, in reality it seems to make little difference.

Taxi_Driver · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 September 2006, 18:29:34 »

Quote

Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening

Well done on the quide Tunnie [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

You'd better be quick on the oil change one tho......AA might beat you to it

TheBoy · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 September 2006, 18:58:05 »

Quote

Just had a look at it......two points.

1), You realy should open the bleed nipples and squeeze the brake calipers in to get the fluid that is in them out. Its this fluid that is most likely to boil and is rarely changed, it will be as black as anything if this has not been done before.

2) I work from the wheel with the longest pipe run to that closest to the ABS pump so thats OSR, NSR, OSF, NSF but, in reality it seems to make little difference.

I told tunnie the order to bleed, and it came from haynes...

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 September 2006, 18:59:29 »

Quote

Quote
Just had a look at it......two points.

1), You realy should open the bleed nipples and squeeze the brake calipers in to get the fluid that is in them out. Its this fluid that is most likely to boil and is rarely changed, it will be as black as anything if this has not been done before.

2) I work from the wheel with the longest pipe run to that closest to the ABS pump so thats OSR, NSR, OSF, NSF but, in reality it seems to make little difference.
I told tunnie the order to bleed, and it came from haynes...

Having revealed the source...........you are surprised........

??

TheBoy · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 September 2006, 19:01:49 »

Nope, but method seems sound - assuming Omega has diagnonal split brakes...

Also, when I showed Tunnie, I did demostrate the pushing in caliper with molegrips on rubber pipe trick...

tunnie · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 September 2006, 19:36:27 »

Quote

Nope, but method seems sound - assuming Omega has diagnonal split brakes...

Also, when I showed Tunnie, I did demostrate the pushing in caliper with molegrips on rubber pipe trick...

Yup, thanks for that.

Auto Addict · « **Reply #25 on:** 07 September 2006, 21:34:33 »

Quote

Quote
Thanks for the replys all - I shall be putting an oil change one up soon, but drunk too much beer so can't be bothered to do it this evening

Well done on the quide Tunnie [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

You'd better be quick on the oil change one tho......AA might beat you to it

It ain't due till December.

EddieX · « **Reply #26 on:** 10 September 2006, 00:26:26 »

Quote

Just been flicking through the book of lies, and noticed that it (and you guide) give the sequence for Post 1998 models. Not sure what the difference is, but according the B.o.L the sequence for Pre-1998 models is..

1. Front left hand brake
2. Front right hand brake
3. Rear left hand brake
4. Rear right hand brake.

The difference is apparently pre 98 has 3-channel ABS and post 98 has 4-channel ABS.

Anyone know how to tell the differnce for people with 1998 cars :-?

Cheers
Merv

Count the pipes on the ABS unit, 2 in & 3 out on 3 channel (pre '98) systems, 2 in & 4 out on 4 channel (post '98).

HTH.

Eddie.

EddieX · « **Reply #27 on:** 10 September 2006, 00:38:50 »

Changed the brake fluid in my Omega today.
I've never pushed the pistons back for a fluid change before but having read these threads, I thought I would try it.
Good job I did. One of the rear pads was rusted solid in the caliper. That put another hour on the job what with de-rusting the other side as well!

So thats another good reason to do it.

Eddie.

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Author Topic: Brake fluid flush and change - feedback (Read 3668 times)

Taxi_Driver