brake fluid

[Chicobiker]

Hello.

Is it hard to replace the brake fluid? Can I drain the system from a
bleeder valve at one of the four corners, and simply refill it under
the hood? I'm replacing the drums and rotors anyway, and I figure the
fluid is due for replacement.

I have a 2003 Impreza Outback.

Thanks,
Chicobiker

 

[Chicobiker]

Hello.

Is it hard to replace the brake fluid? Can I drain the system from a
bleeder valve at one of the four corners, and simply refill it under
the hood? I'm replacing the drums and rotors anyway, and I figure the
fluid is due for replacement.

I have a 2003 Impreza Outback.

Thanks,
Chicobiker

BTW, how much fluid are we talking about here?

 

[Bob Noble]

You must drain it at each wheel to replace it all, otherwise, yes what you
said will work.

 

[Mike Copeland]

Hello.

Is it hard to replace the brake fluid? Can I drain the system from a
bleeder valve at one of the four corners, and simply refill it under
the hood? I'm replacing the drums and rotors anyway, and I figure the
fluid is due for replacement.

I have a 2003 Impreza Outback.

It's not hard, but takes some time and two people. You need someone to
work each bleeder valve in succession(work your way from farthest to
closest) and someone pumping the brake pedal. It is MUCH easier at the
shop where they have a pressure bleeder. The absolute most important
point is to not reservoir run out of fluid. This is very, very bad! If
air gets into the ABS system all manner of bad things will happen. Get
someone who has done it before to help.
It should be less than a quart of fluid. Be sure you get the right kind
per the manual.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

It's not hard, but takes some time and two people. You need someone to
work each bleeder valve in succession(work your way from farthest to
closest) and someone pumping the brake pedal. It is MUCH easier at the
shop where they have a pressure bleeder. The absolute most important
point is to not reservoir run out of fluid. This is very, very bad! If
air gets into the ABS system all manner of bad things will happen. Get
someone who has done it before to help.
It should be less than a quart of fluid. Be sure you get the right kind
per the manual.

Good post. About the only way I would attempt it alone would be with
'Speed Bleeders' or one of the various pressure devices made for the
purpose. I have also heard of people modifying a cut-out section of
bicycle tube to make their own pressure system to attach to the master
cylinder! I'm not sure buying any special equipment is worth it unless
you track your car a lot or have multiple vehicles to maintain. But, if
you just can't get a helper to pump the pedal - at least there are
alternatives!

Mike - does the fluid in the ABS system never actually get flushed? I
always wondered about that.

Carl

 

[Rick Courtright]

Mike - does the fluid in the ABS system never actually get flushed? I
always wondered about that.

Hi, Carl

I've never messed w/ the ABS brakes on the one car I have that has 'em,
but recall reading a warning to watch the order you bleed the system w/
ABS. It appeared some ABS systems DON'T get bled in the standard "start
at the furthest corner and work in" pattern. I guess you'd want to check
the book on a particular car to see if this is true...

Rick

 

[Mike Copeland]

Good post. About the only way I would attempt it alone would be with
'Speed Bleeders' or one of the various pressure devices made for the
purpose. I have also heard of people modifying a cut-out section of
bicycle tube to make their own pressure system to attach to the master
cylinder! I'm not sure buying any special equipment is worth it unless
you track your car a lot or have multiple vehicles to maintain. But, if
you just can't get a helper to pump the pedal - at least there are
alternatives!

Mike - does the fluid in the ABS system never actually get flushed? I
always wondered about that.

I am not a mechanic, all of my experience is from working on my cars a
while back. As I understand it, the ABS part of the system is somewhat
isolated during normal operation. Only when the ABS actuates is fluid
moved in and out of the ABS side of the brake system. To flush it
requires special tools and knowledge of how to override the controller.
I would not attempt it.

 

[Chicobiker]

Hi, Carl

I've never messed w/ the ABS brakes on the one car I have that has 'em,
but recall reading a warning to watch the order you bleed the system w/
ABS. It appeared some ABS systems DON'T get bled in the standard "start
at the furthest corner and work in" pattern. I guess you'd want to check
the book on a particular car to see if this is true...

Rick

Chilton's does specify the order. It goes across from front right to
back left to front left to back right.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

It's not hard, but takes some time and two people. You need someone to
work each bleeder valve in succession(work your way from farthest to
closest) and someone pumping the brake pedal. It is MUCH easier at the
shop where they have a pressure bleeder. The absolute most important point
is to not reservoir run out of fluid. This is very, very bad! If air gets
into the ABS system all manner of bad things will happen. Get someone who
has done it before to help. It should be less than a quart of fluid. Be
sure you get the right kind per the manual.

Or make one of these:

http://www.garageboy.com/bmw/bleeder.html

I take a quart bottle with a flat top and some low pressure hose. Drill
two holes in the top about the same size as the hose. Take about 2 1/2 to
3 feet of hose and pass it through one hole until it is within 1/2" of the
bottom of the jar, take a smaller piece of hose (approx 4") and stick it
into the other hole about 1" down. Fill the jar with enough brake fluid to
go about 1" over the hose. Attach the hose to the bleeder and loosen the
bleeder. Pump the brakes 4-5 times to get the hose filled and check the
master cylinder reservoir, adding brake fluid as needed. Pump the brake a
few more times and check the level again. If you used clear tubing you can
look at the 'bleeder' and see if the brake fluid is clean. Another good
idea is to have a stick or a handle that will hold the brake pedal to the
floor while you check things out. When the fluid in the tube is clean,
press the pedal, use the stick or what have you to hold the pedal to the
floor, close the bleeder screw and remove the hose.

ALWAYS start at the furthest wheel (pass. side rear), move to the next
furthest, and then the pass side front and end with the driver's side
front. It takes a while but it will clean the brake system well.