silly question but..how do you change brake fluid??

[sprevett]

never done it, and I just can't think what the best way is? surely there's a more elegant way than just bleeding it out of each nipple? is there a trick?

[GreenV8S]

sprevett said:

surely there's a more elegant way than just bleeding it out of each nipple?

No, that's about it. You can get pressure or vacuum bleeders that save you having to pump the pedal (and remove the associated risk of damaging the seals on the master cylinder) but ultimately you have to take the old fluid out at the callipers and refill with fresh fluid at the master cylinder.

[sprevett]

ok thanks- but how do you know when all the old fluid is out? is there a clever way of doing each caliper in a particular sequence and with a particular volume to ensure complete replacement? or is that a bit anal....

[leorest]

sprevett said:

ok thanks- but how do you know when all the old fluid is out?

The old is invariably black otherwise you wouldn't be changing it! so :insert pun here: keep pumping until the fluid coming out matches the stuff in the tin. Make sure you don't let the reservoir empty out as you will get air into the system. If you buy some form of easy bleeding system from a motor-factors they usually have good instructions. The main choice for these kits is whether you have to do the job on your own or with an assistant.
HTH

[brap_brap]

sprevett said:

ok thanks- but how do you know when all the old fluid is out? is there a clever way of doing each caliper in a particular sequence and with a particular volume to ensure complete replacement? or is that a bit anal....

Yes, fill and more importantly BLEED the farthest (by line distance) brake first, the work your way towards the closest towards the master cyl.

Edited by brap_brap on Saturday 7th April 22:25