focus st brake fluid change access?

[rsstman]

hi i was wondering what is the best way of changing the brake fluid on a focus st as the resevoir is very tight under the scuttle panel near the windscreen in the engine bay. is it easiest to remove the wipers and scuttle panel to gain access? seems a poor design as if i ever needed to top it up i cant get to it, and my friend who was going to change it cant get the pressurised drainage system over the top of the resevoir.

any easier ways?

[Jamz]

Ford mechanics use a funnel attached to some tubing to fill it up

[rsstman]

but how do they pressurise the system to bleed it.

[matmoxon]

rsstman said:

but how do they pressurise the system to bleed it.

They probably have a screw on attachment with a 90deg bend in it.

Matt

[rsstman]

so without this attachment is it really a case of stripping everything down?
any ford mechanics on here?

[bigross]

I use a syringe with a rubber hose on the end. You can remove the scuttle though. If you have a pressure bleeder just prise the scuttle up untill you can get the screw cap on. Failing that you can, like you say remove the scuttle panel. Just unbolt the wipers, but this can be difficult to pull them off the splines. Then pull the weather strip off that runs along the panel. The panel will then pull off. When refitting be carefull not to put too much pressure along the bottom of the windscreen as they can crack the screen. If you need the plastic under the top panel off, this is held in place by metal clips along the panel and two torx screws at both ends of the panel. The panel then pulls forward.

[rsstman]

thank you very much, its a shame there isnt an easier way though.

[bigross]

Some Focus' and C-Max's have a kind of secondary resovoir that is bolted to the scuttle platic allowing you to fill the resovoir. Its a stupid place to put a resoviour for somthing that is used at servicing.

[James998]

I use a fluid sucker, kind of a long plasic tube with a rubber 'bulb' on the end to draw the fluid out, i bleed them manually so i dont have a problem with fitting a pressure bleeder in.

[rsstman]

James998 said:

I use a fluid sucker, kind of a long plasic tube with a rubber 'bulb' on the end to draw the fluid out, i bleed them manually so i dont have a problem with fitting a pressure bleeder in.

is that as good a job as a proper pressure bleed?