Replacing brake fluid

[gagvanman]

I want to change the brake fluid in my 71 as it is about 3 years old. What is the best way of doing this, I don't want to just drain and introduce air into the system. Is there a specialist fluid, perhaps a different colour that could be pumped through to remove the old, then again pumped through with the new fluid?

Thanks

 

[Webbaldo]

Just drain it off and use a pressure bleeder, like the cheapo gunson one, even has the right size cap for the reservoir.

This will force all the old fluid out before the new reaches the bleed nipples/4 corners. You'll soon see the difference between colours of the new and old when its bleeding out. If your really paranoid about getting all the old out, just bleed more than you normally would and buy a 4/5 litre brake fluid bottle.

Make sure the tyre your using for the bleeder is under 15psi or youll get fluid leaking from the M/Cylinder reservoir grommets like I did stops after your finished.

I really don't understand why people still use the 'pump pedal method'. After having to rebleed mine 3 times when restoring my bus (part quality issues, not the bleed method) it took just under 30mins to do all 4 corners by myself on the drive.

 

[Happystamps]

Those gunson things are brilliant. I fitted a pressure valve in line on mine so I don't need to worry about the tyre being over 15PSi- I can even hook it up to my compressor and run it like that. Make's a horrible job into a simple one.

 

[Moseley]

I personally prefer the pedal pump method as it offers more control of the whole process. I do have a pressure bleeder, but always had the fear of blowing a hose off the upper / lower cylinder and jetting brake fluid down into the front panel.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I would tend to syringe the fluid out of the upper cylinder, and then try to bleed the master cylinder down to a level where there is only just fluid in the front and rear sections. Then top up with fresh and bleed until good clear fluid is seen at each bleed nipple, starting from the furthest away from the master cylinder.

You will never truly get all the old fluid out unless you were replacing every component for new, but as long as everything is well flushed through with new fluid, you shouldn’t have any probs if replacing every couple of years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gninnam]

I agree with the Gunson Eesibleed - had one for years and does what it says on the tin

 

[K@rlos]

I use a multi-vac to draw the old fluid out and to pull fresh fluid through then I use the pump pedal process to bleed.

 

[Bluesnailman]

I confess thatIve regressed. I borrow my wife for 15min to push the brake pedal wile i go to each corner. I found the gunson thing messy and wasteful.

ps - I think 1litre is plenty to give it a full change of fluid. buy small bottles and then you won't be wasting too much by exposing to the air

 

[Bluesnailman]

ps - I think 1litre is plenty to give it a full change of fluid. buy small bottles and then you won't be wasting too much by exposing to the air

Now where did I think 1 litre was enough. Thats WAY too much! 500ml will be plenty, I changed mine at weekend using a 250ml pot (just)

 

[gagvanman]

Thanks for all the advise. I have now purchased a Gunson. Happystamps, where did you get your in line pressure valve from?