How to Change brake fluid solo

I wrote an article concernng bleed free brake job. There comes a time when brake fluid should be replaced. This how to do it solo.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 liter soda bottle
• 10 ft 1/4 dia vac hose
• 2 big bottles brake fluid

1. I wrote an article concerning how to do a bleed free brake job. So many people say you HAVE to bleed your brakes during a brake job and it jus isn't so. That being said, there are times when the hydraulics in brake fluid either gets air bubbles from getting hot, wears out, or is just too contaminated to continue using safely. This will show you how to do that.

2. Based on the fact that you are about to perform this task, I am not going to bother with pictures due to so many cars being so different and chances are, if you are going to do this, you already know where evrything I am talking about is located. If you are unsure, either get a picture of YOUR set up from an auto parts store or have a professional do it. Remember, you are dealing with a life safety issue. Tis better for a car that won't start than a car that won't stop.

3. If you are confident enough in yourself to proceed, here we go.
   It would be much better to take each wheel off one at a time but it is not necessary. Since fluid travels from the front to the back, we will start with the cylinder closest to the master cylinder.

4. Go to the drivers front wheel and open the petcock. Place the hose over the petcock all the way to the base and if need be, use a rubber band or something to hold it in place.

5. Take the other end of the hose and place it in the bottle. The trick in the placement of this bottle is that it has to be in your view. From the drivers seat, 5 feet away from the car is fine.

6. This bottle MUST be propped up. Put sand in the bottom of it about 1 inch deep if you wish, you're not going to use it anymore anyway. I would set in inside a cement block myself.

7. Take ALL the brake fluid out of the master cylinder and put it in that bottle. Replace that fluid with new fluid. Here is where you perform magic.

8. Making sure master cylnder cap is back on snug, place the vacuum hose in th brake fluid in the bottle till it bottoms out. The hose must be held in place. Use a clothes pin at the top of the bottle clamping the hose to the bottle. Now sowly press the brake pedal down 3 times watching the bottle. It will start to fill. After those 3 pumps, check out the level in the master cylinder. If it isn't empty yet, pump once more or till you see the bottom of the cylinder. NEVER LET IT GO EMPTY!!

9. Once it gets to that proper level, move the hose out of the bottle till the tip of the hose is 1/2 inch below the brake fluid. This is where it takes a good eye. Refill master cylinder and pump once watching hose in bottle. If the brake fuid is clear that comes out of the hose, you are done. If it isn't, keep following the process till you see clear. THOUEST MUST MONITOR MASTER CYLINDER AT ALL TIMES!!! Once you are done, pull the hose off the petcock and snug down. Press the brake to ensure good brake again.

10. Next closest wheel is, I think you guessed it, the passengers front. This time, place the bottle either all 10ft away or open passengers door and place it just outside the door. Remember, maintain good visiblility. Now do the process again.

11. Should the bottle get full, cap it and get another. Then do the drivers rear and passengers rear. On the passengers rear, place it in eye site of your rear view mirror. On drivers, look out drivers door or drivers mirror.

12. As long as all bottles are capped and you SAW clear brake fluid when you finished, you are done. Take the bottles to your auto parts store where they will accept them for free.

Tips & Warnings

• Take all the equipment when you are done and put it in a box along with more bottles for the next job. Mark it for brake fluid replacement and place a copy of this in the box. Put it in the garage. Happy motoring!
• Brake fluid is caustic....Handle with care.

[AdirondackTrina]

on 2/12/2009 Thanks for the detailed steps in changing brake fluid!