Brake fluid change 8 months with the new calipers

[woodyk]

Since I will be going full steam ahead for the next 5 months traveling doing my missionary work-I decided to go ahead and change the brake fluid early--I had the new calipers installed and brake fluid flush back in Nov 2010. With the speed bleeders it didn't take but 1 hour and WOW--the fluid was awfully black--It took me 3 quarts of Prestone DOT 3 to get them half way decent. I stlill have a light amber color to the fluid. I had only put around 3,000 miles on the MH after the caliper change. Has anyone else got that much junk after the flush with the new calipers? -- I wonder if they had grud in them and they didn't clean them prior to installation.

Woodyk
2004 Allego Bay

[bluepill]

I worked for years as a Honda Dealership technician. Until about 10 years ago they recommended BF change every 30K or 24 months. The fluid usually came out of the bleeders dark brown. The bottom of the master cylinder resevior, however, did accumulate a black sludge. If this was not removed, it would contaminate the new fluid.

I used a turkey baster and paper towels to clean out the resevior on most models. Some are hard to get into, so I used a small vinyl tube connected to a "catch can" for the fluid, then connected to a shop vacuum.

[Fiesta48]

I would have probably used DOT 4, only a few bucks more. If you flushed with several gallons you may never get the brake fluid fully clear. If the new calipers were rusty outside new, the insides maybe were too. In a dirty and/or wet environment the fluid could get dirty again soon.

[Topflite51]

You specifically told them to flush your brake fluid???

[woodyk]

Yep sure did--They were supposed to have with the new calipers for the safety recall and I made sure that they did. I always flushed my breafk fluid annually like it was recommended and baought speed bleeders back in 09. When the safey recall for the calipers were done my fluid was only 6 month old and since new calipers and pads were going on I wanted new fluid to boot. I had no sludge in the reservoir for I cleaned it throughly every year.---And I still had lock ups on the old caliper. Three of them. My rig calls fro DOT 3 so I stayed with it--Dot four and it's cost along with flushing in my point of view is not economical for me.

Woodyk

[rgrstndgby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodyk Yep sure did--They were supposed to have with the new calipers for the safety recall and I made sure that they did. I always flushed my breafk fluid annually like it was recommended and baought speed bleeders back in 09. When the safey recall for the calipers were done my fluid was only 6 month old and since new calipers and pads were going on I wanted new fluid to boot. I had no sludge in the reservoir for I cleaned it throughly every year.---And I still had lock ups on the old caliper. Three of them. My rig calls fro DOT 3 so I stayed with it--Dot four and it's cost along with flushing in my point of view is not economical for me. Woodyk

Minor point, but I'm led to understand that the recall DID NOT include flushing, only replenishment. Anyone that knows different please correct me, but that is why I changed the fluid in my system BEFORE the recall work...rgr...

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrstndgby Minor point, but I'm led to understand that the recall DID NOT include flushing, only replenishment. Anyone that knows different please correct me, but that is why I changed the fluid in my system BEFORE the recall work...rgr...

rgr, Hey, I'm kicking myself for not thinking about doing that!

Surely at the end of the day your fluid should be good to go!

[edgray]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrstndgby Minor point, but I'm led to understand that the recall DID NOT include flushing, only replenishment. Anyone that knows different please correct me, but that is why I changed the fluid in my system BEFORE the recall work...rgr...

That is correct. The Bosch Caliper recall did NOT include a complete system FLUSH. I believe Workhorse shipped 2 quarts of fluid with each pair of "new design" calipers, which was intended to be "more than enough" to replace the fluid normally lost during the change out, but by providing the dealers with fluid it was not intended to be represented as a "flush". Many owners report having the recall completed at no cost to them, and I'm sure there are those who elected to pay extra for a complete flush, too. Ed

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta48 I would have probably used DOT 4, only a few bucks more. If you flushed with several gallons you may never get the brake fluid fully clear. If the new calipers were rusty outside new, the insides maybe were too. In a dirty and/or wet environment the fluid could get dirty again soon.

It is highly unlikely that a replacement caliper would be internally compromised. I do agree with you that it hardly takes any time at all for the fluid to begin changing color. The new recommendation is to flush brake fluid every 2 years or 24,000 miles WCF.

FoMoCo has been recommending this procedure for as long as I can remember with their RV chassis.

Being a Ford owner, your brake fluid is critical and DOT4 is required on late model motorhomes. That's what is written on the Hydro-Max tank. In the past I have recommended Ford DOT3 fluid due to the temperature rating.

WCC recommends using DOT3 and as you know DOT3 has less of an affinity for moisture than DOT4 even though 4 has a higher temp rating. In an RV application this is important since we don't use our motorhomes alot .... well up until recently, I did use it a lot .... (93K+ miles)

[Topflite51]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray That is correct. The Bosch Caliper recall did NOT include a complete system FLUSH. I believe Workhorse shipped 2 quarts of fluid with each pair of "new design" calipers, which was intended to be "more than enough" to replace the fluid normally lost during the change out, but by providing the dealers with fluid it was not intended to be represented as a "flush". Many owners report having the recall completed at no cost to them, and I'm sure there are those who elected to pay extra for a complete flush, too. Ed

Have to agree. Several friends paid for a complete flush of brake fluid, as the recall did not include a complete system FLUSH.

[Indy Itasca]

Well now I got to go check the recall paper work. I asked the tech about paying for the flush and he said it was covered as part of the recall. I didn't check to see how much fluid was charged to the bill. Or to verify that the fluid was flushed.

[edgray]

as with most things theses days, I'm reminded of this advice: "Trust, but Verify"

[rgrstndgby]

When I changed the fluid in my 04 W-20 ( 08/03 build, 1st change), the fluid was about the color of weak Iced Tea, and no "gel" was visible in the M/C as some have reported. I will change it again sometime this winter, and expect it to be somewhat discolored from the 'wear in'' between the new pistons and cylinder bores. I also expect subsequint changes to show clearer fluid as these parts have adjusted to one another..I will adopt Bluepills hint about cleaning the "muck" ( if any) from the M/C.. We will see how this works out...rgr...

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrstndgby When I changed the fluid in my 04 W-20 ( 08/03 build, 1st change), the fluid was about the color of weak Iced Tea, and no "gel" was visible in the M/C as some have reported.

rgr, Some folks panic when they see the preservative gel in the master cylinder reservoir. Let me assure everyone that the gel is no cause for alarm and does not detract from the performance of the fluid in any way.