changing old brake fluid

[RICK SUSA]

i will be changing my old brake fluid any tips...........thanks....rick...2-12-08

[RICK SUSA]

i will be changing my old brake fluid any tips...........thanks....rick...2-12-08

[oemtech]

Yep, get 3 quarts of Dot 3 fluid, a 3' piece of plastic hose, a 2 or 3 liter empty soda bottle and a wrench to open the bleeder screw.

No go to my web site and read the writeup. Gravity Bleed Your Brakes Link

[DriVer]

I spoke with the RSM while in Florida and he said that the preferred method is to power bleed the system.

Using the tools and process that that Oemy suggested in his "How To #1 & #2, a second person can apply and hold pressure on the brake pedal similar to the manner that most any system is bled. A single Technician would use a Tech-II to power bleed the system. Make sure not to introduce any contaminants into the fluid or the master cylinder. Oemy's technique for "Gravity Bleed" will work as directed.

Make sure you check the master cylinder and refill it often. I use a small rectangular mirror to observe the fluid level since you can't really see the fluid level directly due to the body work.

I cringe when owners tell me they stuck their finger in the master cylinder to check the fluid.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:
I cringe when owners tell me they stuck their finger in the master cylinder to check the fluid. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do they prefer to do this before going to a rib fest or a fried chicken feast? It probably would go better with the ribs. ;&gt;

I know of some that will surprise the wife and wash the dishes by hand afterwards but their wives are starting to get wise to that one. They seem to have some kind of aversion to engine and brake gunk getting into the dish water.

[DriVer]

LOL!

[oemtech]

I have used the 2 man method, Mighty Vac one man, Power Bleeder and the Gravity method. The bottom line is they all do the same thing.... move fresh fluid from the master cylinder reservoir to each brake that is being bled and removes any trapped air.. The only difference is speed. If not properly done the 2 man method can introduce air into the system!!

I have plans for power bleeder made from a small pump up sprayer. The commercial version of this cost $$$$. Unless you do a lot of brake work the gravity method works just fine, it just takes longer.

[k1hog]

My question is, does the brake fluid need to be changed, and if so, how often?

Johnnie

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by k1hog:
My question is, does the brake fluid need to be changed, and if so, how often? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Johnnie, I wrote in my brake maintenance suggestion paper that each brake position on your motorhome should be one-pump bled annually. This recommendation was told to me by a WCC regional service manager. Totally flushing your brake system according to Workhorse should be done at 24,000 miles however being proactive I would add 2 years OR 24,000 miles whichever comes first.

See the maintenance schedule here.

[oemtech]

As DirVer said every 2 or 24k is MINIMUM recommendation.

Me, I compare a sample of fluid from the master cylinder reservoir and a sample from the passengers side rear brake to a sample of new fluid. This will indicate the level of contamination. The darker the brake fluid the higher the level of contamination.

Also if EVER boil the fluid from hard braking that is a MANDATORY flush and bleed cyle.