Brake fluid change

[Subway]

When I bought my ae111 almost a year ago it said on the prepurchase inspection that a brake fluid change should be done, but as per usual I haven't really gotten round to doing it (don't really drive much, only put 5000k's on it in the last year.

Im relatively competent, but i've never done a change before. Other than just paying someone to do it, id like to learn how myself, Is it a hard job to do?

[Lloyd]

Suck it all out, fill it back up. Pump a fair portion of it through the rear brakes (same as bleeding them), fill it back up and do the same to the fronts. Usually use most of the reservoir or brake fluid on the fronts, brake fluid is cheap anyway

[Bling]

Has be covered many times if you do a search. I understand what HRT is saying, but i've done it a few times. So if you need more info than above do a search. Its not too hard to bleed em if you read up on it first

[Subway]

Has be covered many times if you do a search. I understand what HRT is saying, but i've done it a few times. So if you need more info than above do a search. Its not too hard to bleed em if you read up on it first

I did do a search before, but I was searching for a brake fluid change, not bleed, hence limited search results.

What type of brake fluid is best and what quantity, are we talking 4 litres here, or a 500ml bottle...

[Bling]

Two 500ml bottles will be fine, will allow for some wastage from when you bleed the lines.

Only reason I go on about searching is that you will usually find all the answers you need. I worked out how to do it off here

i don't recall the brake fluid I used. But I got it through toyota, anything half decent will be fine tho. Someone else will know what DOT rating to use.

[KinLoud]

I use the repco dot5.1 brake fluid.
1 500ml bottle is usually enough but I always get 2 bottles so I don't run out!

Stuff they don't tell you...
- Don't shake the bottle as this will add airbubbles to your brake system
- Don't tighten the bleed nipples too much when you are finished
- Don't buy the stupid "one man bleed kits". I haven't found one that is actually useful yet. Just get someone to help you.

Go Nuts

Ken
Auck
021 408 863

[xsspeed]

Agree with the one man bleed kits. I bought one. Was rubbish.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

- Don't tighten the bleed nipples too much when you are finished

why?

and one other thing - don't let the resoiver run out of fluid and suck air in, MAKE SURE it's always topped up.

[KinLoud]

Too tight and the end on the bleed nipple gets damaged.
Also too tight can round off the hex when someone tries to undo it - grrrrrr!
It's just a tiny little thing! From the factory they are firm but not tight (they probably have a tiny little torque wrench)

Ken
Auck
021 408 863

[rwd_mayhem]

I use the repco dot5.1 brake fluid.
1 500ml bottle is usually enough but I always get 2 bottles so I don't run out!

Stuff they don't tell you...
- Don't shake the bottle as this will add airbubbles to your brake system
- Don't tighten the bleed nipples too much when you are finished
- Don't buy the stupid "one man bleed kits". I haven't found one that is actually useful yet. Just get someone to help you.

Go Nuts

Ken
Auck
021 408 863

isnt dot5 for racing etc? a normal car should use dot 3/dot 4.

Powerbuilt make a 1 man brake bleed kit, its worked well for me.

[postfach]

Nah, you should always use the best fluid you can afford, I use motul rbf600 in my daily driver, brakes are important, never skimp.

[cat007]

Nah, you should always use the best fluid you can afford, I use motul rbf600 in my daily driver, brakes are important, never skimp.

RBF600 or any of the dot 5 stuff isn't needed for the road - or recommended if you're not going to change the fluid very often as it'll obsorb moisture more than the dot 4 stuff and therefore become crap

[Dell'Orto]

Dot 5.1, not Dot 5 Though fresh dot 4 fluid is better than old dot 5.1 regardless.

[touge rolla]

A lot of the good DOT4 is rated up to 5.1
I've been using the Castrol DOT4/5.1 stuff for a couple of years now and it's been sweet. Even after taking the Zed on the track the brakes are still firm.

[postfach]

RBF600 or any of the dot 5 stuff isn't needed for the road

depends on the road

[cat007]

A lot of the good DOT4 is rated up to 5.1
I've been using the Castrol DOT4/5.1 stuff for a couple of years now and it's been sweet. Even after taking the Zed on the track the brakes are still firm.

How long between fluid change?

[postfach]

Just for the sake of adding more info to the thread, not all DOT5.1 fluids are created equal, some will have much higher boiling points than others even though they have the same rating, it's something worth looking at if you plan on doing any spirited driving or taking your car to the track.

[cat007]

Just for the sake of adding more info to the thread, not all DOT5.1 fluids are created equal, some will have much higher boiling points than others even though they have the same rating, it's something worth looking at if you plan on doing any spirited driving or taking your car to the track.

Penrite SIN stuff's pretty good - and cheap - about $30 a bottle retail, compared to $48 for the Motul stuff, retail that is...

[touge rolla]

A lot of the good DOT4 is rated up to 5.1
I've been using the Castrol DOT4/5.1 stuff for a couple of years now and it's been sweet. Even after taking the Zed on the track the brakes are still firm.

How long between fluid change?

Well it's been in the MR2 since right after i bought it so about two years. (and almost two sets of pads)
In the Zed not that long about 10-ish months

[xsspeed]

Whats the dot 5.1 they sell at repco, silver bottle.

I bought it for my clutch cos that was all they had at the time. Manual says use dot 3, I figured it was all about viscosity. I also thought I was gunna put the car bacl together that weekend. It was three months ago