Brake fluid change - DIY
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Brake fluid change - DIY
It's been over two years since my last brake fluid change on my 2006 IS250 (actually almost 3 years now). So my brake fluid change is overdue. I am contemplating doing the fluid change myself. I've watched quite a few how-to videos. Below I have written up what I think is the procedure. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? as this will be my first time changing brake fluid.
That's all I can think of, I have a few questions:
Many thanks
- Remove brake fluid reservoir cap (brake master cylinder)
- Using a turkey baster, siphon out the brake fluid from the reservoir
- Fill new brake fluid into reservoir until the max line
- Close reservoir cover to prevent dirt getting in
- Go to each caliper and connect a hose to the drain plug, have the other end of a hose in a bottle submerged in fluid to prevent air getting in, then loosen drain plug bolt and pump brakes a few times until new fluid comes out clear and bubble free.
- Top up fluid in reservoir between each caliper bleed process
That's all I can think of, I have a few questions:
- Is this a correct way of doing it?
- Is there any other place that brake fluid needs to be bled from?
- When pumping the brakes to bleed each caliper, I'm assuming I will have to turn ignition on to be able to pump the brakes right? otherwise with car completely off, if I pump the brakes it will just go stiff.
Many thanks
#3
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: HI
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't forget to start the bleed from the farthest away from the master. Also, I don't think you need to turn the car to the on position. Just have your friend pump the breaks and hold it down as you open the valve and continue to hold until you close the valve.
#7
Intermediate
Kind of off topic a bit, but since we are talking about bleeding, I was wondering if the bleed valve should be open when compressing the caliper piston to avoid contamination in the ABS system. Thanks!
Trending Topics
#8
Lead Lap
iTrader: (6)
Valeoray- Yes, it is a good practice to have the bleed valve opened when compressing the caliper back in.
#10
Lead Lap
iTrader: (6)
Yes, that is why i do it that way. However, i guess the OP way is acceptable if you don't have a second person to help. I guess the system will only suck in fluid by "have the other end of a hose in a bottle submerged in fluid to prevent air getting in, then loosen drain plug bolt and pump brakes a few times until new fluid comes out clear and bubble free."
#11
Advanced
Thread Starter
I'm thinking to buy a vaccum bleeder kit like the one pictured at the end of this post.
Has anyone used these kind of kits? If so, is the following method correct for using this tool to change brake fluid:
1. Vacuum out brake fluid from reservoir by creating a vacuum using the hand held pump, the fluid will drain into the container supplied with kit.
2. Fill new brake fluid using funnel.
3. Close reservoir lid
4. Starting from furthest away from reservoir, go to caliper and locate bleed plug.
5. Connect the vaccum kit with hose to the bleed plug
6. Let the kit vacuum out the air and old fluid.
7. Tighten bleed nut.
8. Topup reservoir before moving on to next caliper
My questions are:
1. Is that procedure correct for this type of system?
2. I guess pumping the pedal would no longer be needed?
3. Do I hand pump the kit before loosening the bleed bolt on the caliper to create pressure? or do I loosen bleed bolt then pump the hand-held pump?
Many thanks guys.
Heres the pic of the kit:
Has anyone used these kind of kits? If so, is the following method correct for using this tool to change brake fluid:
1. Vacuum out brake fluid from reservoir by creating a vacuum using the hand held pump, the fluid will drain into the container supplied with kit.
2. Fill new brake fluid using funnel.
3. Close reservoir lid
4. Starting from furthest away from reservoir, go to caliper and locate bleed plug.
5. Connect the vaccum kit with hose to the bleed plug
6. Let the kit vacuum out the air and old fluid.
7. Tighten bleed nut.
8. Topup reservoir before moving on to next caliper
My questions are:
1. Is that procedure correct for this type of system?
2. I guess pumping the pedal would no longer be needed?
3. Do I hand pump the kit before loosening the bleed bolt on the caliper to create pressure? or do I loosen bleed bolt then pump the hand-held pump?
Many thanks guys.
Heres the pic of the kit:
#13
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: HI
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm thinking to buy a vaccum bleeder kit like the one pictured at the end of this post.
Has anyone used these kind of kits? If so, is the following method correct for using this tool to change brake fluid:
1. Vacuum out brake fluid from reservoir by creating a vacuum using the hand held pump, the fluid will drain into the container supplied with kit.
2. Fill new brake fluid using funnel.
3. Close reservoir lid
4. Starting from furthest away from reservoir, go to caliper and locate bleed plug.
5. Connect the vaccum kit with hose to the bleed plug
6. Let the kit vacuum out the air and old fluid.
7. Tighten bleed nut.
8. Topup reservoir before moving on to next caliper
My questions are:
1. Is that procedure correct for this type of system?
2. I guess pumping the pedal would no longer be needed?
3. Do I hand pump the kit before loosening the bleed bolt on the caliper to create pressure? or do I loosen bleed bolt then pump the hand-held pump?
Many thanks guys.
Heres the pic of the kit:
Has anyone used these kind of kits? If so, is the following method correct for using this tool to change brake fluid:
1. Vacuum out brake fluid from reservoir by creating a vacuum using the hand held pump, the fluid will drain into the container supplied with kit.
2. Fill new brake fluid using funnel.
3. Close reservoir lid
4. Starting from furthest away from reservoir, go to caliper and locate bleed plug.
5. Connect the vaccum kit with hose to the bleed plug
6. Let the kit vacuum out the air and old fluid.
7. Tighten bleed nut.
8. Topup reservoir before moving on to next caliper
My questions are:
1. Is that procedure correct for this type of system?
2. I guess pumping the pedal would no longer be needed?
3. Do I hand pump the kit before loosening the bleed bolt on the caliper to create pressure? or do I loosen bleed bolt then pump the hand-held pump?
Many thanks guys.
Heres the pic of the kit:
With the vacuum pump, there is less to no need for a second person. To use it, after you slip on the correct size tubing, you hand pump the vacuum up to around 25 mmhg and open the valve. Watch the gauge and when it falls below say for example 15 mmhg, close the valve and pump up the presueure back to 25 mmhg and repeat.
There are pros and cons to using a hand vac pump. My biggest headache was finding the correct size tubing. Even though the tube fit, there was a slight vacuum leak that caused the pressure to continually drop.
#14
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (10)
You can also try a product like Earl's Solo bleeders. It will keep air from getting into the brake lines when you bleed, so you can just pump the brakes without worrying about introducing air to your lines. You don't have to close the bleed line after every time you pump in. I've never tried the product, but it comes highly recommended by a lot of my mechanic friends.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ToyotaLexus
Suspension and Brakes
1
02-16-09 07:46 PM