This is my brake bleeder. It stands alone and the hose fits snug over the banjo bolt. Haven't used it since I replaced all the brake stuff not long after I bought it hence the dust. Untie the knot to use.

 

I hear lots of people recommend changing brake fluid every two years. No mile thresholds because it's the water absorption of brake fluid that is the concern. In other words, time. I don't know how accurate two years is. But I do know I went decades without changing brake fluid in my Dakota. My rack lasted 32 years. Didn't see any fluid-related issues.

 

I may flush my brake system when I do the brakes, but, beyond that? Nope. The lines rust out from the outside, long before any water from the fluid can do any damage.

 

In other words, change your brake fluid every two years so we can get more $$ out of you.

 

It worked on my CX-5 the one time I needed to bleed it. Wait until you service the rear brakes. I have to watch Youtube every time on those electric parking brakes.

On the other hand, I've had my CX-5 for 6 years now. I only found out last summer about the lock button on the rear hatch.

 

HAHAHA. You Tube has a bunch of videos about stuff on the CX-5 that isn't even in the owner's manual. I watched a vid yesterday about all the simple resets for various malfunctions the owner can do versus spending $100 - $500 at the dealer.

 

^^^^ this ^^^^

Been using this method for many years, but I use a clear line so I can see the fluid status. As long as one end in the bottle is submerged in brake fluid and the other end is sealed on the bleed nipple, no air can enter. The fluid at the bottom IS the check valve and it's too heavy to flow uphill, unlike air. You can pump and pump as long as you have fluid in the reservoir.

 

Some of the videos are for foreign market Mazda's. There are a few changes for different markets. Especially RHD car markets. I usually refer to Youtube as the UofY. Even if I've done a job before, it's handy to refresh the memory. I had a '93 or so Chevy 2500 with the 350 engine. Unlike the ones I'd worked on before, it had the serpentine belt system. Going over the video, I realised one bolt is hidden that isn't on the older multibelt set up. That video probably saved me a good 1/2 to full hour by not hunting for a hidden bolt.