Just curious, is flushing out your brake system with clean fresh fluid a maintenance item? Like something that should be done every 5/50k (example)?

Also read up on some speed bleeders like here: http://www.russellperformance.com/mc/speed/truck.shtml

As well as a vacuum type, one man bleeder system. Curious which would be better. Looks like speed bleeders would be the easiest way to do it.

 

Yes. Brake fluid attracks moisture. I don't think any manufactor states a specific change interval. We used to reccommend every 2yrs.

 

Maintenance item for me! I flush out 1 quart of brake fluid, clean and re lube the sliders every spring after the road salt is washed away. I also like to be able to open the bleeders every year so they don't rust/freeze up. Never used the speed bleeders. I only have done it the old fashioned way.

 

Bought some speed bleeders as mentioned above. Plan on installing them and doing a brake flush this weekend.

Plan on using dot 4 synthetic brake fluid, any particular brand recommendations, or are they mostly the same?

Also how can I tell when all of the old is out or flushed through on each wheel? Color?

How much fluid do you recommend I buy to do a flush?

 

I just did mine today. I attempted to use a one man bleeder kit. The hose kept coming off (it was crap). Did it with just a tube and bucket by pumping the brake pedal 4-5 times to get it started. I used 2 big bottles of Valvoline DOT 3 & 4 (same bottle) from Autozone. Just use a clear tube and watch for very light color liquid with no air bubbles. Also, I left the tires on the rear while I beld the rear. I was changing the front calipers so those tires were off already.

 

Thanks, I just got home from buying the exact same brake fluid, 2 big bottles. Attempt this sometime this weekend. Going to remove most of the old stuff from the reservoir with a turkey baster, then fill with new. Bought a 3 foot piece of clear hose to run from bleeder screw to catch can. I will post back results.

 

Good advise on opening them routinely. I did a flush this fall and ended up snapping off one of the bleed screws because to my knowledge it had never been opened in 7 years.

 

So I did this today. I removed about 16 oz of old fluid from reservoir (it was black) then filled with fresh fluid. Installed the new speed bleeders, attached clear hose to them and ran to a catch pan. Methodically worked my way around from wheel to wheel starting with pass rear ending with driver front. Did this 3 times with 5 to 10 presses on the brake pedal each time. Got all the old fluid out. Kept going til I was getting clean fluid at each wheel, and then some. Also kept an eye on the reservoir and kept it full while doing so. All in all I probably pushed 32 plus ounces through the system. Used almost every bit of the two 32 oz bottles of brake fluid I purchased. When finished reservoir is full and maybe 4 oz of new fluid left in the bottle. Brakes feel a little better, but they weren't bad to start with. At least I know I accomplished a maintenance item on the old girl today. Something she may have been long over due for (10 yrs old and 52k mi on her). Pretty easy job, took about 1 to 1.5 hrs to accomplish taking my time.

 

Would it be alright to suck out all of the old fluid and pour new fluid in? How long would it take that old fluid in the system to be flushed out from there?

 

It will take awhile to get it out of the lines, I use the one man hand pump bleeder myself. Suck the fluid out of the master cyl, then refill with fresh, start with the passenger side rear and suck the fluid out until it looks new. Check the MC from time to time to make sure that you don't suck it dry. If you do, you will suck air into the system and have to start over. Go to the driver side rear next and do the same. Next go to the passenger front, then finally the driver side front. If pads are fairly new, top off fluid to full line. If worn, leave the level a bit below the full line so when you go to put new pads on and compress the calipers, you don't shove fluid out the top of the MC and get fluid all over the engine bay which can eat the paint off of stuff.
Use DOT 3 as recommended, not 4.