damn that fluid was dirty... looked like maple syrup... took over 1 quart of fluid to get the job done.

 

Steve, it's definitely a good idea to flush out that brake fluid. DOT 3 brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air), and I think it can cause your brake lines to rust from the inside. I had to replace the steel lines on a 6-yr-old Chevy truck once because they were rusted to the point where fluid was leaking out. Now I'm smarter about brake fluid! About every two years I like to suck the old fluid out of the master cylinder, replacing it with new. Then I bleed a bunch of fluid out of each caliper or wheel cylinder, adding more fluid as needed to the master cylinder. Is that what youo did to flush them? Beyond helping the brake lines last longer, I imagine it is better for the calipers too.

 

Besides the water in the lines, what causes it to become so dirty? If its a sealed system (and it better be) how does crap get in there. My CJ was the same way when I changed out the MC and the calipers.

 

Never done that before, how often do you recommend it?

 

it's the moisture in it that causes rust to start forming...Like the power steering pump flush I did... better to service it when it's not needed than after it breaks. when I did the power steering flush, a slight grinding noise I had went away. the PS service took all of 15 minutes. The flush today however... different story, took for ever to get the crap out of it and to get some decent looking fluid out of the calipers. I'll probably do it again in the spring as I'm sure I didnt get all of the crap out.

 

so it is rust that turns the fluid dark like that?

 

yup... thats why lines rust out from the inside the way they do... the fluid never gets changed & flushed enough to help them last long term.

 

Hi, I have been flushing the brake fluid in all my vehicles at least once a year. I use synthetic and it seems to work best.

 

yup, that's what went in. Valvoline...

 

Care to explain the process Steve? How did you flush it out?