Brake fluid change would you do it?
- Thread starter Dopey
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classic kev
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Personally I would do it although I would point out if the brakes on a P38 are anything like the ones on my classic bleeding the system is a right royal pain in the behind and an abject lesson in patience.
jamesmartin
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if you keep reservoir full and cycle fluid you wont have bleeding problems
You might as well, Brake fluid absorbs water so needs to be changed periodically.. Although many people don't bother and have no isses.. But it's dead easy to change!
Get a one man bleed kit with the non return valve, stick it onto one corner, loosen the nipple right off and then just pump some fluid through it, 100ml or so on each corner should be more than enough, just make sure the reservoir is kept well topped up.. Bleed cross corners.. It's an easy job really...
Get a one man bleed kit with the non return valve, stick it onto one corner, loosen the nipple right off and then just pump some fluid through it, 100ml or so on each corner should be more than enough, just make sure the reservoir is kept well topped up.. Bleed cross corners.. It's an easy job really...
100ml a corner have you seen the size of the brake fluid container I bleeded my system recently and couldn't get any out of the rears I had it on a ramp so maybe a valve somewhere I took out 1litre via the fronts untill it ran clear so new fluid all the way throught the holder must hold at least 500ml on it own I would bleed until new fluid is seen
I have done my Series II a few time, and you probably know how freaking bad they are to do, but I don't want to mess with an ABS system if you take it all in to account getting the fluid, and my time to do it right (and if I **** up having to buy more fluid etc.) I think I'm ££ in paying for a shop to do it for me, ok they fleece me of £50 (I just rang them and they quoted me that and i rang 2 others but they wanted £65 and when I told the last one it was a Range Rover he wanted £75)but there not making that much out of it with labour and the fluid, and they do it under pressure so they will do a better job than i ever will, I don't like messing with fluid tbh
100ml a corner have you seen the size of the brake fluid container I bleeded my system recently and couldn't get any out of the rears I had it on a ramp so maybe a valve somewhere I took out 1litre via the fronts untill it ran clear so new fluid all the way throught the holder must hold at least 500ml on it own I would bleed until new fluid is seen
RobCavendish
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Definitely a job worth doing, as previously mentioned brake fluid is hygroscopic, it absorbs water over time and in severe braking conditions this can lower the boiling point enough for the fluid to boil - not good at all. I've done my classic plenty of times using a Gunson air assisted brake bleeder, it's really simple. You need the ignition on to run the pressure pump, but other than that, it's just like any other brake bleeding job, you don't even need anyone to operate the pedal! Just make sure you keep the reservoir topped up.
I have just took the RR P38 in to change the break fluid, and i asked what one he was going to put in he said DOT 4, i told him i wanted 5.1 or 6 he seemed to be fine with that and wrote it down on the service sheet, got back home and he rang me (I'm talking about a Vauxhall dealership here) and asked why i wanted 5.1 or 6 (i know synthetics are better for a whole host of reasons) and i know there more expensive than mineral ones, i just said I had 5.1 in there already and the car weighs 2.5 ton and it doesn't attract water like the older type fluid, and he seemed happy with that, so as far as i know he's will put 5.1 in, but it just bugs me as to why he would ask anyway??
nathan5346
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Ask him
I will when I pick it up, and make sure he did as I asked put 5.1 in, but the thing is you cant tell if he is telling the truth or now, there's no way of checking.... that's why I like to do things myself, and I make sure the job is done how I like it, you put your trust in some people and they let you down
nathan5346
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I wudnt give a motor of mine to sum fecker i didnt trust
jamesmartin
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probably because generally brake fluid gives very few noticeable problems ,last years ,and changed with dot 4 will be trouble free ,cost will be a consideration as most people choose garages by price so if his services where a bit more expensive people would choose somewhere else ,most people dont think he would be dearer as used more expensive fluids ,human nature
Not saying I don't trust them, but it just bugs me after I told him 5.1 and he then rings asking me why 5.1, if I didn't ask what they was going to put in they would have put DOT 4 in, I mean dot 4, is such an old fluid now, you wouldn't want to put it in a modern car, I even have 5.1 in my 1958 Series II Landy, it wouldn't even occur to me to use DOT 4 at any time for anything now, unless it was specificity ask for
jamesmartin
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theres a lot of rr run perfectly well since 1995 on it
I know that, but its just a better spec, at the end of the day, when you changing or replacing something, if you have a chance you change it for something better you would, if I would have had it done at National Tyres, they would have put 5.1 or 6 in without asking me (I asked them what speck they would put it) but the dealership is a lot closer to me and they came down in price to match NT so I used them and no other special reason other than that
I just got another call from the dealer telling me the ABS light is on, and as it will need repairing its a waist of time doing the brake fluid as when I change it to one that works i will have to change the fluid again..... I told him to drive it up the road for 100 yards and the light will go out, because the pump is still pressurising the system (am i right in saying this?) all I really know is the ABS light duz go out after a few yards of driving, and its always been that way, so I don't think anything is wrong with the system
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You are correct it will go out...but it is not distance nor time dependant....it is speed dependant...above 5mph it will go out....
This is so the system can calibrate itself, the ABS is not in operation at anytime below 5-7mph so you need to exceed this initially before the system will do its self checking procedure....hence why the light stays on until over a certain speed.
This is so the system can calibrate itself, the ABS is not in operation at anytime below 5-7mph so you need to exceed this initially before the system will do its self checking procedure....hence why the light stays on until over a certain speed.
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Always put brake fluid specified for your car in your car. Later ones may not like the older seals. ABS is doing it's self check. Red handbrake lamp goes out when system has pressure.
