Anybody know of a brake fluid DIY ?

[rawbutt]

hi...

does anybody know of a DIY article on a brake fluid change for an 04' pilot? i just did my VTM-4 over the weekend thanks to the great articles available on this forum, plan to do the 4X tranny service next, but wasn't sure how easy or difficult a brake fluid change was.

thanks everyone! i'm really enjoying doing some of these services myself and not having to worry with the hassle of a dealer and wondering what they "really" did back there

robert

[Caf2461]

I was hoping you would get an answer I have the same question.

I planned on using a giant syringe I have for drawing fluid out of the resevoir. Then fill with fresh and bleed the brakes.

[macphanatic]

You can use a Mityvac brake bleeding kit.

http://www.mityvac.com/pages/products_hvpk.asp

Scroll down to MV6820 Brake Bleeding Kit

I would use this kit to suction the brake fluid out of the reservoir. Replace it with fresh fluid. Then use the zerk adapter that comes with the kit to flush/bleed each brake.

There are more expensive units out there that use an air compressor to suck the fluids out.

You can fabricate a larger reservoir for the above kit to use it for larger capacity jobs. I know guys that do this for power steering and other jobs.

I even used this to suck water out of a domestic copper line (coming up through a concrete slab with no way to drain it) so that I could sweat a new connection to it. Just remember to never use it to suck fluids through the hand pump.

[rawbutt]

Thanks so much for the reply and link to this pump kit! I have a pump similar to this at home which may do the trick...but the only part I'm not sure about is the "zerk" attachment you mentioned to bleed each brake. This is the only part that makes me question if I am qualified for this DIY I've done an oil change, VTM-4 and tranny DIY with my 04', so my confidence level is at an all-time high, but bleeding brakes sounds a little intimidating....but then again, I have no idea how it's done.

Can you give me an idea of how it's done and whether the bleeding is required, or optional when someone changes the brake fluid?

Thanks !

[rawbutt]

Oh...and can anybody tell me how much fluid I will need to change it out? Looks like it comes in 12 oz. bottles from honda.

Thanks

[Caf2461]

I ended up using 11 of the 12 oz's in a new container of Honda brake fluid.

I pulled the screen out of the master cylinder and could not believe how dirty it was. Cleaned it with carb cleaner and let it dry completly.

I used the auto fluid syringe I had to draw out all the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. Filled it up with fresh fluid and used the two person method to bleed the brakes starting from the wheel furthest from the master cylinder. Filled it up with fresh fluid again.


http://www.kctools.com.au/images/TOO...20SYRINGE.html

[macphanatic]

Remember to be careful with brake fluid. IIRC, it damages paint.

This link should give you the general idea:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...o/4213448.html

The nice thing about using the Mityvac method, is that you don't need anyone to pump the brakes. Connect the hose to the bleeder valve. Use a wrench to open the fitting, and start squeezing the Mityvac until the fluid color changes from old to new and there are no air bubbles. Just remember to watch the level in the collector cup so that you don't pull fluid into the Mityvac itself.

If you don't want to go this route, you can replace the stock bleeders with Speed Bleeders. These have a oneway flow device. Once installed, you open them and pump the brakes to flush, but air can't go in.

[kerpal]

Originally posted by rawbutt
Thanks so much for the reply and link to this pump kit! I have a pump similar to this at home which may do the trick...but the only part I'm not sure about is the "zerk" attachment you mentioned to bleed each brake. This is the only part that makes me question if I am qualified for this DIY I've done an oil change, VTM-4 and tranny DIY with my 04', so my confidence level is at an all-time high, but bleeding brakes sounds a little intimidating....but then again, I have no idea how it's done.

Can you give me an idea of how it's done and whether the bleeding is required, or optional when someone changes the brake fluid?

Thanks !

DIY???? Daym, I'm confused.. Whats that...

[kerpal]

Originally posted by Caf2461
I ended up using 11 of the 12 oz's in a new container of Honda brake fluid.

I pulled the screen out of the master cylinder and could not believe how dirty it was. Cleaned it with carb cleaner and let it dry completly.

I used the auto fluid syringe I had to draw out all the fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. Filled it up with fresh fluid and used the two person method to bleed the brakes starting from the wheel furthest from the master cylinder. Filled it up with fresh fluid again.


http://www.kctools.com.au/images/TOO...20SYRINGE.html

What if you use a synthetic fluid????