Brake flush

[Hogan773]

I've gone back to remind myself what has and hasn't been done (and what needs to be) on my 2004 Pilot with 36K miles. ATF was done after 3yrs at 17k miles. VTM also at that time. Last oil was last October at 29k.

That's it as far as I can see.

So I think I need to do

1) Air filter
2) ATF
3) VTM
4) Oil

Perhaps CAF as its 5 yrs old.

And then there is Brake Flush every 3yrs IIRC.

Would you suggest I have the brake fluid flushed? Or should I just wait until I need new pads/rotors (not sure when that will be - stealership said pads were 6mm front and 5mm rear as of last look last October) (Isn't it weird that rear pads would be less than front??????)

Also on the Pilot when you get new pads do you get new rotors for every change, like on a BMW? Or can you just do new pads?

[Big_D]

Regarding the brake flush. I agree that 3 years is the recommended service interval on brake fluid. If you tow or frequently drive on hills and are on the brakes alot then I would have it changed. Over time the fluid absorbs moisture which reduces it boiling point.

I am not totally sure but usually rotors can be resurfaced as long as they haven't worn past the service limit.

I just did my CAF for the first time on my '04 and it was really bad. 5 years is a long time and its probably clogged.

[andyschneider]

So I looked at your service intervals, and some seem too long.

Cabin Air filter should be yearly. I'm always amazed at just how much junk builds up after only 1 year. If you've waited 5 years, I'm betting it'll be black as could be with dirt...

Brake flush - yep every 3-4 years. I have to do this on the '05 Accord in Sept for the first time after 52k miles - about time, I figure.

VTM-4 - they tell you to do it once at 15k, then every 25k after that. I've never seen the VTM-4 look dirty or contaminated - but I sort of stick by that recommendation.

ATF - I've never really found a Honda-recommended flush - so my mode of operation is to drain and refill the ATF ever 20-25k miles. I figure that way I put in some new fluid periodically and will likely keep the fluid fresh enough over the life of the vehicle.

As far as brakes - I'm replacing the fronts on the Accord as well - keeping the rotor, replacing the front pads. The still have some good meat on them, but with winter coming, I figure I'd combine replacing the pads along with the brake flush. I have a Motive brake bleeder, so I figure the flushing job will be pretty quick. You don't really need to replace the rotors unless you've got a pulsation, have deep gouges in the rotors from the pads wearing badly, or if you had the rotors turned ever before, they might be getting a tad thin. But in general, you can get to 100k on rotors if you don't have any issues.

andy

[TomStromie]

Originally posted by andyschneider
The still have some good meat on them, but with winter coming, I figure I'd combine replacing the pads along with the brake flush.

andy

It's August 18th!!! Let us in MN enjoy summer for another few weeks, please!

[Hogan773]

Originally posted by andyschneider
So I looked at your service intervals, and some seem too long.

Cabin Air filter should be yearly. I'm always amazed at just how much junk builds up after only 1 year. If you've waited 5 years, I'm betting it'll be black as could be with dirt...

Brake flush - yep every 3-4 years. I have to do this on the '05 Accord in Sept for the first time after 52k miles - about time, I figure.

VTM-4 - they tell you to do it once at 15k, then every 25k after that. I've never seen the VTM-4 look dirty or contaminated - but I sort of stick by that recommendation.

ATF - I've never really found a Honda-recommended flush - so my mode of operation is to drain and refill the ATF ever 20-25k miles. I figure that way I put in some new fluid periodically and will likely keep the fluid fresh enough over the life of the vehicle.

As far as brakes - I'm replacing the fronts on the Accord as well - keeping the rotor, replacing the front pads. The still have some good meat on them, but with winter coming, I figure I'd combine replacing the pads along with the brake flush. I have a Motive brake bleeder, so I figure the flushing job will be pretty quick. You don't really need to replace the rotors unless you've got a pulsation, have deep gouges in the rotors from the pads wearing badly, or if you had the rotors turned ever before, they might be getting a tad thin. But in general, you can get to 100k on rotors if you don't have any issues.

andy

Thanks. I've seen some of the posts here about Cabin AF and how people were amazed at how "black" it had become after only a year or so - but what many are missing I think is that the OEM filter had activated carbon on it while the replacements do not. The filter was black the day the car was born. But I get the point anyway and I bought an engine air filter and cabin air filter from R*ckAuto (great prices) and will DIY this weekend.

[A6Pilot]

For a replacement cabin filter with activated charcoal (finally), check out Fram's "Fresh Breeze" line of filters. Most Pilots use part #8813A. Available at the larger Walmarts for about $18.

[Hogan773]

Originally posted by A6Pilot
For a replacement cabin filter with activated charcoal (finally), check out Fram's "Fresh Breeze" line of filters. Most Pilots use part #8813A. Available at the larger Walmarts for about $18.

Thanks good tip. I got a Wix for $11 but next time might spring for the FB. The FB I found online were closer to $30....

[Wolfman_matt]

Don't bother with the flush...you can bleed out the worst of it when you change pads. Your rotors will probably be fine.

Don't get behind on the ATF and VTM4 changes.

[andyschneider]

Originally posted by Hogan773


Thanks. I've seen some of the posts here about Cabin AF and how people were amazed at how "black" it had become after only a year or so - but what many are missing I think is that the OEM filter had activated carbon on it while the replacements do not. The filter was black the day the car was born. But I get the point anyway and I bought an engine air filter and cabin air filter from R*ckAuto (great prices) and will DIY this weekend.

Funny - both my 04 and 06 Pilots (and 05 Accord) didn't have activated charcoal CAF's - they were simple white ones, similar to the OEM replacement I got from Tim at Hondacuraworld.com. I've not yet seen a factory supplied carbon CAF in any of my cars.... So in my case, the black was just plain old DIRT. :-)

Better than the CAF in my 95 Saab 900s. That puppy was under the cowling near the wipers, and you had to replace it from the outside. Boy did THAT one get dirty!

andy

[Hogan773]

Originally posted by andyschneider

Funny - both my 04 and 06 Pilots (and 05 Accord) didn't have activated charcoal CAF's - they were simple white ones, similar to the OEM replacement I got from Tim at Hondacuraworld.com. I've not yet seen a factory supplied carbon CAF in any of my cars.... So in my case, the black was just plain old DIRT. :-)

Better than the CAF in my 95 Saab 900s. That puppy was under the cowling near the wipers, and you had to replace it from the outside. Boy did THAT one get dirty!

andy

Yeah but in my 3-series BMW it takes about 12 seconds to change CAF (maybe 15 on a bad day) - and no CUTTING PLASTIC BARS !??!?!??!

[akulla]

Hi,

Can someone please tell me how much brake fluid is needed when doing a flush?
Also do you think it's better to stick to a Honda brake fluid or any DOT-3 fluid is fine?

Thank you.

[ctobio]

Originally posted by akulla
Hi,

Can someone please tell me how much brake fluid is needed when doing a flush?
Also do you think it's better to stick to a Honda brake fluid or any DOT-3 fluid is fine?

Thank you.

You'll need about a quart, but I bought 2 to be safe- that' using a Motive power bleeder, which is fairly economical compared to the 2 person pump method. I used Castrol LMA, which is DoT-3 and DoT-4 compliant. I see no need to buy Honda brake fluid for this application.

[nickg5]

I always thought that brake fluid is done every 2 years. I as well took almost 3.5 to do it on my 05. It was darker but not substantially dirty.

ATF is done with like 3 consecutive fluid changes. I have not seen the complete flush recommendation by Honda. I did those during the oil change. ATF fluid was looking fine. Also I have done my Dif fluid 3 times I am at 54k miles and it never looked bad.

Pads still have a good amount of meat on them but I may do them to be safe and not have to worry for few years. Only issue I have is I mangled the rotors retaining screws so they need to drilled/removed. Rotors look good with barely any lip so I am considering just doing the pads and not even resurfacing or changing them.


I did the CAF and it was a bit of a pain but it was quite dirty. I agree it probably should be changed every year. (not that I can tell the difference after the change but still it was a bit dirty and a good amount of debris was vacuumed.


Cheers

Nick

[akulla]

Originally posted by ctobio


You'll need about a quart, but I bought 2 to be safe- that' using a Motive power bleeder, which is fairly economical compared to the 2 person pump method. I used Castrol LMA, which is DoT-3 and DoT-4 compliant. I see no need to buy Honda brake fluid for this application.

Thanks a lot ctobio!