Changing Brake Fluid

[hdzoro]

The maintenance section of the manual states that the brake fluid should be replaced every 3 years. Has anybody done this? Is there a DIY guide? Is this really necessary?

[hondacuraplanet]

Most dealers just suck the fluid out of the reservoir with a suction gun, and replace it. Is it necessary? Take a look in your master cylinder. If the fluid is the color of motor oil, yes.

[gblakeb]

Originally Posted by hdzoro

The maintenance section of the manual states that the brake fluid should be replaced every 3 years. Has anybody done this? Is there a DIY guide? Is this really necessary?

Bleeding with the Motive Power Bleeder - Howto

Here is the DIY guide I used. Very easy to do yourself. The first time you do it, follow the instructions. USE JACK STANDS if you life the vehicle. After you know what you are doing the second time that you do this, there is no need to raise the vehicle and take off the wheels if you turn the front wheels left and right. You'll need to crawl down there and find the bleeder. Rear wheels, same thing but easier to see.

The Motive Power Bleeder runs about $50 - $60. The Honda adapter takes a little work to get it on right. I also have a GM adapter, and its a piece of cake to do.

[hdzoro]

Originally Posted by gblakeb

Bleeding with the Motive Power Bleeder - Howto

Here is the DIY guide I used. Very easy to do yourself. The first time you do it, follow the instructions. USE JACK STANDS if you life the vehicle. After you know what you are doing the second time that you do this, there is no need to raise the vehicle and take off the wheels if you turn the front wheels left and right. You'll need to crawl down there and find the bleeder. Rear wheels, same thing but easier to see.

The Motive Power Bleeder runs about $50 - $60. The Honda adapter takes a little work to get it on right. I also have a GM adapter, and its a piece of cake to do.

Great! Thanks for the replies. One last question, how much fluid is needed to do a full drain?

Thanks

[carguy07]

I have had good luck with these on other cars. Will probably give it shot on this one before too long.

Speed Bleeder Bleeding Brakes Bleeding Motorcycle Brakes Automotive Bleeder Screw Brake Bleeder

[jarizzo]

I used the Actron hand pump bleeder kit to do this, following the recommended pattern for bleeding the brakes. The bleeder screws leak a lot of air and you will need more of the silicone sealant than they give you with the kit. The lid of the canister also leaks and needs sealant every time you close it back up after dumping out the old fluid. Once you get the air leaks out of the system and can effectively vacuum the old fluid out through the system, it works very well. Be very careful to keep fresh DOT3 fluid in the reservoir. Once you see the clean fluid being pulled out of the bleeder screw, close that one up and move to the next wheel. This would be the one-man method for doing the job. If you have two people, you can use the brake pedal to pump out the old fluid one wheel at a time instead of vacuuming it out.

Make sure once you're done and all the bleeders are closed, wheels on and lugnuts torqued properly, etc., that you "prime" the brake pedal before attempting to drive off. The pedal will probably travel to the floor a couple times before the master cylinder and system fully pressurizes. Until that happens, you won't have any braking ability and if you try to drive off right away, you could hit something.

[belundy]

That Speed Bleeder looks *way* cool. How much?

[carguy07]

Originally Posted by belundy

That Speed Bleeder looks *way* cool. How much?

$20 for all 4. Lots for track rats use these to make it easy to change fluid after an event.

[hdzoro]

Thanks everybody for all the replies and answers. I was able to finally get a chance to change the brake fluid. For future reference, I used 2 cans of Honda brake fluid (354ml each). You can see in the picture how dirty the old fluid was. Tim was right on the dime in describing the dirty fluid color similar to motor oil.

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hdzoro

[carguy07]

How many years/miles is on that fluid?

[hdzoro]

Originally Posted by carguy07

How many years/miles is on that fluid?

It's an 07 Pilot so that's 3 years with 78K miles.