break fluid?

[tommk3cab]

one fluid I have never had experience with so here goes, just a simple question really...

does the break system need bleeding or any special things you need to do when filling it up?

I know its corrosive by the way! and I also know I require DOT4 but thats as far as my break fluid/filling knowledge goes.

[mad harry]

as long as your not changing any component like calipers or cylinders or pipes then no just top her up.

[tommk3cab]

cheers for that, and the same goes for if its really quiet empty? because I would have thought that risked airlocks?

what about if I was changing calipers or other parts? just being nosie! and for future referance?

[mad harry]

yeah you would have to bleed the air out very simple to do if you want to do it cheap all you need is a bit washer pipe and 2 people oh an a jam jar place the pipe over the bleed nipple on the component and the other end it to the jar, get the second person to press the brake keeping presure on the pedal, slacken off the nipple and the pedal will go the floor get the person to hold it there till you tighten the nipple keep repeating this till you get a good pedal or no air is spotted it the pipe, keep the resevoir topped up with fluid while doing this.  it prob better explained in a haynes manuel.      oh check your pads are not low if your fluid is that low.

[tommk3cab]

cheers, and just to clarify i shouldnt need to do that if im not changing any parts?

even if it is pretty low?

my pads are sound, I thought thats what the light on the dash ment so I checked them as soon as the light flashed on, this was before I looked in the manual and found out it was the fluid light instead!

[mad harry]

top up, have you done any major hard braking and boiled your fluid.

[tommk3cab]

na, I wouldn't have thought so, possibly since it has been low it may be more likely to boil because there is less of it?

Im always pretty chilled nowadays so I only really ever even use my breaks in an emergency, I have always noticed the breaks are not too good on this car so I just take it easy anyway, I think the drums need cleaning for one thing!

the fluid was on the low side just after I brought the car, I was going to top it up but it seemed to ' refill ' itself after a while!

I know its impossible but I checked it again about a week later and it was pretty much full, I thought the fluid must have just moved or I was parked on unlevel ground or something. This was about 4 months ago, then about a week ago the light started coming on again, I dont drive that much, or that far.

Ill have a proper look at the fluid level as it is now when the weather is on my side.

[herbster]

 
How long has the fluid been in the system, if you don't know while your bleeding the lot you may as well change the lot for a few more quid, half litre cost almost as much as a couple of litres. The fluid should be totally clear as its as ealed system and no dirt should ever get in there, so if its not clear its old, too old, not efficient, change it all, pump it all out, fill up and bleed from there on....... 

[tommk3cab]

cheers ill check its clear, its been serviced regularly up until I got hold of it about 6 months ago. Although it doesn't mean it was checked or changed.


Is there any way to check if it has boiled?