Brake fluid change

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JamesBB

JamesBB

Active Member
Posts
761
Location
Sandwich. Kent.
Changed the brake fluid and it seems to be mostly successful.

Used Mobil DOT4 and a Gunson pressure jobby.
Other than not tightening the cap down and losing a load of new fluid to the driveway, the Gunson worked well.

Cleaned it up from chassis rail and radius arm. Bled as per RAVE, but then when it came to the calipers the pressure from the Gunson helped a lot.
I did find the rears needed a little pressure on the brake pedal from a helper.

Problem now is with all the ignition "on" stuff and using a tyre compressor to get the 20PSI from the spare, the battery is now flat. Taken it off and now on charge.

Fingers crossed all is ok now, the old fluid looked like Guinness, well no, maybe a dark beer anyway (no head). ;)

I think I may treat it to new pads and discs in the spring/summer. The front pads look like 2-3 mm left and the discs are a little worn with an edge rim.
 
It's very rewarding, isn't it?

I did mine a few weeks back - new calipers at the back & full overhaul at the front meant every nipple cracked open cleanly and it was dead easy. A bit of a fight under the bonnet for those two (big mitts).
 
Castor said:
It's very rewarding, isn't it?

I did mine a few weeks back - new calipers at the back & full overhaul at the front meant every nipple cracked open cleanly and it was dead easy. A bit of a fight under the bonnet for those two (big mitts).
Click to expand...

Yes the front and rear booster nipples (oo err) are a pain to get to. Very frustrating design.

I will test drive as soon as the battery is back to life.
 
JamesBB said:
Changed the brake fluid and it seems to be mostly successful.

Used Mobil DOT4 and a Gunson pressure jobby.
Other than not tightening the cap down and losing a load of new fluid to the driveway, the Gunson worked well.

Cleaned it up from chassis rail and radius arm. Bled as per RAVE, but then when it came to the calipers the pressure from the Gunson helped a lot.
I did find the rears needed a little pressure on the brake pedal from a helper.

Problem now is with all the ignition "on" stuff and using a tyre compressor to get the 20PSI from the spare, the battery is now flat. Taken it off and now on charge.

Fingers crossed all is ok now, the old fluid looked like Guinness, well no, maybe a dark beer anyway (no head). ;)

I think I may treat it to new pads and discs in the spring/summer. The front pads look like 2-3 mm left and the discs are a little worn with an edge rim.
Click to expand...

Well done on fluid change, we should all do that every year - BUT 2-3mm ONLY on pads PLEASE CHANGE NOW.
 
I went to Vauxhall dealership to do mine, it was cheaper than buying my fluid, and I make them flush the system and put 5.1 in it....
 
wammers said:
Change the fluid by all means but every year is a little over the top. :);)
Click to expand...

Yes I was being a bit over the top on that. Regular change is a good idea some people have never changed their fluid! Seems odd that he changed the fluid and says he has just 2 or maybee 3mm on the brake pads and scored ?? discs so he is going to get a good bit of his new fluid back when he changes those. Bit back to front.
 
stopover said:
Yes I was being a bit over the top on that. Regular change is a good idea some people have never changed their fluid! Seems odd that he changed the fluid and says he has just 2 or maybee 3mm on the brake pads and scored ?? discs so he is going to get a good bit of his new fluid back when he changes those. Bit back to front.
Click to expand...
Pads & discs for these things are bizarrely cheap.....
 
stopover said:
Yes I was being a bit over the top on that. Regular change is a good idea some people have never changed their fluid! Seems odd that he changed the fluid and says he has just 2 or maybee 3mm on the brake pads and scored ?? discs so he is going to get a good bit of his new fluid back when he changes those. Bit back to front.
Click to expand...

Sure is, i would have been more inclined to change the pads and discs first.
 
Discs not scored, pads not scored. Not even noticeable ridges over the wear area. Fine and smooth.

I was guessing on the pad thickness left at a glance with poor light, could be 5mm or more.

The rim of the disc has an approx 1mm overhang either side. I guess this is scoring, but it is even........

Do not think it is as bad as some are making out, although fair enough it was based on my guess work on the thickness.

I am going to get some EBC pads. I have fitted them to other cars I own and swear by them, and they are British. I see Island 4x4 have good deals on a complete set of discs too.

Better get some on order in case that few mm of pad disappears in the 20 miles I travel each day. ;)
 
Looking at the opinions on cross drilled and grooved discs I am going to steer clear of them. Especially when you read EBC's article on their web site regarding them. Pretty scary. You may be about to get them cheap but no thanks....

I am sticking to EBC all around, discs and pads.
 
JamesBB said:
Looking at the opinions on cross drilled and grooved discs I am going to steer clear of them. Especially when you read EBC's article on their web site regarding them. Pretty scary. You may be about to get them cheap but no thanks....

I am sticking to EBC all around, discs and pads.
Click to expand...

But they look good when parked up specially with red calipers. :D:D:D
 
JamesBB said:
Looking at the opinions on cross drilled and grooved discs I am going to steer clear of them. Especially when you read EBC's article on their web site regarding them. Pretty scary. You may be about to get them cheap but no thanks....

I am sticking to EBC all around, discs and pads.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with Delphi and much less expensive than EBC.
 
Datatek said:
Nothing wrong with Delphi and much less expensive than EBC.
Click to expand...

Will bear Delphi in mind then during my search. I had listed them as an option previously but then lost focus because of the groovy drilled ones. Now I am feet firmly back on the ground with more sensible hat on.....:D
 
I've had Britpart discs in the past. It might be in my head but I didn't think they stopped as well. Cannot think why it would make a difference as it is only a lump of metal. As I say, may have been in my head.
 
Grrrrrr said:
I've had Britpart discs in the past. It might be in my head but I didn't think they stopped as well. Cannot think why it would make a difference as it is only a lump of metal. As I say, may have been in my head.
Click to expand...

What difference can a revolving piece of metal have on braking force. It's the friction material that is the more important factor.
 
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