Do you change you P/S & Brake fluid?

[ACF]

What are your thoughts on doing so? And if you do how often do you do so? What is the best way to change both... ... ... ... . any hidden things to look for?

 

[hammersley]

You Bet..........

I've had my brake fluid flushed at every brake job - that's about every 40,000 miles..... and they run a full flush - till the fluid runs clean. I had some steering issues and flushed that and it eliminated it... ...

 

[B.G. Smith]

Long but interesting. bg http://autos.aol.com/article/general/v2/_a/fluid-flush-fallacy/20060505115609990001

 

[steved]

I am going to flush the brake fluid as soon as the brakes need changed (will be around 120k I figure)...



I simply suck out around a pint of fluid out of the PS resevoir and refill every other oil change... I read in the FSM that "bleeding" can damage the PS system if not done correctly... so I don't drain it completely (would be simple enough to slide a hose off the cooler to drain though... )



steved

 

[JFaughn]

There's no fluid / lube that should not be changed / flushed , unless your one of those types that just get a new car after the payments are up , and there are a lot of them , good reason to have a prepurchuse checkout when buying .
With the exseption of syn. I would leave no fluid/lube in longer than 30,000 , a multi meter is good for checking res. /voltage , then also litmus paper-acid.

 

[05mxdiesel]

I am going to flush the brake fluid as soon as the brakes need changed (will be around 120k I figure)...



I simply suck out around a pint of fluid out of the PS resevoir and refill every other oil change... I read in the FSM that "bleeding" can damage the PS system if not done correctly... so I don't drain it completely (would be simple enough to slide a hose off the cooler to drain though... )



steved

I am with Steve on this as well but I use a turkey baster and suck out 16 oz every 6 mos. or so and replace it with Amsoil ATF+4. It is kind of time consuming but keeps fresh fluid in there. I've been meaning to do my brake fluid for a couple months now, just trying to find the time.

 

[DPKetchum]

I agree and disagree with that link. Years ago the high line autos(Porche/MB and others) part of a routine maintace was fliuds all changed. Very seldom ever saw a wheel cylinder or caliper issue if mantance done on a regular basis. On some of them calipers were pushed open and slides etc. were cleaned and lubed. Watching a good Porche tech doing a maintance to a 911 was a learning experience first time I watched it from start to finish. Never knew by the way that car drove it had over 100k on it. Brake performance stayed like new. I handled Datsuns/Nissans and the ones that had that service done as well as diffs and trans(manuals or autos)done on a regular basis were allways a tighter nicer driving auto then ones with non factory parts and no fliud changes etc. It made a big differance in the autos as they aged and got high mileage. Less failures and better driving vehicles. Of course they also got all hinges lubed,door lock cyliners new wipers blades etc. Doing such every 30k or yearly really showed the benifits later on. I am a firm beliver in the trans fliud exchage machines. Best thing ever to happen to a auto trans and the comsumers since the invent of a auto transmission.

 

[KcoleKennyc]

Change the ps and brake fluid once a year. Don't flush, just change what I can get out of the master cylinder and ps pump. Never replaced a part of the power steering in 364K miles or any hydraulic parts of the brakes. Only replaced the front brake pads 2 times, never touched the rears. Usually gross 20 to 30 thousand pounds, it has not had an easy life. Usually service the transmission and rear end at the same time. No problems here except for one clutch and it really wasn't in bad shape. Changed it because the pilot bearing came apart. Don't believe it would have lasted this long without the fluid changes.

 

[rbattelle]

I tried to flush my brake fluid at the 2 year mark. This is what happened on the first bleeder. I still haven't repaired it, nor flushed the brake fluid.



I've also never touched the PS fluid, but it never occurred to me to use the turkey baster! I think I'll do that.



Ryan

 

[MMeier]

I just had my brake fluid flushed a few weeks back at 161k, still have over 50% original pad left at all 4 corners. P/S , every other complete oil change I'll slide a hose off the cooler under the radiator and then refill with amsoil ATF.

 

[DPKetchum]

Just did my own brake fliud flush about two weeks ago. Clear hose pushed on caliper bleeder going into a plastic bottle and wife pushing brake pedal. Used almost four cans of synthetic brake fliud. Could have sworn I got very minor air out of one rear. Powersteering is next.

 

[steved]

I just had my brake fluid flushed a few weeks back at 161k, still have over 50% original pad left at all 4 corners. P/S , every other complete oil change I'll slide a hose off the cooler under the radiator and then refill with amsoil ATF.

Did you have any issues getting the system to bleed? I knnow the FSM makes it sound like it is rocket science to get the system to bleed again without damage... which doesn't make sense to me since it already had fluid in it...



steved

 

[MMeier]

Did you have any issues getting the system to bleed? I knnow the FSM makes it sound like it is rocket science to get the system to bleed again without damage... which doesn't make sense to me since it already had fluid in it...



steved

Had the DEALER where I had my LP replaced do it , supposedly used the DRB tool to activate the valves in the ABS module, pedal does appear to be a bit firmer then before. Still, have over 50% and 165k on the original pads at all 4 corners, not bad considering this truck tows heavy 90% of the time.

 

[steved]

Had the DEALER where I had my LP replaced do it , supposedly used the DRB tool to activate the valves in the ABS module, pedal does appear to be a bit firmer then before. Still, have over 50% and 165k on the original pads at all 4 corners, not bad considering this truck tows heavy 90% of the time.

Cool, then it isn't something the average wrench turner can do...



My brakes will need replaced before next inspection, probably get about 120k out of them...



steved

 

[DPKetchum]

Humm. I just sucked the fliud out of master cylliner,refilled it,got under truck ,started on rt rear,broke bleeder loose,hooked up clear fuel line,put it in a clear plastic bottle with a little brake fliud in it and told wife to push down 3/4 to floor. Close bleeder and repeat. Kept this up until clear fliud ran out and did it each wheel. Truck not running. Have done all mine this way. Took maybe 30 minutes. Fronts are easy. Can do without getting under truck. Just turn wheel full lock right and then left and do.

 

[jelag]

We usually average 150K miles between brake jobs... . and we flush the brake fluid every 12 to 15 months..... and again at brake jobs... .



Most power steering pumps have some sort of filter, or screen... . we either change the filter... . as an example on our 10L cat engine that power steering pump uses 10-40 engine oil... and we pull the cover and change the filter every 2 years with the oil...



Oil, filters, and brake fluid are inexpensive when you look at one or two days on the road for a driver, and tow bills... . plus repair costs... its just something we try to stay on top of... .