Bleeding brakes!

I gather the service instructions for our cars recommend a 24 monthly brake fluid change regardless of mileage. I imagine this is because of concerns that brake fluid absorbs moisture over time which lowers the boiling point of the fluid and may also cause internal corrosion.

I'm due (probably overdue) a brake fluid change and am interested in the experiences of others who have done this on the F/TF. I've read the service manual and the procedure seems familiar (prop the car, all 4 wheels off, keep the reservoir topped-up with fresh fluid, bleed the corners in the correct order until new fluid without bubbles appears by pumping the pedal).

I will probably have to do this single handed so my first question is 'has anyone tried the Gunson's EEzibleed systems and if yes, was it any good?'

Secondly, about how much DOT4 did you need for a fluid change (I don't have ABS)?

Lastly (for now), most of the DOT4 you can buy these days is synthetic - does this have a longer life than the oid brake fluid?

Very grateful for comments & advice (other than take it to a garage to do it).

Richard

Hi Richard . I don't have any experience of the Gunsons kit . I bought my TF early last year and thought it would be a good idea to change the fluid in both the brakes and clutch as the car had no history of it ever being done. It is also an item I know is easily ignored. I bought a 2 ltr bottle as I was doing a flush of both brakes and clutch . I was doing it solo and just made sure that after 10 presses of the pedal that the reservoir was topped up . The colour of the fluid that came out amazed me, more like mud than fluid. I do have A/B/S so I thought 2 ltrs was going to cover the job easily , which it did. Only problem I encountered was very tight bleed screws which I decided I would change at a later date . hope this helps.

John

It should be easy enough if its a straight bleed to replace fluid, its when the brakes are removed or the pipes get changed and air is introduced, TF's and F's are notorious for bleeding the brakes. It took me a good while to bleed the whole system recently when I replaced all my hoses and refurbed the calipers. Even then I had to go back the next day and bleed them again to get the last bit of air out. If you are not introducing any air then I think the job will be relatively straight forward.
Do note the advice of CJJ who maintains he just lets gravity do the job for him. Top up the reservoir and let the fluid ooze through the system on its own!

Sundance

Bled my brakes last year ...............on my own no messing.......in a nutshell......easy,quick,cheap.....looked at the gunsons kit...at the time around £25.00.......i wasnt sure if the kit had the right top for the resevoir or not to do the job....thought i had heard some where may be wrong.............anyway ..went to halfords and bought a one man easy bleed for the sum of £4.99...

it has a one way valve...so you top up resevoir....connect pipe to nipple......slacken nipple and pump brakes...checking the resevoir and topping up as required.....when there is no air in the clear bleed pipe.....tighten nipple and proceed to the next......no more shouting to the mrs ......the one way valve allows you to let go of the peddle without letting air back in.
For a extra £1 you can buy the same kit with a bottle to collect your old fluid...

Found it so quick and easy...went through the process again ...(doddle) :broon:
after bleeding your brakes its worth putting some nipple covers on your nipples for protection against the elements :yesnod:......a must is having a decent brake spanner :broon: ......some years back stripped my slave cylinder on my land rover
and was shocked by the water damage to the metal components due to water absorbtion in the fluid..... :hgf:

Yep, I bought one of those cheap kits too :yesnod:

Works well, imho. :broon:

mgtfbluestreak wrote: its worth putting some nipple covers on your nipples for protection against the elements :yesnod:

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[/img]

I used a vizibleed (as above) which was ok, I tried adapting a proper MG master tank cap to suit the easibleed kit but something didn't work, all I did was empty the spare tyre.

For the sake of £30 I get my regular garage to do it, it takes me longer to do the job than earn the money and I don't enjoy doing it.

When my daughter returned from a 6 month trip to Australia for her gap year she found the brakes in her Rover100 a little iffy, the brake fluid had turned to treacle and the garage had to bleed it twice to clear the system.

I use a length of pvc tubing of appropriate inner diameter to be a tight fit on the bleed nipple. Block off the other end and then cut a slit just above the blocked end. Fit inside a jam jar after punching a hole in the lid to hold the pvc tubing. The slit works a a one way valve. Cost - a few pence. Never had a problem. willyphixitt. :clap:

willyphixitt wrote: I use a length of pvc tubing of appropriate inner diameter to be a tight fit on the bleed nipple. Block off the other end and then cut a slit just above the blocked end. Fit inside a jam jar after punching a hole in the lid to hold the pvc tubing. The slit works a a one way valve. Cost - a few pence. Never had a problem. willyphixitt. :clap:

Willyphixitt? Yes he will! :broon:

Just a couple of photos of my homemade brake bleeding stuff.



The pvc tubing is a nominal 5mm bore & I used a 6mm number plate screw to seal the end. The slit is approximately 8mm long.
willyphixitt

willyphixitt wrote: Just a couple of photos of my homemade brake bleeding stuff.

The pvc tubing is a nominal 5mm bore & I used a 6mm number plate screw to seal the end. The slit is approximately 8mm long.
willyphixitt

Don't tell Halfords!

Richard

A couple of posters (thanks) have said that the Gunson's Eezibleed kit doesn't contain a reservoir cap that will fit the F and I've checked and they are right (of course). One of the caps in the kit will fit the clutch reservoir. Gunson does make a universal clamp on cap that should work on the F but it's another £15 so not as cheap as all the alternative suggestions above (especially willyphixitt's clever solution).

Richard