black brake fluid

[92exuser]

well i was checkin all my fluids and ive noticed that my brake fluid is black im guessing it bad cause my clutch fluid is not like that at all

[Tippey764]

Brake fluid is recommended to be changed every 2 years or 30,000 miles ( including the abs brake fluid )

[deevergote]

That black fluid is probably from 1992...
Yes, black is bad. Brake fluid should be clear.

An easy way to change it is to do this:
get a few bottles (brake fluid is dirt cheap). Attach a hose to a bleeder valve (some aquarium hose is cheap and easy), and open the valve. Pump the brakes while keeping an eye on the reservoir. As the fluid level in the reservoir drops, add more fluid to it. Keep adding fluid, so no air gets into the system. Keep pumping the old fluid out while adding new, until clear fluid starts coming out of the bleeder valve. Do this at all 4 corners to get as much of the old fluid out as possible. Doing it this way will allow you to keep air out of the lines, which can be a pain in the ass to deal with. You'll end up with slightly contaminated fluid, since it will mix with the old nasty stuff (which is why I suggest doing it with a few bottles), but it will work.

Or, you could just do it the old fashioned way... drain, fill, and re-bleed. If you're going to do it that way, you might as well replace the master cylinder while you're at it.

[S Swap]

If you're going to do it that way, you might as well replace the master cylinder while you're at it.

x2. I did mine without doing the master. I couldn't figure out why the pedal wouldn't stay firm. Eventually I realized my master was bad.

Also, if you have ABS, you'll need to bleed that too.

[Tippey764]

Honestly i'd take your car to a shop to have the fluid changed

They have a special vacuum pump that can suck the old brake fluid out without introducing any air into the system so you don't need to bleed the brakes.

I personally hate bleeding brakes

[S Swap]

Weird. I like doing it.

I also have a special pressure bleeder. It's the opposite of a vacuum. It makes an airtight seal around the MC and forces pressurized brake fluid into the system. From there, just go around an open each bleeder till you're happy.

[fmenterprize]

Advance has a loaner tool available for a 50 dollar deposit

[S Swap]

Advance has a loaner tool available for a 50 dollar deposit

You could also just get a buddy to pump the brakes.

[TypeG]

if it's black, then it's surely full of metal and water. later.

[92exuser]

does that explain why my pedal gets soft sometimes cause it gets soft out of no were once in a blue

[dj_ender]

does that explain why my pedal gets soft sometimes cause it gets soft out of no were once in a blue

I would contribute that more to a bad MC than bad fluid. It's probably the original one anyways, I'd replace it.

[WilliamW]

If your going around and bleeding all of the corners anyway, you might as well just run the MC as low as you can without running it dry and then bleed the brakes.

A trick is to start on the wheel furthest away from the master cylinder and work your way up to the closest wheel. SO, start with the rear passengers side, then the rear drivers side, then the front passengers side, then the front drivers side. This will prevent any dirty brake fluid in the lines working it's way back into another section of a different line. (or so I was told at tech school).

I also wouldn't trust those bleeder suction tools that has a hose that goes over the bleeder that sucks the brake fluid out. I may have just used a crappy cheap one, but they tend to let air bubbles back into the caliper when you use it.

[13k]

The correct bleeding order for our cars is LR, RF, RR LF.

And get yourself one of these: http://store.motiveproducts.com/meta...eeder-p93.aspx

[CDelgado]

A trick is to start on the wheel furthest away from the master cylinder and work your way up to the closest wheel. SO, start with the rear passengers side, then the rear drivers side, then the front passengers side, then the front drivers side. This will prevent any dirty brake fluid in the lines working it's way back into another section of a different line. (or so I was told at tech school).

I also wouldn't trust those bleeder suction tools that has a hose that goes over the bleeder that sucks the brake fluid out. I may have just used a crappy cheap one, but they tend to let air bubbles back into the caliper when you use it.

The correct bleeding order for our cars is LR, RF, RR LF.

And get yourself one of these: http://store.motiveproducts.com/meta...eeder-p93.aspx

Same thing right? But when directing others I would suggest using Driver's front, passenger's rear, etc. as William stated, that way there's no confusion.

[13k]

Same thing right? But when directing others I would suggest using Driver's front, passenger's rear, etc. as William stated, that way there's no confusion.

No.
Driver rear. Passenger Front. Passenger rear. Driver front.