I like to take the old DOT 3 fluid out of the MC with a turkey baster as a 1st step before brake job. Allows a full flush of system with fresh brake fluid during the course of brake job.
I remove the fluid from the master cylinder reservoir using the vacuum bleeder, but then refill with fresh fluid before going on to do the caliper retraction with the open bleeder valve . That avoids having all the dirty fluid in the master cylinder reservoir getting sucked into the system . With the vacuum bleeder, the tube can go to the bottom of the reservoir where all the dirtiest fluid sits. With fresh fluid in the reservoir, there's less possibility of contamination as it's drawn into the system during the bleeding process.
Just be careful with what type of plastic it's made out of. Went to the grocery store one time and they were out of stock so I got a "Marinade Injector" instead which is basically a big syringe. It did the job but a couple of hours later the brake fluid caused it to fall apart. lol My goal is to have an assortment of basters. Like one will be for power steering, another for brake fluid, etc. so there's no chance of cross contamination.
@@picklerix6162 BEEN THERE on that one!! If I'm working on one of our vehicles and walk into the kitchen ....... she's supervising me. Over the years I have commandeered bowls, basters, sheet pans and probably some other kitchen items that I can't think of right off the top of my head. I don't usually say anything but when the day comes that she needs whatever it is and she can't find it ....... SHE FINDS ME!
always removed the old brake fluid from the master cylinder with a huge industrial syringe before bleeding the brakes that way you didn't have the old dirty fluid running thru the brake lines and ABS it makes the whole job much quicker
When vacuum bleeding, I find it helpful to put a slight coat of wheel grease around the bleeder valve where it meets the caliper to prevent air flow around the threads.
I remember being taught this in technical school years ago and is good practice but is usually not applied in reality. The brake fluid is probably the most neglected fluid in any vehicle with hydraulic brakes.
I don't take chances with brakes and tires. It's all you've got when some meatsack decides to pull in front of you while texting AND watching porn while driving. Open the bleeder!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT VIDEOS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN LEARNING ALL KINDS OF NEW INFORMATION FROM YOU ON HOW TO DO THE JOB RIGHT. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
Before I open the reservoir i like to wipe the reservoir exterior and cap clean, this keeps dirt and oils from entering the system and can be easier to read the fluid level if it is too dirty. I would have probably blown the leaves out of the way as well. Great video! Huge fan, love all the videos
I was skeptical about your video but watched it anyway. That was some relevant and useful information on how to keep the old truck stopping correctly by changing a few steps while changing the brake pads. What you said makes a lot of sense and will be part of my process in the future. Thanks for posting.
For years I have simply connected a clear tube to the breed valve with the other end in a jar of fluid, and opened the bleeder valve. I just had to make sure I was topping off the reservoir as I compressed the calliper. Then after all the brake work was completed, I bled each brake down to basically replace the brake fluid in the system.
There's an easy way to ensure none of the fluid goes back through the system. Before you start, put a bar or something on the brake pedal to put a little pressure on it. The pistons in the master cylinder will not let fluid back up the system so it'll have to go out the bleeder. When you're done you'll want to remove the bar from the pedal and crack the bleeder again to let any air in the caliper be pushed out, gravity will flow fluid into the caliper and expel any air. I think it's a non-issue if fluid goes back up while compressing the piston and have never had a problem, but for anyone worried about it it's easy to keep that from happening.
Yep I’ve done I don’t know how many brake jobs on my vehicles over the years and never seen power braking fail because black brake fluid went upward. In fact I bet you can get a syringe or Bastet and pull black DOT3 from the reservoirs of all my vehicles
I never took this approach, guess I been lucky for the last 35 years. When I worked at Ford and Chevrolet, I don't think I seen anyone doing it. It could be a very costly mistake. I will start doing it now,
It's not just dirt and brown fluid. It's also about the moisture content. As 4% moisture can cause a spongy pedal that feels like air in the system. The whole point to making the master cylinder clear was so it wouldn't be opened as often to keep moisture out. Anyone old enough to have had an old car can attest to the rust inside an old metal one.
Thanks for the tip!! Just completed all 4 wheels on a 98 explorer. Your tip came too late for me, but I did do a complete brake bleed afterwards. Hope that did what I needed it to do.
Excellent tip! I’ve always just bled them afterwards but now I realize the importance of doing this first. Keep up the good work, I enjoy watching your videos...always well done and technically correct!
It’s not an issue to flush the brake system every 2 to 3 years. If for no other reason, the fluid absorbs small amounts of water over time and compromises effectiveness.
I've started teaching this same method, it's amazing how many people don't think about about all of the crud going back through the EHCU, but then again no one ever thinks about flushing the brake fluid as recommended either? , the pony clamp is a great touch/idea ! Great video, thank you
Because most people don’t brake hard enough to “burn” or boil the fluid. It’s very important in track cars though. There’s probably millions of cars that have went the entirety of their life without a bleed and the factory dot3 fluid. The bigger concern is how brake fluid sucks up water.
@@mikes70mustang in either case, its good to drain at least some of the fluid from each wheel when changing out brakes so u can get out the old and replace with new. You can also use a battery filler/dropper to drain the reservoir down and you can replace even more of it with fresh fluid.
Having someone pump the brake and hold down while release bleeder, will prevent it from going back in the line. Might as well replace all the brake fluid once a year anyway. All hydraulic fluid heats up in the systems.
wow! very informative. thank you I can't tell you how many brakes I have done on my own cars that I just clamped the caliper and I thought I was so smart to use a big serenge to suck the old fluid out of the res. an replace with clean fluid. very good information. thank you.
Great video, the only thing I like to do differently is to put a drain pan underneath and pre- rinse off the piston cylinder boot and caliper pins off with brake cleaner before putting clamp on as not to drag the brake dust scum into the bores.
Thankyou. I have a good old '06, 4.2 and its probably my last vehicle. But ever so slowly I like to look after it. Because of you I've done my tran filter, brakes, diff, plugs, coil, cleaned the MAF( the carb plate was sticking on a resin ridge. Toothbrush'd that. ) Thanks again.
Excellent Tip. never thought of doing that. I always try to do a system flush after the second brake job, but this make more sense. prevention instead of "cleaning" Thank you.
Outstanding Common sense procedure! Thank you! I dare say most of us have never really thought about pushing that old cooked fluid back into the system. I know I'll be changing my pad/disk replacement procedure to include evacuation of the old fluid from now on.
Thank you for this video. I'm new to ABS cars and my 2005 CRV being ABS is my first. I'm taking great care to not mess up the system. Glad I was going to bleed my breaks before doing any break job. I will do never push the fluid back up ever again after watching this video.
Ive been doing this for years gad a problem in a e250 van 20 years ago and clearing the gunky fluid out fixed it and ever since ive cleaned it before any change. Also with the bleeder hose in a cup after i push the caliper back i squeeze the pedal once to flush that hose out if its really dirty fluid.
Was messing with the brakes on the truck today told a few people about t I’m sure. Then I see this vid on my feed. Is TH-cam listening to me Good vid very informative
Great tip! Thanks. By the time we need now pads, we probably need a complete purge of the old fluid with new. Don't drive much, change fluid every two or three years to get the water content down. Isn't DOT 4 backward compatible with DOT 3? Many bottles used to be labled 3 and 4.???? I will look at what you listed.
Excellent tip! The key here is you will NEVER get the old fluid out of the caliper reservoir by bleeding! I take this a step further and pull the calipers and empty the crap through the brake line port, then fill them with fresh brake fluid, agitate, and empty more crap out of them. Even if you push the pistons all the way in, there's still a half cup of nasty brake fluid and sediment left in the dead spaces within the larger calipers on Super Dutys and Econolines. Old brake fluid contains water and acids, fades at a lower temperature, and it is far more compressible than new brake fluid - leading to a softer pedal even when all air is out of the lines.
Anytime I do a brake job on my vehicle I go ahead and start with the master cylinder and replace lines and everything. Theres no way to be sure that everything is good unless you know it is new. I usually spend about 800-900 dollars on a brake job just for parts. Even more if I replace the ABS module which I recommend on every other brake job.
@@DownRange02 He's being a smart ass. He does have a point, you have to know where to draw the line or just rebuild the entire car while you are doing a brake job.
Youu get probably half of the fluid but none of the sediment. If you flip the caliper upside down with bleeder open then compress you will get a ton of crap out.
I will say that I've learned more from your videos than any other channel. One specific situation was how I EASILY diagnosed a catalytic converter problem along with the underlying cause. It amazes me how many people get a Cat code, get a scanner, and begin throwing parts at a car. All I had to do was buy a $5 OBD2 bluetooth scanner, download Torque Pro, find my o2 Sensor CIDS, set them as a graph, and monitor; it took 3 minutes to notice that my Cat was bad and needed to be replaced.
I agree this is the way to do it. However in the rusty states such as Michigan where I wrench the chances of getting a bleeder to come loose vs rounding off or snapping off is about the same as being hit by an asteroid. I am retired now but still do side work, I check the bleeder first right after the wheel is removed. Put my best 6 pt socket on it, if it seems like it is not going to come off I inform the customer and explain exactly what you just did to them.
This is very good advice, something that I learned the HARD way, I hope that people will watch this video before attempting to just compress the caliper piston.
I been doing it this way for years after I screwed up a proportional valve on an ABS system. The centering pin in the valve system gets stuck good luck taking it apart and fixing it. As the pressure being forced back through the system can jam that thing. I never made that mistake again! Great to see someone tell it like it is. As these new systems have more sensors and valves to control the brakes then your old vehicles did.
Finally! Someone that agrees with me! I've seen so many people and videos that don't flush the old fluid out through the bleeder valve. I have done this forever, as even on cars without ABS, this procedure will save the master cylinder seals and prolong the life of it as well. I also vacuum bleed, but with a hand pumper; but as I can do less of this stuff due to joint pain, I need to look into this vacuum bleeder you're using. Great video and information!!
Read my response. The ONLY time you put a wrench to these soft metal, corrosive screws is for a full replacement and flush. leave them alone and flush after each rotor change, PERIOD
Amen . I always mity-vac as much fluid as possible from the master reservoir 1st then refill with new DOT4 too , since this insures new clean fluid is vacuumed out through the bleeder . Takes about 3-4 ounces bled at the front and 4-6 ounces at the rear on F-150 to insure clean fluid reaches each caliper. On mine the rubber bushed glide pin was frozen on the rears so new glide pin kit got caliper sliding easily again . Great video and thanks .
You are an incredibly proficient, and well spoken technician! Thank you for sharing your talent, and helping people like myself keeping our Fords going for the long haul! Blessings to you, friend!
Depress the brake pedal slightly and lock it in that position. That way no old brake fluid can return to the reservoir when pressing the brake pistons in. Everything goes out the bleeder tube, and no need for vacuum.
Having cleaned and rebuilt many stuck calipers why l never picked up on this possibly....anyway good tip! I will incorporate it in my technique. Thanks!
I know! Just finished the rear brakes myself without doing this. Should have watched FOrdTech first. I watched another video that did not mention it (just push in piston), and I even followed the Haynes manual for my 2016 f-150 that said...just push the piston in!
I don't disagree with this procedure. Several years ago I saw a magazine article, I forget what magazine did it, but they were wondering weather or not the fluid circulates through the system. They tested this by putting small plastic flakes in the right rear wheel cylinder. drove it around, and in about a week or so they found those same flakes in the master cly reservoir. So biased on their test the fluid doesn't get trapped.
"small plastic flakes" have more density than a liquid, so that was not a valid testing method. they should have used a liquid dye and checked for the dye after the week or so.
I think it's been done with dye, too. I've sucked the somewhat dirty fluid out of my car's master cylinder reservoir and replaced it with fresh fluid, driven a month or so and found the previously clean fluid dirtier. I repeat this every month or 2 and see similar findings, but the fluid is getting "cleaner" each time. That seems to indicate that at least some circulation by convection occurs in the system.
I agree. Fluids mix due to Brownian motion. The idea that the dirty fluid behind the piston stays there for ever is wrong. Fluids always mix because molecules are constantly in motion. Just suck out the old fluid from master cylinder and replace with new fluid every 2-3 years and you should be good to go. I never did brake bleed in my old Maxima and it lasted for 17 years, no brake problems ever.
@OBServe Garage Really? You're one of those dicks with nothing better to do but to go around correcting people? How old are you? Are you not old enough to know from experience that cell phones & computer softwares have "auto correction" that frequently changes the words that are actually entered? Moron.
Been HPDE/Track/AutoX racing on for 9 years and working on cars for 20yrs. If you cook your fluid during daily driving, you're being way too aggressive for street driving, as fluids are designed to withstand the rigors of a typical commute or run to the store. Not to mention that the majority of the heat winds up in the rotor (which is why they are typically vented) and, the calipers themselves have enough mass to keep the fluid cool during ordinary driving anyways. Dark fluid is a sign of moisture or seals deteriorating in the system and that is what causes issues, not the heat. The failing systems (Distribution block and ABS stuff) you mentioned are likely because the vehicle is running the same fluid that's from the factory 10+ years ago. All you have to do is change it based on the manufacturers details.
I just bought one of those Harbor Freight vacuum bleeders like you have. They don't put a hook on it anymore for hanging. I guess they saved an extra 2 cents with their newer units.
I picked one up the other day and realized the same thing. Thought I got one missing the ring and hook. Then I saw the photo on the box doesn't show one. Guess I have to make my own from the junk pile in the shop.
Blaine Bugaski I understand you would like it to come with a hanger, but you could always make one pretty easily if you have an old metal hanger for clothes around the house.
Thanks for the great tips Brian. Loved how you compressed the caliper with the clamp before removing it. There is always more than one way to do things in life, watching videos like these reinforces that comment.
That is the best explanation I've heard on why to bleed the fluid when you compress the brake caliper. It hadn't occurred to me that the fluid in the caliper is worse than the fluid in the lines. The brake fluid reservoir in my 04 Expedition looks pretty grimy, and I've been meaning to get new fluid throughout the whole system. If I open the bleeder and step on the brakes until the fluid becomes clean, should that evacuate the old stuff in the caliper or should I manually fully compress the caliper to ensure no bad stuff stays in there?. Thanks for all your videos. You are one of the best teachers on youtube.
I never thought about pushing the old fluid back to the master cylinder contaminating things. When the brakes were on, I would suck the fluid out of the master cylinder, replace it with new fluid, and bleed the brakes until fresh fluid comes out. It didn't cross my mind not to push the old nasty fluid up there in the first place. Great video.
I also put cling film over the bottle then screw on the cap to seal the lid which helps prevent fluid going back the way or draining out if you take of a caliper etc
Good video yes on my ford here in Australia the way i do it is i get someone to pump the brake pedal after drawing out all the fluid in the reservoir with a syringe and putting clean stuff in so it’s a one way flush outwards and that seems to work pretty good the other option is to crimp the hose with a clamp then crack the nipple and push the piston in so all the black stuff comes out the nipple but I’ve been advised that crimping the hose can damage them internally which you don’t want and I’ve also been advised the other method of pumping the pedal can cause problems with the master cylinder so I think I’ll just keep what I’m doing and pump the pedal method and leave it at that and I’ve upgraded from DOT 3 to DOT 5.1...... much better pedal as a result...
Reason why i do my own work on my car is many places incl here in the UK they just drag the work on to get as much out from the customer.I know i work in the car trade for many years so learned a few stuff and i'm in a different job now so i can call up a mate for a job i can't do or not got the right tools for the job.
I would add is to remove most of the old fluid from the reservoir after adding the new pads but then refill with new before bleeding so you don't mix all that old fluid with new.
+Dirtyharry70585 Good point just make sure to not suck too much out or you can get air trapped in the master cylinder no matter how much you bleed the fluid through. Had that issue especially with escapes luckily they have a bleeder on the master also.
This process is explained in the Hayes manual but also says to clamp the brake hose. Why, there is also a possibility that the reverse force of the brake fluid ( when pushing calliper piston back )can damage the seals in master brake cylinder.
Iv never done this pushing out old fluid and in 11 years iv never had issues . sure iv totally changed the fluid twice , but even on other cars iv never seen it damage anything
Great point. I have never had a problem with the ABS system but point well taken. I've also been guilty of not flushing out the old brake fluid periodically. Brake fluid is a moisture magnet and should be flushed every brake job at least.
I have been doing this since screwing up an ABS valve years ago. Didn't know what happened until an old grey beard told me what you just explained. I got tired of the MityVac method and made my own vacuum set up using a couple pickle jars and an A/C system vacuum pump. Here in Michigan we also have the salt corrosion blues, I tell everyone I do brakes for there may be a chance your going to get calipers also I the bleeder snaps off. Been pretty lucky so far, have only had about 3 or 4 that snapped. PB Blaster or Kroil and a mapp gas torch are my friends.
charlie dee I do the same, made a vacuum bottle out of a 2 litre pickle jar one line to the bleeder and a larger 3/8 diameter line hooked up to my shop vac. , works great. Same principle can be used for sucking the oil out of lawnmowers through the fill tube. Makes for quick oil changes with no mess.
I recently was getting "loose pedal" on my ford edge 2013. Some said its piston and some said its booster. I started with changing the Brake fluid and it worked.
That's how I do my brakes but a regular flat rate guy won't do it because it takes too much time. They tease me about it when they see me do that. I always try to work on my stuff when the techs are not around
Interesting...I stated doing this on your latest "rear brake" job video...and you told everybody "don't worry about it, the fluid doesn't compress much so it's not necessary".
I've never seen this cause an abs failure ever but old fluid is always good to get out and a brake fluid flush when its dirty is always recommended but no one wants it done.
Great videos ....I usually clean to exterior of the master clylinder and cap as step one. Thanks....keep them coming. We in the rv community would like to hear about V-10 maintenance and repairs.
Great to know. After seeing this video i always bleed off that old brake fluid so it wont go up into the abs system. I compress the pistons with the bleeder open then bleed the system with lots of clean brake fluid. Thanks !!
Vacuum out the brake fluid reservoir and , if possible, the master cylinder first to remove any debris before touching anything. All that sediment, bits of abraded seal, and corrosion products can wipe out the ABS unit if it get pumped through it.
If possible I first replace the master cylinder fluid, then move to calipers.. brake fluid should be replaced every 3-4 years anyway! This is opening bleeder is best practice, I do it every brake job unless it a piece of junk that's siezed up, wont break loose with map gas and is barely on the road as it is.. If it comes loose its 5 minutes tops to refresh the fluid. I did increase labor by 5 bucks. Last one I wasnt able to get loose was an 05 Cadillac ctsv with aluminum calipers and tiny blenders. I ended up replacing the caliper because I had also redone the entire brake line system in nickel copper line, from the master all the way to calipers. Ran in exact factory routing, the right way, it looked great. Some major rust belt issues attacked the brake lines hard core.
Brake cylinders: the most neglected part of average automobile. I install an extra O-Ring on the bleeder screw threads to keep better vaccum on the suction hose.
It's very detailed in your instructions and that is refreshing a lot of other instructional videos just kind of slap stuff together so this is how you do it get it done but you you're very instructional and thorough and I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates that I drive an 07 F 150 with the 5.4 and I'm having take off chatter I have the rear end serviced it's mostly gone but it's still there would this require a second bottle of additive I believe mine is the 9 diff limited slip
It is insane how many "old school" mechanics will simply pop a c-clamp on the caliper and just sent that fluid back into your system. This is very good info. One thing I didn't hear you mention Brian, is this procedure as opposed to pushing that fluid back onto your system should also help to preserve good pedal feel. Broken down fluid compresses more than fresh uncontaminated fluid. Compression in brake fluid is of course a bad thing. At least that is what I have always heard...
I replaced my rotors and pads on my '12 F150 4wd a few days ago. I did it just like in the video, using the vacuum pump to drain the old burnt fluid and keeping the master cylinder properly filled. After I finished both front wheels, I pumped up the pedal and followed the manufacturers instructions for break-in (R1 Concepts). I have about 330 miles on the new brakes, and today in heavy traffic, I was cut off and had to slam on the brakes. Nearly nothing happened. The pedal went to the floor and I had to swerve to avoid the car in front of me. I'm fairly confident that no air entered the lines. Should I try bleeding again? I've never had this issue before.
ive been doing brakes for 30 years and never thought of doing this. i always bleed the fluid out after im done but didnt think of doing this while compressing the piston. thanks. old dog new trick for me
why not simply bleed the system using the vacuum bleeder prior to trying to compress the caliper piston?? That way ALL the old fluid in the caliper has been removed and a good portion of the old fluid in the lines as well.
You can do it either way the idea here is to not push the fluid back into the HCU. Flushing presents its own challenges over just bleeding the cavity dry.
Great video! I like using an extra container made to be held on the reservoir to keep it full while bleeding. Vacuuming works great but I have problems doing this on the rear of my 68 charger, as one brake line goes to the rear axle, and tees off, and the fluid will suck from the other side as well, which keeps the brakes from being bled, from my experience.
I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of leaves in the wiper cowl 😳
I like to take the old DOT 3 fluid out of the MC with a turkey baster as a 1st step before brake job. Allows a full flush of system with fresh brake fluid during the course of brake job.
I remove the fluid from the master cylinder reservoir using the vacuum bleeder, but then refill with fresh fluid before going on to do the caliper retraction with the open bleeder valve . That avoids having all the dirty fluid in the master cylinder reservoir getting sucked into the system . With the vacuum bleeder, the tube can go to the bottom of the reservoir where all the dirtiest fluid sits.
With fresh fluid in the reservoir, there's less possibility of contamination as it's drawn into the system during the bleeding process.
Just be careful with what type of plastic it's made out of. Went to the grocery store one time and they were out of stock so I got a "Marinade Injector" instead which is basically a big syringe. It did the job but a couple of hours later the brake fluid caused it to fall apart. lol My goal is to have an assortment of basters. Like one will be for power steering, another for brake fluid, etc. so there's no chance of cross contamination.
My wife was asking me what happened to her turkey baster.
@@picklerix6162 BEEN THERE on that one!! If I'm working on one of our vehicles and walk into the kitchen ....... she's supervising me. Over the years I have commandeered bowls, basters, sheet pans and probably some other kitchen items that I can't think of right off the top of my head. I don't usually say anything but when the day comes that she needs whatever it is and she can't find it ....... SHE FINDS ME!
always removed the old brake fluid from the master cylinder with a huge industrial syringe before bleeding the brakes that way you didn't have the old dirty fluid running thru the brake lines and ABS it makes the whole job much quicker
When vacuum bleeding, I find it helpful to put a slight coat of wheel grease around the bleeder valve where it meets the caliper to prevent air flow around the threads.
I do that, too, only with silicone grease. That way there's no chance of it causing issues if it makes its way into the caliper.
Yes sir Frank! Old school trick that works great.
I remember being taught this in technical school years ago and is good practice but is usually not applied in reality.
The brake fluid is probably the most neglected fluid in any vehicle with hydraulic brakes.
I don't take chances with brakes and tires. It's all you've got when some meatsack decides to pull in front of you while texting AND watching porn while driving. Open the bleeder!
That’s right it is, because you have to bleed the brakes every time you open a bleeder valve because that fluid gets displaced by air.
I always bleed my brakes when changing them, I have been doing this for over 40 years; this is not new.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT VIDEOS.
I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN LEARNING ALL KINDS OF NEW INFORMATION FROM YOU ON HOW TO DO THE JOB RIGHT. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
Before I open the reservoir i like to wipe the reservoir exterior and cap clean, this keeps dirt and oils from entering the system and can be easier to read the fluid level if it is too dirty. I would have probably blown the leaves out of the way as well. Great video! Huge fan, love all the videos
The Most Important Step BEFORE Performing Any Brake Job:
Ascertain that the person is able to pay for said brake job :)
you sound like you've been burned?
Truth
The most important thing before performing ANY job on a vehicle, actually.
THAT IS SO EH?
@@turtlezed - Who hasn't been?
you are a real asset to the repair industry, real professional and articulate ; a loyalfollower
What about taking the slide pins out and cleaning them up and regreasing with silicon grease to make sure the calipers slide easily?
toobeer actually clutch spline grease is the best grease to use.
High temperature
JaCk nickolstine clutch spline grease already is high temperature.
@@davidgruen7423 I know, it's a "brake" hahahaha
I'm just saying it needs to be high temperature.
AND HE MISSED THAT TOO!!!! This vid is missing A LOT!!
I never thought about the heat cycles on the fluid
thanks, brian ..!!
I was skeptical about your video but watched it anyway. That was some relevant and useful information on how to keep the old truck stopping correctly by changing a few steps while changing the brake pads. What you said makes a lot of sense and will be part of my process in the future. Thanks for posting.
For years I have simply connected a clear tube to the breed valve with the other end in a jar of fluid, and opened the bleeder valve. I just had to make sure I was topping off the reservoir as I compressed the calliper. Then after all the brake work was completed, I bled each brake down to basically replace the brake fluid in the system.
+jdmeaux Good thinking
Thanks Maku. Makes sense now that you explained it. Burned mess getting back into clean fluid. I do that soon for my car.
There's an easy way to ensure none of the fluid goes back through the system. Before you start, put a bar or something on the brake pedal to put a little pressure on it. The pistons in the master cylinder will not let fluid back up the system so it'll have to go out the bleeder. When you're done you'll want to remove the bar from the pedal and crack the bleeder again to let any air in the caliper be pushed out, gravity will flow fluid into the caliper and expel any air.
I think it's a non-issue if fluid goes back up while compressing the piston and have never had a problem, but for anyone worried about it it's easy to keep that from happening.
Good thinking.
Yep I’ve done I don’t know how many brake jobs on my vehicles over the years and never seen power braking fail because black brake fluid went upward. In fact I bet you can get a syringe or Bastet and pull black DOT3 from the reservoirs of all my vehicles
I never took this approach, guess I been lucky for the last 35 years. When I worked at Ford and Chevrolet, I don't think I seen anyone doing it. It could be a very costly mistake. I will start doing it now,
That's what makes a good mechanic. Always learn better ways to do things, not necessarily faster or easier.
It's not just dirt and brown fluid. It's also about the moisture content. As 4% moisture can cause a spongy pedal that feels like air in the system. The whole point to making the master cylinder clear was so it wouldn't be opened as often to keep moisture out. Anyone old enough to have had an old car can attest to the rust inside an old metal one.
Thanks for the tip!! Just completed all 4 wheels on a 98 explorer. Your tip came too late for me, but I did do a complete brake bleed afterwards. Hope that did what I needed it to do.
Excellent tip! I’ve always just bled them afterwards but now I realize the importance of doing this first. Keep up the good work, I enjoy watching your videos...always well done and technically correct!
whenever i work on my Ford I watch a few videos on how to do it, then finally I watch yours, so I know how to do it right! thanks,
Can never learn TOO much
Great video! Your advices are basic to prevent any damage on car and personal accident. Thanks to share your experience.
It’s not an issue to flush the brake system every 2 to 3 years. If for no other reason, the fluid absorbs small amounts of water over time and compromises effectiveness.
I've started teaching this same method, it's amazing how many people don't think about about all of the crud going back through the EHCU, but then again no one ever thinks about flushing the brake fluid as recommended either? , the pony clamp is a great touch/idea ! Great video, thank you
Why did it take 40 years for someone to mention burned brake fluid? I am guilty of just compressing the piston....won't happen again. Thanks, mate.
I just thought the exact same thing. What an awesome tip.
Absolutely totally makes sense but never thought of it
Because most people don’t brake hard enough to “burn” or boil the fluid. It’s very important in track cars though. There’s probably millions of cars that have went the entirety of their life without a bleed and the factory dot3 fluid. The bigger concern is how brake fluid sucks up water.
it is common knowledge in the auto and engineering field
@@mikes70mustang in either case, its good to drain at least some of the fluid from each wheel when changing out brakes so u can get out the old and replace with new. You can also use a battery filler/dropper to drain the reservoir down and you can replace even more of it with fresh fluid.
Having someone pump the brake and hold down while release bleeder, will prevent it from going back in the line. Might as well replace all the brake fluid once a year anyway. All hydraulic fluid heats up in the systems.
wow! very informative. thank you I can't tell you how many brakes I have done on my own cars that I just clamped the caliper and I thought I was so smart to use a big serenge to suck the old fluid out of the res. an replace with clean fluid. very good information. thank you.
Enjoy your videos, you're very well spoken and knowledgeable - I've learned a few things watching your videos, keep up the good work.
I always applied the g-clamp after removing the caliper from the rotor. I learned something today. Clamp it first!
Makuloco good tip,I was told this long ago about how it can ruin an ABS unit however flat rate techs are not doing this.
Great video. We often ignore this all important step in replacing brakes.
Great video, the only thing I like to do differently is to put a drain pan underneath and pre- rinse off the piston cylinder boot and caliper pins off with brake cleaner before putting clamp on as not to drag the brake dust scum into the bores.
Thankyou.
I have a good old '06, 4.2 and its probably my last vehicle. But ever so slowly I like to look after it. Because of you I've done my tran filter, brakes, diff, plugs, coil, cleaned the MAF( the carb plate was sticking on a resin ridge. Toothbrush'd that. )
Thanks again.
Excellent Tip. never thought of doing that. I always try to do a system flush after the second brake job, but this make more sense. prevention instead of "cleaning" Thank you.
Outstanding Common sense procedure! Thank you! I dare say most of us have never really thought about pushing that old cooked fluid back into the system. I know I'll be changing my pad/disk replacement procedure to include evacuation of the old fluid from now on.
Thank you for this video. I'm new to ABS cars and my 2005 CRV being ABS is my first. I'm taking great care to not mess up the system. Glad I was going to bleed my breaks before doing any break job. I will do never push the fluid back up ever again after watching this video.
Ive been doing this for years gad a problem in a e250 van 20 years ago and clearing the gunky fluid out fixed it and ever since ive cleaned it before any change.
Also with the bleeder hose in a cup after i push the caliper back i squeeze the pedal once to flush that hose out if its really dirty fluid.
very good points made I shall use this method from now on when doing brake jobs, thank you
Another excellent video from a true professional. Thanks for all the great info, you are a great teacher!
Was messing with the brakes on the truck today told a few people about t I’m sure. Then I see this vid on my feed. Is TH-cam listening to me
Good vid very informative
Were you doing google searches before?
Great tip! Thanks. By the time we need now pads, we probably need a complete purge of the old fluid with new. Don't drive much, change fluid every two or three years to get the water content down.
Isn't DOT 4 backward compatible with DOT 3? Many bottles used to be labled 3 and 4.???? I will look at what you listed.
A very smart tip from a smart man thank you very much I learned a lot today.
Excellent tip! The key here is you will NEVER get the old fluid out of the caliper reservoir by bleeding! I take this a step further and pull the calipers and empty the crap through the brake line port, then fill them with fresh brake fluid, agitate, and empty more crap out of them. Even if you push the pistons all the way in, there's still a half cup of nasty brake fluid and sediment left in the dead spaces within the larger calipers on Super Dutys and Econolines. Old brake fluid contains water and acids, fades at a lower temperature, and it is far more compressible than new brake fluid - leading to a softer pedal even when all air is out of the lines.
Anytime I do a brake job on my vehicle I go ahead and start with the master cylinder and replace lines and everything. Theres no way to be sure that everything is good unless you know it is new. I usually spend about 800-900 dollars on a brake job just for parts. Even more if I replace the ABS module which I recommend on every other brake job.
John Thomas I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or just insanity! 🤔
@@DownRange02 He's being a smart ass. He does have a point, you have to know where to draw the line or just rebuild the entire car while you are doing a brake job.
@@stlf_reliance3887 Yep, that's what they call OCD. 👍
Youu get probably half of the fluid but none of the sediment. If you flip the caliper upside down with bleeder open then compress you will get a ton of crap out.
My '13 had a recall done to it and had the master cylinder replaced. The fluid was Dot 3 on the original but the new one is now Dot 4.
I will say that I've learned more from your videos than any other channel. One specific situation was how I EASILY diagnosed a catalytic converter problem along with the underlying cause. It amazes me how many people get a Cat code, get a scanner, and begin throwing parts at a car. All I had to do was buy a $5 OBD2 bluetooth scanner, download Torque Pro, find my o2 Sensor CIDS, set them as a graph, and monitor; it took 3 minutes to notice that my Cat was bad and needed to be replaced.
I agree this is the way to do it. However in the rusty states such as Michigan where I wrench the chances of getting a bleeder to come loose vs rounding off or snapping off is about the same as being hit by an asteroid. I am retired now but still do side work, I check the bleeder first right after the wheel is removed. Put my best 6 pt socket on it, if it seems like it is not going to come off I inform the customer and explain exactly what you just did to them.
This is very good advice, something that I learned the HARD way, I hope that people will watch this video before attempting to just compress the caliper piston.
I’ve learned from you a lot on brake work. Thank you for your awesome video on Ford vehicles. Now I’m working on a 92’ ford f150.
I been doing it this way for years after I screwed up a proportional valve on an ABS system. The centering pin in the valve system gets stuck good luck taking it apart and fixing it. As the pressure being forced back through the system can jam that thing. I never made that mistake again!
Great to see someone tell it like it is. As these new systems have more sensors and valves to control the brakes then your old vehicles did.
Finally! Someone that agrees with me! I've seen so many people and videos that don't flush the old fluid out through the bleeder valve. I have done this forever, as even on cars without ABS, this procedure will save the master cylinder seals and prolong the life of it as well. I also vacuum bleed, but with a hand pumper; but as I can do less of this stuff due to joint pain, I need to look into this vacuum bleeder you're using. Great video and information!!
+JRobert111111 I bought one after using a MityVac. Tires out the hand when you're constantly clenching!
Sadly, most techs working on flat rate could care less about this. It's more work for them with no extra money.
JRobert111111 you got that right, i dont get paid to do all that bull shit. unless they also paid for a fluid exchange.
Read my response.
The ONLY time you put a wrench to these soft metal, corrosive screws is for a full replacement and flush.
leave them alone and flush after each rotor change, PERIOD
Nowadays the rotors last only as long as a set of pads. With older vehicles the rotors would last multiple sets of pads.
Amen . I always mity-vac as much fluid as possible from the master reservoir 1st then refill with new DOT4 too , since this insures new clean fluid is vacuumed out through the bleeder . Takes about 3-4 ounces bled at the front and 4-6 ounces at the rear on F-150 to insure clean fluid reaches each caliper. On mine the rubber bushed glide pin was frozen on the rears so new glide pin kit got caliper sliding easily again . Great video and thanks .
As always, thank you for everything you help us with.
You are an incredibly proficient, and well spoken technician! Thank you for sharing your talent, and helping people like myself keeping our Fords going for the long haul!
Blessings to you, friend!
Wow, i think now i know why my ABS is bad!!! Wish i would've know this sooner
Depress the brake pedal slightly and lock it in that position. That way no old brake fluid can return to the reservoir when pressing the brake pistons in. Everything goes out the bleeder tube, and no need for vacuum.
Best videos for any Ford Repair knows his stuff!
Excellent video, your verbal skills and detail are suberb. Many thanks.
If your mechanic doesn't do this then find another mechanic. it is very easy to do.and I have been doing brake work like this for years. Great video!!
Having cleaned and rebuilt many stuck calipers why l never picked up on this possibly....anyway good tip! I will incorporate it in my technique. Thanks!
BMW says change the fluid every two years. I end up doing that on all of my cars. If they recommend it, it must be a reason. Love your videos man!!
Volvo has the same recommendation.
thanks for the video, just did all 4 brakes and rotors yesterday. wish I had watched it last week
I know! Just finished the rear brakes myself without doing this. Should have watched FOrdTech first. I watched another video that did not mention it (just push in piston), and I even followed the Haynes manual for my 2016 f-150 that said...just push the piston in!
I don't disagree with this procedure. Several years ago I saw a magazine article, I forget what magazine did it, but they were wondering weather or not the fluid circulates through the system. They tested this by putting small plastic flakes in the right rear wheel cylinder. drove it around, and in about a week or so they found those same flakes in the master cly reservoir. So biased on their test the fluid doesn't get trapped.
"small plastic flakes" have more density than a liquid, so that was not a valid testing method. they should have used a liquid dye and checked for the dye after the week or so.
I think it's been done with dye, too. I've sucked the somewhat dirty fluid out of my car's master cylinder reservoir and replaced it with fresh fluid, driven a month or so and found the previously clean fluid dirtier. I repeat this every month or 2 and see similar findings, but the fluid is getting "cleaner" each time. That seems to indicate that at least some circulation by convection occurs in the system.
I agree. Fluids mix due to Brownian motion. The idea that the dirty fluid behind the piston stays there for ever is wrong. Fluids always mix because molecules are constantly in motion. Just suck out the old fluid from master cylinder and replace with new fluid every 2-3 years and you should be good to go. I never did brake bleed in my old Maxima and it lasted for 17 years, no brake problems ever.
@OBServe Garage Really? You're one of those dicks with nothing better to do but to go around correcting people? How old are you? Are you not old enough to know from experience that cell phones & computer softwares have "auto correction" that frequently changes the words that are actually entered? Moron.
@@johnnyjohn8073 You had an opportunity to teach, but instead, you insult and call names.
Been HPDE/Track/AutoX racing on for 9 years and working on cars for 20yrs.
If you cook your fluid during daily driving, you're being way too aggressive for street driving, as fluids are designed to withstand the rigors of a typical commute or run to the store. Not to mention that the majority of the heat winds up in the rotor (which is why they are typically vented) and, the calipers themselves have enough mass to keep the fluid cool during ordinary driving anyways.
Dark fluid is a sign of moisture or seals deteriorating in the system and that is what causes issues, not the heat.
The failing systems (Distribution block and ABS stuff) you mentioned are likely because the vehicle is running the same fluid that's from the factory 10+ years ago.
All you have to do is change it based on the manufacturers details.
I just bought one of those Harbor Freight vacuum bleeders like you have. They don't put a hook on it anymore for hanging. I guess they saved an extra 2 cents with their newer units.
I picked one up the other day and realized the same thing. Thought I got one missing the ring and hook. Then I saw the photo on the box doesn't show one. Guess I have to make my own from the junk pile in the shop.
They just have to make our lives harder, don't they!?!?
Blaine Bugaski I understand you would like it to come with a hanger, but you could always make one pretty easily if you have an old metal hanger for clothes around the house.
Lane Waite Long been modified ;)
Thanks for the great tips Brian. Loved how you compressed the caliper with the clamp before removing it.
There is always more than one way to do things in life, watching videos like these reinforces that comment.
+m ph I always compress the caliper first so it comes off smoothly.
I use a screwdriver or pry bar to fully push piston in all the way b4 removing caliper, but now I will bleed system as brian did.
That is the best explanation I've heard on why to bleed the fluid when you compress the brake caliper. It hadn't occurred to me that the fluid in the caliper is worse than the fluid in the lines. The brake fluid reservoir in my 04 Expedition looks pretty grimy, and I've been meaning to get new fluid throughout the whole system. If I open the bleeder and step on the brakes until the fluid becomes clean, should that evacuate the old stuff in the caliper or should I manually fully compress the caliper to ensure no bad stuff stays in there?.
Thanks for all your videos. You are one of the best teachers on youtube.
+DrZazzoo No it is best to open the bleeder and compress the piston instead as it will remove all the fluid from the caliper piston bore.
I never thought about pushing the old fluid back to the master cylinder contaminating things. When the brakes were on, I would suck the fluid out of the master cylinder, replace it with new fluid, and bleed the brakes until fresh fluid comes out. It didn't cross my mind not to push the old nasty fluid up there in the first place. Great video.
I also put cling film over the bottle then screw on the cap to seal the lid which helps prevent fluid going back the way or draining out if you take of a caliper etc
I have been doing the same bleeding procedure for years . Works perfectly
With out a doubt! EXCELLENT INFORMATION! Thank You
Good video
yes on my ford here in Australia the way i do it is i get someone to pump the brake pedal after drawing out all the fluid in the reservoir with a syringe and putting clean stuff in
so it’s a one way flush outwards
and that seems to work pretty good
the other option is to crimp the hose with a clamp then crack the nipple and push the piston in so all the black stuff comes out the nipple
but I’ve been advised that crimping the hose can damage them internally which you don’t want and I’ve also been advised the other method of pumping the pedal can cause problems with the master cylinder
so I think I’ll just keep what I’m doing and pump the pedal method and leave it at that
and I’ve upgraded from DOT 3 to DOT 5.1......
much better pedal as a result...
Reason why i do my own work on my car is many places incl here in the UK they just drag the work on to get as much out from the customer.I know i work in the car trade for many years so learned a few stuff and i'm in a different job now so i can call up a mate for a job i can't do or not got the right tools for the job.
Just upped my "brake job game". Always had trouble with my Cherokee brakes getting locky. If this doesn't help it sure can't hurt. Thanks
I would add is to remove most of the old fluid from the reservoir after adding the new pads but then refill with new before bleeding so you don't mix all that old fluid with new.
+Dirtyharry70585 Good point just make sure to not suck too much out or you can get air trapped in the master cylinder no matter how much you bleed the fluid through. Had that issue especially with escapes luckily they have a bleeder on the master also.
+FordTechMakuloco Good to know since I have two Mariners
This process is explained in the Hayes manual but also says to clamp the brake hose.
Why, there is also a possibility that the reverse force of the brake fluid ( when pushing calliper piston back )can damage the seals in master brake cylinder.
Great video bud, always look forward to the new ones.
Iv never done this pushing out old fluid and in 11 years iv never had issues . sure iv totally changed the fluid twice , but even on other cars iv never seen it damage anything
Great point. I have never had a problem with the ABS system but point well taken. I've also been guilty of not flushing out the old brake fluid periodically. Brake fluid is a moisture magnet and should be flushed every brake job at least.
I have been doing this since screwing up an ABS valve years ago. Didn't know what happened until an old grey beard told me what you just explained. I got tired of the MityVac method and made my own vacuum set up using a couple pickle jars and an A/C system vacuum pump. Here in Michigan we also have the salt corrosion blues, I tell everyone I do brakes for there may be a chance your going to get calipers also I the bleeder snaps off. Been pretty lucky so far, have only had about 3 or 4 that snapped. PB Blaster or Kroil and a mapp gas torch are my friends.
charlie dee I do the same, made a vacuum bottle out of a 2 litre pickle jar one line to the bleeder and a larger 3/8 diameter line hooked up to my shop vac. , works great. Same principle can be used for sucking the oil out of lawnmowers through the fill tube. Makes for quick oil changes with no mess.
Thanks much, I will do this on my Expedition and Cadillac DTS
I recently was getting "loose pedal" on my ford edge 2013. Some said its piston and some said its booster. I started with changing the Brake fluid and it worked.
That's how I do my brakes but a regular flat rate guy won't do it because it takes too much time.
They tease me about it when they see me do that. I always try to work on my stuff when the techs are not around
Good idea , keeps the naysayers thinking they know everything, haha
You’re the best man!!! Thank you for making videos like this!!
You're a great technician -- thank you for your EXPERT advise in your videos. It's awesome.
I'm glad you showed me this. I was completely unaware of this. Thank you!👍😀
Interesting...I stated doing this on your latest "rear brake" job video...and you told everybody "don't worry about it, the fluid doesn't compress much so it's not necessary".
I've never seen this cause an abs failure ever but old fluid is always good to get out and a brake fluid flush when its dirty is always recommended but no one wants it done.
Great videos ....I usually clean to exterior of the master clylinder and cap as step one.
Thanks....keep them coming.
We in the rv community would like to hear about V-10 maintenance and repairs.
Great to know. After seeing this video i always bleed off that old brake fluid so it wont go up into the abs system. I compress the pistons with the bleeder open then bleed the system with lots of clean brake fluid. Thanks !!
Vacuum out the brake fluid reservoir and , if possible, the master cylinder first to remove any debris before touching anything. All that sediment, bits of abraded seal, and corrosion products can wipe out the ABS unit if it get pumped through it.
Great video, as usual .
I like the way you take pride in your work, and the way you do not skip steps .
I wish you could work on my car .
I'm new to site ..thank you for explaining it so clear.
If possible I first replace the master cylinder fluid, then move to calipers.. brake fluid should be replaced every 3-4 years anyway!
This is opening bleeder is best practice, I do it every brake job unless it a piece of junk that's siezed up, wont break loose with map gas and is barely on the road as it is..
If it comes loose its 5 minutes tops to refresh the fluid. I did increase labor by 5 bucks.
Last one I wasnt able to get loose was an 05 Cadillac ctsv with aluminum calipers and tiny blenders. I ended up replacing the caliper because I had also redone the entire brake line system in nickel copper line, from the master all the way to calipers. Ran in exact factory routing, the right way, it looked great. Some major rust belt issues attacked the brake lines hard core.
Brake cylinders: the most neglected part of average automobile.
I install an extra O-Ring on the bleeder screw threads to keep better vaccum on the suction hose.
good Idea, just be sure the break fluid doesn't degrade it the O-Ring.
How to get rid of old brake fluid and antifreeze.? Those big box stores only take oil. Thanks for all your videos, they're great.
The dealership will take it, they have separate tanks for used coolant.
Take it to city disposal site ...they take it at no cost and will dispose it at for no cost .
Pour it along the fenceline to keep weeds down.
Thanks again Brian. I'll get that code to you this week on that 97 F 150.
It's very detailed in your instructions and that is refreshing a lot of other instructional videos just kind of slap stuff together so this is how you do it get it done but you you're very instructional and thorough and I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates that I drive an 07 F 150 with the 5.4 and I'm having take off chatter I have the rear end serviced it's mostly gone but it's still there would this require a second bottle of additive I believe mine is the 9 diff limited slip
It is insane how many "old school" mechanics will simply pop a c-clamp on the caliper and just sent that fluid back into your system. This is very good info. One thing I didn't hear you mention Brian, is this procedure as opposed to pushing that fluid back onto your system should also help to preserve good pedal feel. Broken down fluid compresses more than fresh uncontaminated fluid. Compression in brake fluid is of course a bad thing. At least that is what I have always heard...
+Chris Beach I was going to mention how its hygroscopic and vaporizing in the line but decided to save that for the brake fluid flush video.
I replaced my rotors and pads on my '12 F150 4wd a few days ago. I did it just like in the video, using the vacuum pump to drain the old burnt fluid and keeping the master cylinder properly filled. After I finished both front wheels, I pumped up the pedal and followed the manufacturers instructions for break-in (R1 Concepts). I have about 330 miles on the new brakes, and today in heavy traffic, I was cut off and had to slam on the brakes. Nearly nothing happened. The pedal went to the floor and I had to swerve to avoid the car in front of me. I'm fairly confident that no air entered the lines. Should I try bleeding again? I've never had this issue before.
ive been doing brakes for 30 years and never thought of
doing this. i always bleed the fluid out after im done but didnt think of doing this while compressing the piston. thanks. old dog new trick for me
why not simply bleed the system using the vacuum bleeder prior to trying to compress the caliper piston?? That way ALL the old fluid in the caliper has been removed and a good portion of the old fluid in the lines as well.
You can do it either way the idea here is to not push the fluid back into the HCU. Flushing presents its own challenges over just bleeding the cavity dry.
Great video! I like using an extra container made to be held on the reservoir to keep it full while bleeding. Vacuuming works great but I have problems doing this on the rear of my 68 charger, as one brake line goes to the rear axle, and tees off, and the fluid will suck from the other side as well, which keeps the brakes from being bled, from my experience.