A Simple & Easy Way To Change Brake Fluid
Summitted by Registry Member Jerry Wells

Yesterday I changed the brake fluid the same way as I have been doing for 20 years. Seems to work well and can be done with one person. Here it is:

Tools, Equipment & Supplies

1. 2 large, clear glass jars (I use mayonnaise jars) 2 foot piece of hose that fits the wheel cylinder bleed tube (mine is the size used for a VW vacuum advance) "one cup sized" measuring cup small Crescent wrench
2. one or two large (quart) containers of brake fluid

Procedure

1. Jack up entire car. Open the access to the master cylinder (MC) in front of gas tank on left. Clean the entire area so no loose debris fall into the open MC. Fill the MC using the measuring cup. Go to the rear right wheel. Fit one end of the hose over the bleed tube and dangle the other into jar #1. Crack open the bleed tube. Pump the brake peddle approximately 10 to 15 times. Examine the color in jar #1. Pour into jar #2. Repeat steps 4 through 8 until the contents in jar #1 are as clear as what goes into the MC. Quickly close the bleed tube. That's it for the right rear wheel. Go to the next rear wheel and do the same process. Next the right front. Finally the left front.
2. When done, pour the old fluid into the newly emptied container, label as "Bad" and recycle.

This whole procedure from jacking to finish should take approximately one hour and I never get air into the lines. Maybe with the hose connected to the bleed hose the upward loop prevents air from entering. Good luck.

Published by: John Audette, 04/27/03