how can u tell when your brake fluid is bad?

 

It'll be dark-colored. Brake fluid is actually almost clear.. it becomes dark by absorbing water & rust. The absorbtion of water & rust & other crap lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid... so not only is the old fluid corroding everything, but it's heating up faster.

If you haven't flushed your system, now's a good time. A gravity bleed will work fine... you don't even have to push the brake pedal at all. Gravity will pull the old fluid out and suck the new fluid in- just don't let the master cylinder run dry!!!

Remove the master cylinder cap, open the right rear bleeder screw, and as fluid drips out, pour new fluid into the m/c (FRONT resevoir = BACK brakes!!!) until the fluid runs clear out of the bleeder. Then, close the bleeder screw.

Then, do the same on the left rear bleeder. Then, do the same on the front right bleeder screw (REAR m/c reservoir = FRONT brakes!), and finish off with the left front.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited May 22, 2001).]