changing Brake fluid

[Kensubguy]

The subaru manual says to regulary change brake fluid, is this an issue that one must do? or what is you guys view on this.

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[JoeT]

Brake fluid is Hydroscopic, meaning that it absorbs water. The older the brake fluid, the more moisture is in the fluid.

Moisture in the fluid affects many things, but on the "safety side" it lowers the boiling point of the fluid, so you can get brake fade a whooole lot earlier. Not to mention the oxidation properties of water.

Brake fluid should be changed regularly.

[froggert]

+1

[NiTRoN]

Fluid change aint that hard.. if you need some pointers.. here are few..

-Russell Speed Bleeders are a must for single person job..

you can see from pic below how they work..



if you don't have them on your calipers, then u need 2nd buddy...

-When thinking about buying fluid, consider one that's different color than what you have now so you can clearly see when fresh fluid is coming out..

-Start by pumping out fluid from reservour (as much as you can with surigne)
-Add new fluid
-Get clear plastic tube and put it over the bleeder screw so you can see the new fluid flowing, open the Bleeder screw (with 2 people, 2nd person will have to close it when your brake pedal is alway down to the floor) and give it few full slow pumps of brake pedal.
- After 2 full pumps, check the level in reservouir, readd fluid if below the full mark
- Repeat the pumping till you see new fluid coming out of caliper and don't see any bubbles. After that go to next one.

Bleed in folowing order.
FRONT RIGHT, REAR LEFT, FRONT LEFT, REAR RIGHT (Passanger Front, Driver Rear, Driver Front, Passanger Rear)

Hope this helps.

[Kensubguy]

Thanks guys, I might have to do it then. I do see the point though I have not done it at 100k. I hope it is okay to do it now.

[Kensubguy]

Originally Posted by NiTRoN

Fluid change aint that hard.. if you need some pointers.. here are few..

-Russell Speed Bleeders are a must for single person job..

you can see from pic below how they work..



if you don't have them on your calipers, then u need 2nd buddy...

-When thinking about buying fluid, consider one that's different color than what you have now so you can clearly see when fresh fluid is coming out..

-Start by pumping out fluid from reservour (as much as you can with surigne)
-Add new fluid
-Get clear plastic tube and put it over the bleeder screw so you can see the new fluid flowing, open the Bleeder screw (with 2 people, 2nd person will have to close it when your brake pedal is alway down to the floor) and give it few full slow pumps of brake pedal.
- After 2 full pumps, check the level in reservouir, readd fluid if below the full mark
- Repeat the pumping till you see new fluid coming out of caliper and don't see any bubbles. After that go to next one.

Bleed in folowing order.
FRONT RIGHT, REAR LEFT, FRONT LEFT, REAR RIGHT (Passanger Front, Driver Rear, Driver Front, Passanger Rear)

Hope this helps.

Nice animation NiTron

[IronMonkeyL255]

I didn't realize how much crap was at the bottom of my brake MC until I FULLY bled them while changing to stainless lines last weekend......

[legacydreamz]

speed bleeders are the shiz

[whpotter]

+1 on the speed bleeders. I am going to try to track down a set this weekend so that I can flush my (new to me) 2000 GT Ltd. Already have them on my '03 WRX.

[NiTRoN]

ONly thing to be carefull about when you change the fluid, DON'T SPILL IT ON PAINTED SURFACES, it is really bad for it.. take your time do it slow, even put rag all around brake cylinder.

[IronMonkeyL255]

Originally Posted by NiTRoN

ONly thing to be carefull about when you change the fluid, DON'T SPILL IT ON PAINTED SURFACES, it is really bad for it.. take your time do it slow, even put rag all around brake cylinder.

It's not that hard to keep it off of painted surfaces, but if you do happen to get it on there, wipe it off with a quickness.

BTW, rebuilding and installing freshly-painted calipers can be a very messy undertaking. Maybe we should have cured them in the oven prior to rebuild.....

[Plays_With_toys]

Any special precautions or anything associated with installing the speed bleeders? And what about cost of said bleeders?

[NiTRoN]

Originally Posted by Plays_With_toys

Any special precautions or anything associated with installing the speed bleeders? And what about cost of said bleeders?

$10-$20 depends where you get em...

Percausions?: Well don't lick your fingers.. wrap cloth around caliper so you don't get fluid all over rotors and parts under, carefull not to brake off the old bleeder, use right side socket and use both hands to remove it, after that just bleed brakes..

[Plays_With_toys]

Ok, I wasn't sure if once you started loosening them out all the way if they would just gush out brake fluid, so I thought maybe you had to bleed almost all the fluid out of the system, take them out, bleed all the air back out of the system, etc...

[IronMonkeyL255]

As long as you don't have the system pressurized when you change them, you should be fine.

[NiTRoN]

Yep.. when you park your car, put in neutral then just let it idle after you take ur foot off the brake it should release some of the initial preasure when you stopped then just unscrew bleeder and screw new one quick, some fluid will leak out but not much. Then just bleed the brakes like you would originally.

[whpotter]

Anybody know the thread pitch or OAL for the bleed screws for a 2000 GT Ltd?

I know I've got 8mm wrench fits front and back but don't know anything past that.

[NiTRoN]

Originally Posted by whpotter

Anybody know the thread pitch or OAL for the bleed screws for a 2000 GT Ltd?

I know I've got 8mm wrench fits front and back but don't know anything past that.

That's all you need to know.. if you going to get the speed-bleeders.. 8mm size.. threads are all the same for all bleeders..

[ADirtyLegacy]

but the 8mm doesnt fit all model BE's, correct?

Kenda

[NiTRoN]

Originally Posted by ADirtyLegacy

but the 8mm doesnt fit all model BE's, correct?

Kenda

It does fit in my.. just double checked.. 8mm wrench/socket.. Take wrench and put on your old bleeders (you might have to clear the rust out) and see which one they fit.. then get that size new bleeder..

[ADirtyLegacy]

Originally Posted by NiTRoN

It does fit in my.. just double checked.. 8mm wrench/socket.. Take wrench and put on your old bleeders (you might have to clear the rust out) and see which one they fit.. then get that size new bleeder..

yeah i know how to check, but i thought i remembered having a convo about a year ago when i did my brakes and asked about speed bleeders that the 8mm didn't fit all BE's. i thought there was something like a size change mid model. i could be wrong and dreaming this up, but i could have sworn i had the conversation.

CN: i'm to lazy to take off my wheels

Kenda

[whpotter]

Here is the reference chart from Russell. I've cropped out just the 8mm's.

PART # THREAD OVERALL LENGTH
639340 8mm x 1.0 37mm
639520 8mm x 1.25 24mm
639550 8mm x 1.0 34mm
639620 8mm x 1.25 39mm

There are two different thread pitches and two OALs for each pitch.

[KD7000]

Originally Posted by NiTRoN

as much as you can with surigne.

Surigne?

Is that anything like a syringe?

I find that a turkey baster is ideal for this kind of fluid removal. I have a dedicated garage one... you sure don't want the automotive fluids mixed with the gravy and whatnot.