Why should I flush my brake fluid every year, you ask? - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blueranger · #1 06-26-2006, 08:07 AM

well this is amazing.
My car is 24 years old and its brake fluid has never been touched or changed.

right now there are poor guys who are reading this thread and believing it and they are breaking off nipples as we speak....and there are other guys who are reading this thread who took your advise and changed the fluid.. now there pulling up to red lights and hitting the pedal and instead of the old trusty brake fluid being down there at the caliper there is a nice fat air bubble.

In the last 40 years I have learned a few things about brakes.
1. Use a large C clamp when you change your brakes....

2. Use a chicken baister and suck some fluid out....making room for your new fluid.

TwitchKitty · #2 06-26-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

right now there are poor guys who are reading this thread and believing it and they are breaking off nipples as we speak....and there are other guys who are reading this thread who took your advise and changed the fluid.. now there pulling up to red lights and hitting the pedal and instead of the old trusty brake fluid being down there at the caliper there is a nice fat air bubble.

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tangofox007 · #3 06-26-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

In the last 40 years I have learned a few things about brakes.
1. Use a large C clamp when you change your brakes....

Apparently, there are still some gaps in your learnin'. A C-clamp is just about useless when dealing with MB type fixed calipers.

blueranger · #4 06-26-2006, 11:45 AM

when i change my brake pads i do not touch the fluid...
no bleeding...

i only bleed and replace fluid when i change calipers..

Hatterasguy · #5 06-26-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

well this is amazing.
My car is 24 years old and its brake fluid has never been touched or changed.

right now there are poor guys who are reading this thread and believing it and they are breaking off nipples as we speak....and there are other guys who are reading this thread who took your advise and changed the fluid.. now there pulling up to red lights and hitting the pedal and instead of the old trusty brake fluid being down there at the caliper there is a nice fat air bubble.

In the last 40 years I have learned a few things about brakes.
1. Use a large C clamp when you change your brakes....

2. Use a chicken baister and suck some fluid out....making room for your new fluid.

Well lets not do anything that would actualy be called maintaince. Maybe we should all run 20k mile oil changes on used oil, not fix anything, and drive our W126's into the ground.

If you snap the bleeders off trying to bleed the brakes they were shot anyway. Hmm I have no problem bleeding ABS systems and not getting any air in, don't see where the trick is its simple as can be.

PanzerSD · #6 06-25-2006, 10:54 PM

I work in a combination Mechanical/Bodyshop. Alot of our clients have been with us for 30-40 years, and the age is taking it toll on their cars. I've seen all too often an old man comes in and says his brakes don't work. He drives a 2006 Ford contour. the man had put MANY MANY miles and his pads wore out, but before taking it to a shop to have them look at his brakes, he decides that "hey, it's a new car, the pads can't be worn out already, must need brake fluid. " so he goes to the store and buys what he thinks is brake fluid. in reality, it's 10W30 motor oil. DUH.
you can pretty well guess what happens next. calipers, hoses, ABS and master cylinder. REPLACED If I remember correctly, the total bill came to just under $3000 for parts and $500 labour. one of many horror stories..

Hatterasguy · #7 06-25-2006, 11:07 PM

I change mine every spring because thats what MB calls for and I am very picky. It gives me a chance to really take a look at whats going on under the car, and after 6+ months in winter storage that seems like a good idea.

lrg · #8 06-26-2006, 01:43 AM

I had an old english sports car which was seldom driven and stored winters. I was young and foolish (and poor) so never changed the fluid. The brakes worked great until one of the brake lines let go. It was rusted on both the outside AND inside. An extreme example perhaps but I'd rather flush ever couple of years then take the risk.

aklim · #9 06-26-2006, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I change mine every spring because thats what MB calls for and I am very picky. It gives me a chance to really take a look at whats going on under the car, and after 6+ months in winter storage that seems like a good idea.

I thought MB changes the fluid every other year not once a year?

vstech · #10 03-11-2007, 10:55 AM

I wonder why german/import and most new cars use vented master cylinders? The old ford and chevy's all used sealed MC's and had a balloon that expanded as the pads got used up. perhaps the pistons in modern braking systems have too much travel for a balloon to account for?
John

asnowsquall · #11 03-11-2007, 01:16 PM

What I'm wondering is that if its not just condensation from bigtime temperature changes. Think of how hot a caliper gets and then it cools down, back and forth. This may explain the caliper fails. Or maybe is moisture getting past the seal as it seems the like to rust just on the other side of the piston seal.

#12 03-12-2007, 07:43 AM

I think that he is talking about FLUSHING the clutch with the pressure bleeder. That said, usually you can get by bleeding the clutch with the two man method or a pressure bleeder if you will let it set overnight afterward to let the rest of the bubbles work their way out.

You can watch the reservoir and see the bubbles coming up through the clutch nipple.

Every once in a while you get a stubborn clutch that will need to bled bottom up.

winmutt · #13 03-13-2007, 09:45 AM

So after the tranny swap I had let alot of air into my brake lines when bleeding the clutch. Last night when I got home re bleeded. Went thru a full liter of brake fluid and it is still murky brown. Thats why you should flush every year!