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Planning on doing a brake job this weekend and was needing to know about completely flushing out the old fluid and replacing. The stuff in there right now is black as the night! I was guessing an easy way is to open a bleeder valve and pump the brakes...as the fluid comes out..keep filling the reservoir until the flow is clean..am I on the right track or way off?
I would take a turkey baster and suck out the crap in the reservoir first, then refill that with clean juice. Other than that, you're on the right track. It's just like bleeding brakes. I've done mine solo with a Mityvac before, but the rear brakes were a little hard to get started.
Well i will have a little helper to pump the brakes..I have a little setup for him because he's too short to reach the pedals. Do I need to bleed all 4 brakes?
Yes, all four.
And the turkey baster for the reservoir as stated, but take it one step further and physically wipe as much dirt out of it as possible.
You are talking, wipe out the reservoir?
Yep... wipe the master cylinder reservoir and bleed all 4 brakes.
If you just fill the reservoir with new fluid, and there's a good amount of crap in it, you would be filling a dirty reservoir with fresh fluid...a bit counterproductive if you think about it. It will work fine and probably never give you any issues, but eh.
If you just take a turkey baster, you will get a good bit of the crud out of the master cylinder reservoir, but not nearly as much as a cloth on the tip of your finger or dowel/stick/whatever (should be lint-free cloth). Better than not doing it at all, but at that point you're >so< close to getting that much more crap out of the reservoir...Make sure not to get any brake fluid in the bulb part of the baster, just FYI.
EDIT: And if it's not obvious, do NOT touch the brakes in any way when the reservoir is that low to wipe it out. Don't open any bleeders, don't pump/press the brake pedal, nothing.
Ok cool, thanks guys! One more thing, where is the best place to put the jack stands? I have to use my standard jack to get the car up enough to use my floor jack. I was thinking to place them on the frame..near where i jack it up. Thoughts?
My car has been on jack stands multiple times for over a year at a time with the stands where you're saying - once for 2 years straight. It has been on them with them in that spot in the front since last September. There is no sign of damage at all in those spots.
Very cool, i was leery about where to put them but now i know. I think i'll get me one of those rolling seats to make the job easier than sitting on the garage floor!
Speed Bleeders help. http://www.speedbleeder.com/
Some of us that change brake fluid every 6 months or so have built one of there.
Most people will tell you NOT to use those rails, just FYI, since they aren't technically "frame" rails. So take that into consideration.
Here's a link/pdf to do it properly: http://www.metzair.com/downloads/Raise_Your_Miata.pdf
Great info Cone & Rob...the jack stand info is really helpful..looks like I need to add a low profile jack to my tool collection! I guessing those "speed bleeders" are by order only.
Drive onto pieces of 2x4 first. Usually gets the car high enough for a regular hydraulic jack to fit under the car. Unless you need a new jack anyway.
Pressure bleeder FTW! There's a link altiain created somewhere showing how to make one.
Now that's and idea..no i don't need a new jack, 2 more jack stands but my floor jack is fine!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob®
Cool, cool..i'll take a look for it. Does the tube in a jar of brake fluid while bleeding help out?Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
I'm sure it doesn't need to be said, but in the interest of safety, do NOT get under the car while it is on 2x4s...
Found it! - http://www.cardomain.com/ride/158355/1999-mazda-miata-mx-5/page-10Quote:
Originally Posted by titanescape
Yes, the tube in the jar of old fluid will prevent air being sucked back in to the system.
I've never used a pressure bleeder but I can assure you that Speedbleeders are great! Once you have them installed, it's no big deal to bleed all four brakes and the clutch in under 45 minutes total *by yourself*. If you get the Speed Bleeder Bag while you're at it, cleanup/disposal is quick, clean, and easy too. Btw, I don't know your experience level and perhaps a newbie will read this thread to learn, but NEVER let brake fluid even touch your paint. If it does, stop whatever you are doing and clean it off immediately. It can permanently ruin your paint in no time.
Thanks, sammm, I tried to find the link, but couldn't. I was counting on someone having it.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
I calculated the brake line capacities on the back of an envelope. Being generous, the master cylinder hold 2.6 fl.oz. I do the right rear first, the line hold 4 fl.oz. so I stop after 2 fl. oz. and refill the master cylinder, and bleed another 2 fl. oz. and refill. Next, I do the left rear. From the "y" to the left caliper, the line holds 1.7 fl. oz., refill the master cylinder. Next, I do the right front, 2 fl. oz., refill. And finally, the left front, 1 fl. oz., refill and you are done. I use an old baby bottle to measure.
By doing this, I don't need to jump up and check the level in the master cylinder, I know when to go refill it.
Also, Track Dog Racing has this.
PS: Although you haven't ask, I use Ford High Performance Dot 3 brake fluid. Dry boiling point is 550*F, wet boiling point is 284*F, so I change often. It's also TCB.
^ Now that is some important and true information!!Quote:
Originally Posted by cwisenheimer
Lots of good info, thanks to all!! I know all about that brake fluid on paint...not a good thing!! Looks like the brake job is going down Sat morn. I can gather all my supplies on Friday and be ready to go. I've done the brakes on some of my other cars in the past but not the Miata. Seems to be a pretty straight forward job.
Hopefully all will go well and the annoying squeaking will stop!!
Nothing beats a pressure bleeder. I bought a miata motive bleeder and it was the best $60 I had ever spent. I could probably bleed all 4 corners in under 5 minutes!I am out of town this weekend and if you need to borrow the bleeder next week let me know, I live in north Plano by 121 and toll. Lee
I'm a fan of the reverse bleeder when the lines have gone dry or seen air through the master. I made a reverse bleeder out of my broken Motive bleeder because Motive is a liberty hating terrorist and would not sell me a replacement hose.