its been a while since i did a brake job and they were mostly to older vehicles but now the oldest one i have is an 01, but my question is simple...my wife has an 08 expedition eddie bauer, do i need to open the brake fluid resevouir or do i leave it closed while i change out the pads and compress the brake pistons? thank you in advance

 

I always pop the cap and compress slowly. Have someone check to make sure it doesn't overflow.

 

Thats what I do. Walmart sells a syringe it the automotive section that you can draw some fluid out it needed.

 

1. remove cap and do not let any fluid drip.
2. use an old syringe to remove about 90% of the fluid, its trash.
3. compress piston very slowly. critical w/anti-lock systems
4. remove more fluid not letting it get so low as to let air in to the bottom of the master
5 refill with brand new fluid so when you bleed you can see the fresh fluid at each caliper,
6 Bleed,,RR, THEN LR, THEN RF, THEN LF