Removing Brake Fluid from MC

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Apr 4, 2006 | 10:30 AM

ChappyEight

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From: Brownsburg, IN

Removing Brake Fluid from MC

I'm swapping my front rotors and pads this weekend on my 1999 DRW F-350 and was curious as to how you remove fluid from the master cylinder. I've been told you should remove the cap and then remove about half the fluid before using a c-clamp to press the pistons in.

Any suggestions on the best way to do this?

Thanks.

P.S. I know it would be best to just flush the system but I don't feel comfortable bleeding the brakes because I'm sure I would screw it up somehow. I'm going to have the brake fluid flushed in a couple months.

Apr 4, 2006 | 10:42 AM

dadsgreenpsd

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From: Maine

I use my wife's turkey baster.

(Just kidding, I have my own)

Make sure to have a cup ready to catch the brake fluid before it drips on anything painted!

Apr 4, 2006 | 10:43 AM

Big Orn

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From: NE Texas

Have you ever had to add any fluid? If not, maybe all you need to do is remove the cap so there will be no pressure.

If I had to remove only an ounce or less, then I would take an old squeeze bottle of some sort and just suction a bit out as needed to keep it from overflowing when doing the pads. JMHO, though.

Apr 4, 2006 | 12:28 PM

Sport45

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From: Too close to Houston

If you've never added fluid there should be plenty of room in the reservoir. Just do one wheel at a time and pump the system back up before you compress another caliper. If you use a turkey baster (they work really well for this) wet down everything under the master cylinder before you start and give it a good rinse when you're done. Brake fluid will take paint off if left on long enough.

Apr 4, 2006 | 01:20 PM

Bob Ayers

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From: Durham, NC

If you have ABS, check out post #12 in this thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...48&page=1&pp=6

Apr 4, 2006 | 03:23 PM

ChappyEight

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From: Brownsburg, IN

Thanks for the quick responses everyone.

Bob, thanks for the link. I'd never heard of doing it that way before. So basically, I just need to clamp the line off and open the lower bleeder before pressing the pistons in?

What are the clamps called so I can ask for them at my local Advance Auto Parts?

Thanks so much again everyone.

Apr 6, 2006 | 07:25 AM

Sport45

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From: Too close to Houston

Quote:

So basically, I just need to clamp the line off and open the lower bleeder before pressing the pistons in?

If you do that you'll have to bleed the system before you are done. Opening the bleeder and pushing the fluid out with the caliper sounds similar to a conventional bleed, but in practice it would be nearly impossible to do this without introducing air. You don't have nearly as much control prying on the caliper as an assistant would have pushing the brake pedal. I've changed the pads in my '00 as well as many, many other vehicles equipped with ABS. You don't have to do anything special. Just push the fluid back into the reservoir one wheel at a time and when you're done, start driving.

I don't routinely (unless you consider a ten-year interval as "routine") change brake fluid on any of my vehicles and I've never had a brake failure. I don't know anyone who has had a brake failure related to old fluid and I've been around some pretty old equipment.