How to Change Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid used in various cars and motorcycles, that uses a hydraulic braking system. Brake fluid plays several crucial roles in vehicle maintenance, most prominent among which include keeping the braking system corrosion free and lubricated. Experts recommend that the best bet is to replace brake fluid of your car, at least once, every year and avoid the expensive car repairs which you might have to opt for, if you ignore it. Though several car and motorcycle owners know the importance of changing brake fluid at regular intervals, they are not quite able to figure out how they can go about it.

Changing Brake Fluid of a Motorcycle or a Dirt Bike

You can refer to the car owner's manual to determine which type of brake fluid your motorcycle requires. The foremost thing you will have to do, is to locate the valve at the brake caliper and remove it. Attach the bleeding line, a small plastic tube, which facilitates one side movement of liquid, without letting air or moisture enter the system, to the stopper, and make sure that its other end is in the bucket where you intend to accumulate the used up braking fluid. The next step is to unscrew the brake fluid reservoir with the necessary tools. If you are bleeding the front brake, you will find small cup on the top of it, and if you are bleeding the rear brake, you will find a small cup, just behind the right footrest. You will have to make sure that you don't let any moisture in, when doing this.

Now, press the corresponding brake handle, and the old oil will seep in through the bleeding line into the empty container. You will also have to keep a watch on the fluid reservoir, and each time the level of the fluid in the reservoir reaches to the bottom, you will have to add more brake fluid to it. Continue doing this, until you see that the color of the fluid seeping out from the bleeding pipe has changed from brown to the original color of the fluid, most often golden. Fill the entire reservoir with new brake fluid, leaving only about half and inch space, and close the reservoir with the reservoir cap.

Changing Brake Fluid of a Car?

The process to replace brake fluid of a car is quite similar to the process in motorcycles. You will have to take the help of a person who will have to get inside the car and press the brake pedal, while you are working on bleeding the brake fluid outside. Attach the bleeding line to the bleeder which is farthest from the master cylinder and put its other end in the container wherein you want to collect the used up fluid. Once the line is attached properly, instruct the person in the car to slowly press the braking paddle, this will make the fluid to seep out from the bleeding line into the container. When the entire fluid reservoir gets empty, fill it with new brake fluid and close the valve or else air will enter the reservoir and lead to various car brake problems. Once the vents are secured, the person inside the car can slowly release the braking paddle. Whilst doing this, you will have to keep a check on the fluid level in the master cylinder, and refill it, if it is necessary. After you have repeated the process with all the four wheels, you can check all the valves and screws you have loosened or tightened, again to be on the safer side.

Even though, you are likely to find minor differences in the process depending on which model of the vehicle you own, the basic process will always be the same. Initially, it will take some time for you to get used to the task, but once you are well versed with it, car maintenance will become easier, and motorcycle or car problems can be kept at bay.