Honda Civic DIYs and Civic Tech ChatHonda Civic DIYs and Civic Tech Chat - for the true gearheads! Bring your wrench, it's time for some Honda Civic DIY projects! Questions about problems with your car do NOT go here.
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Hi - any Honda techs out there? I took our car in this morning for a brake fluid change and asked the service writer how it was done. He said they "vacuum" the fluid out. I asked if they bleed the calipers afterward and he said "No", it's not necessary. Hey, I'm old school and always did it that way on the driveway. But with the advent of new power bleeding equipment and ABS, is there anything I need to worry about? I'm thinking in order to vacuum the old fluid out, what replaces the fluid? It must be air - then how do you get the air out if you don't bleed the calipers? Can someone get me up to speed on this? Thanks for your help.
80ttop
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I do all the fluid/lubricant maintenance on my 1997 Civic, and would like to change the brake fluid. What's the best way to do this, being that I don't have any specialized pro equipment.
Do I just drain & add fluid at each wheel bleeder valve, starting with the rear right, until the brake fluid looks clean?
Open all bleeders, take top off master cylinder, let gravity feed all fluid out.
Pressure-
Open all bleeders, hook up pressure bleeder to master cylinder, & use pressure to replace fluid
Vacuum -
Open one bleeder at a time, stick vacuum pump on bleeder, & pump. Use vacuum to get fluid out. If you use just a regular hand pump from auto parts store this will work. What I use at home
__________________ Its one thing to know your car is slow. Its another to take it to a track, and get it in writing, in front of 200 people, that your car is REALLY slow - Ashole (Gotta agree 17.2)
193WHP & 166 ft lbs @ 9 psi (GReddy Emanaged Beotch)
Dezod V3 kit w/ Tial Blow off Valve & Wastegate
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Dezod 2.5" Back to 3" Vibrant w/ Resonator
The best way is suck out all old fluid from the master cyl . Then fill with new fluid then either drip at the bleeders until clean and clear and or pressure/vacuum bleed per preference. untill no air and clean fluid.
__________________ 169.8whp / 154 ft lbs tq @ 7psi with an auto trans! Click Image for my turbo install!
You can gravity bleed, but a pump gun will get all of your old stuff out much better. A hand operated vacuum bleeder is about 30-40 bucks from the auto zone. Pick up a big ass bottle of brake fluid cause you'll need it. Start with the right rear wheel,then left rear,right front,then left front. This way you will work furthest from the master cylinder to the caliper closest. Get all that old junk out. If you got the loot get some royal purple dot4, but if you're unsure just go with the dot3 and be happy that you've done something nice for your car.
Start with the right rear wheel,then left rear,right front,then left front.
Usually this is true, but for the Civic it is wrong. The correct order in the manual is Front Left, Front Right, Rear Right, Rear Left.
Don't forget if you have a Manual Transmission to change the clutch fluid, too. It is the same brake fluid as in the cylinder and it gets water in it as well over time. Admittedly it doesn't have anywhere near the stress as your brakes do, but I'd rather not have to replace a clutch master or slave cylinder, thanks very much.
For both bleeds, I usually use a vacuum bleeder pump in combination with a foot on the pedal. I change the brake fluid every 18 months or thereabouts.
If you can find it, go with ATE SuperBlue DOT4. stuff lasts quite a while AND they make the same formula in a gold color. Alternate between blue and gold fluids when you bleed and you know for sure when its all out.
"If it's so essential, ask yourself why you've been able to live without it before now."
Try doing something nice for a total stranger, then look back at your car. Notice that the good feeling you get from helping lasts all day, but you constantly have to put stuff on your car to feel better.
"If it's so essential, ask yourself why you've been able to live without it before now."
Try doing something nice for a total stranger, then look back at your car. Notice that the good feeling you get from helping lasts all day, but you constantly have to put stuff on your car to feel better.
(GReddy Emanaged Beotch)
