Changing brake fluid w/ a turkey baster????

[Edward 96GTS]

Thought I would round out this great holiday weekend w/ a question re changing the break fluid. A friend very familiar w/ Vipers says it's possible to change the fluid using a turkey baster, is this true? What is the proper technique if I want try it myself?
TIA,
Ed

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

A turkey baster can pull the fluid out of the reservoir but you will still need to bleed the lines.

 

[Nasty 10]

I do this every 1-2 months. I also do the clutch and power steering fluids the same way

 

[sbkim]

Is it ok to completely **** up all the fluid or shall I leave some at the bottom ?

Thanks

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Is it ok to completely **** up all the fluid or shall I leave some at the bottom ?

Thanks

No matter how hard you try you will not be able to **** it all out of the reservoir. To many plastic obstacles in place to reach the baster all the way back to the bottom. Frankly I'm surprised someone would waste there time just changing out the reservoir fluid.

 

[Janni]

The fluid that NEEDS to be changed is the fluid in the lines and the fluid in the caliper. That's where you are prone to see degradation / air bubbles. So, while the reservoir may look nicer, you can still have really crappy brake fluid where you NEED it. You can empty the reservoir and refill before you bleed to speed the process, but just emptying and refilling is a waste of brake fluid.

Clutch - same thing.

Power steering - safe easy idea. Emptying the reservoir gets about 75% - 80% of the system volume and it's pretty non-stressed fluid. We do the same after every track event.

Why the difference in these three? The power steering system is the only one with a pump that CIRCULATES the fluid throughout the system, so it's the only one that will actually evenly distribute your nice new fluid.

 

[Edward 96GTS]

Can someone describe the brake bleeding process?

 

[Viperfreak2]

Two people. One pushing the pedal, the other loosens the bleeder on each caliper. Good communication is the key. The person inside the car calls out when he(she) puts pressure and when reaching bottom. The guy(girl) at the caliper calls out 'open' and 'closed'. Works good as long as someone remembers to check the resevoir often!

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Can I use a fork to change my oil? ha!

Just kidding. I use a baster for my coolant bottle too. Just make sure your wife or you don't use it for food.

 

[genXgts]

I was hesitant to get in and do it right myself from fear of the unknown.

Take an afternoon and a few drinks and hit it slowly. After one time it now takes as much time to put the car in the air and rims off as to bleed all four corners.

Fronts a little more tricky with a three step in out in process, butr really no big deal. Might be out in out, who knows, follow the manual, you be good!

 

[RalphieViper]

Try speedbleeder.com, makes it a one man job!

Ralph

 

[Edward 96GTS]

Ralphie,
With the speedbleeder, do you have to pull wheels to access *******?

 

[Cobra4B]

Don't you still have some fluid in the abs modulators? I'm was going to bleed my brakes and change the fluid last weekend, but was told that since it's the car's first flush that I should go to the dealer an let them flush the abs system too.

 

[95Viper]

Brake Fluid - The Motive Bleeder really makes life easy and is a one man job. No need to pump pedals (which some claim issues if you push too far), holds enough fluid so you don't need to keep refilling reservoir, and keeps good pressure flow to get all air bubbles out. Once you've used it once, you wonder why you never bought it before.

Motive Bleeder owners - Miller Tools Special Tool listed in Service Manual makes a safe Viper connection.

hipoengineering.com - If you buy the Miller Tool, buy the adapter from HiPo Engineering to quick connect the Miller Tool and Universal Adapter for use on other vehicles.

 

[ViperRay]

I use the vacuum method (rubber hose placed over bleeder screws) on all my cars. Also a one man job.

 

[sbkim]

So, there is NO benefit to at least getting the old fluid out of the clutch and brake fluid reservoir?

 

[Viperfreak2]

If you bleed all four calipers you will have fresh fluid in the resevior because you have to keep topping it up as the old fluid is pulled through. The turkey baster would certainly help because you would be removing most of the old stuff before you even start, then you would only have to clear the lines. If I remember right, it takes about 10 cycles of the pedal to completely flush the longest line (right rear)

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

So, there is NO benefit to at least getting the old fluid out of the clutch and brake fluid reservoir?

It makes it look good for the poser crowd saturday night.

 

[95Viper]

I wouldn't say NO benefit but I wouldn't consider it a solution.

I'd be more apt to turkey baste the clutch (although the proper way was described above) but you need to get that brake fluid out of your brake lines before the fluid collects moisture and ruins your calipers. $$$$$$