[Shop-talk] Brake system bleeders

[Todd Walke]

Steven wrote:

>That seems like a whole lot of fluid to me.  I see a change in color of 
>brake fluid at the bleeder, and at that point I figure I'm getting clean 
>fluid.  I'd say I typically use half the fluid you do.  If you were doing 
>it the old "helper pushing the brake pedal" method, your helper would 
>certainly have leg cramps!  So I guess, question to the group, how much 
>fluid to you typically pump through when doing a brake system flush/bleed?

         My GTI only sees 2500 miles a year or so and thus brake jobs are 
years apart so I flush the system every two years.  Two quarts seems like a 
lot, but brake fluid is relatively cheap and anything worth doing is worth 
overdoing, ya know.  With a pressure bleeder, the time difference between 
bleeding out 1 qt vs 2 is an extra 10 minutes.
         On my active car, previously the Golf and now the TDI, I'll go 
through front pads in less than two years so I just do a quick bleed every 
time I do pads and don't bother with the two year flush.  I use one quart 
and put 1/4 quart through each corner.


Todd
Seattle,WA
'86 GTI, Red of course. (exciting racey car) 270,000 miles
'01 Golf TDI, silver.   (new work car)       234,000 miles
'87 Golf, Polar Silver. (retired work car)   654,000 miles <- Gone to a new 
home :(
http://www.pureluckdesign.com <-Ferrari & VW stuff