Changing Brake FLuid

mgrays

Active Member
Dec 9, 2006
371
18
Aberdeen
Do not allow brake fluid to drain if possible ... change the brakes and then add fluid and bleed the brakes.. same way as you bleed any car brakes.. start at the far corner from the reservoir and keep the reservoir topped up .. and pump 90% of the fluid through by the time you have finished as the fluid goes off/absorbs water in the coming 6 mths .. so no point hoarding it.. just use it to flush now.

I normally open bleed nipple about 1/2 turn with a tube going into a jam jar ending below the fluid level .. give it 6 full slow pumps after you feel resistance.. then close it until it is only 1/8 or less open.. and pressure bleed by pushing down hard for 2-3 pedal strokes.. lock that bleed nipple and move to next furtherest and repeat (monitor fluid levels). When finish I may do another pressure bleed against a just open bleed nipple if I have fluid left (keep a wee bit for topping up). Finally flush water all over brakes area to remove any brake fluid, squirt some anti-rust stuff onto and into nipples and put caps on.

Tip to fill reservoir is to remove the vacuum pipe manifold arrangement (one clip) to get to the reservoir more easily.

While you are at it .. do the clutch too... same fluid but harder to get to the nipple.

Oh and Google will get you plenty.. first hit http://www.carbasics.co.uk/how_to_bleed_car_brakes.htm
 

james.l

GT3071r LCR
Mar 18, 2008
2,802
4
My House
www.vagforum.co.uk
i thought this was the "normall" way too, but according to Dealership they have to be "pressure bled" otherwise you can turn the pump valves inside out and cause the system to seize up completely. That is why i thought i would ask if anyone has done their brakes on a facelift ibiza before. :confused:
 

techie

Skoda Techie
Mar 22, 2003
5,438
5
Worcs
It is a danger, but usually you are ok if you dont pump the pedal all the way to the floor.
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
I have my fluid changed every year rather than every 2 years and my dealer charges £22.50 extra for this when it is service time.
 

mgrays

Active Member
Dec 9, 2006
371
18
Aberdeen
i thought this was the "normall" way too, but according to Dealership they have to be "pressure bled" otherwise you can turn the pump valves inside out and cause the system to seize up completely. That is why i thought i would ask if anyone has done their brakes on a facelift ibiza before. :confused:

I would suggest Dealer myth:whistle:... used to design,make and test brakes for a living 16 years ago .. just make sure you do not run out of fluid and then there is virtually no risk.. otherwise as the pads wore down and the fluid moved to the calipers there would be a risk;) if you listen to the dealers!:)

Pressure bleeding can mean two things anyway .. add pressure at the bleed nipples or add pressure at the reservoir.. the factory way is vacuum bleed where you suck all the air out and then add fluid.. gives a perfect bleed everytime but you need to start with little fluid in the system or you have to wait forever to boil off all the fluid..
 

tdi sport

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
68
0
just done bleeding my brakes today with the eezibleed had the spare tyre set to 15 psi
very easy job to do with this piece of kit. only thing i had to do was crack the bleed nipples with a socket before putting a spanner near them just incase i tore them. but easy job will be doing it every year now.