How to replace the brake and clutch fluids?

[yabo0569]

I want to do that on my bike, the color on the fluid doesn't look good. Any suggestions on how to do it?

[couchflyer]

An abbreviated version.
Get a vacuum pump and start at the caliper farthest from the fluid reservoir. As you pump the old fluid out put fresh in the reservoir. Then do the other caliper.

[Cardi]

As said above. Buying a kit or using a vaccuum pump is the best way to go. I've done it by hand and would not repeat or recommend it.

Make sure you unscrew the cap to the reservoir when using the vaccuum method and keep filling it to avoid sucking air into the lines. Occasionally, during bleeding, you need to cap the reservoir and bleed screw and vigorously pump the lever to dislodge any air bubbles that may be trapped.

[johnchypermotard]

quick versions listed above are sound ... only additional instruction i would add:

once you have fully flushed and bled the front brake and clutch lines, before you replace the res. caps, bleed their lines up at the master cylinder. both the ftonr brake and the clutch masters have top bleed nipples. follow same process as bleeding the slave/caliper ... but make certain that when you are squeezing the levers to bleed, that you squeeze them VERY slowly ... i mean REALLY slowly. this will get ALL of the air out of each line.

trust me ... doing the top bleed SLOWLY will remove all of the air and provide the best action and feel at the lever as possible.

[yabo0569]

Originally Posted by couchflyer

An abbreviated version.
Get a vacuum pump and start at the caliper farthest from the fluid reservoir. As you pump the old fluid out put fresh in the reservoir. Then do the other caliper.

the vaccum pump you're talking about can i get that at the local hardware store?

Thanks for the responses!

[jboothe]

I picked up one at Autozone. You can get them most anywhere, Sears, NAPA, etc...

[kingsnake1650]

I am not a fan of the pumps... what I use is a beer can and a piece of clear tubing that will fit snuggly over the bleeder nipple. Basically the idea is to never let the brake system suck air so cut the tubing long enough that it loops up about 3 inches above the bleeder and the other end goes in to a beer can on the ground. Then you take off the resivior cover, open the bleeder on the caliper and start puming the brake lever and refill the resivior as it gets low. Pump untill the fluid going into the beer can via the tubing is clear.

[johnchypermotard]

Originally Posted by kingsnake1650

I am not a fan of the pumps... what I use is a beer can and a piece of clear tubing that will fit snuggly over the bleeder nipple....

+ eleventy billion.

those hand pump deal-ios suck (and i don't mean in a good way).

best to do it the way god intended us to bleed 'em ... as kingsnake described.

[kingsnake1650]

Originally Posted by johnchypermotard

+ eleventy billion.

those hand pump deal-ios suck (and i don't mean in a good way).

best to do it the way god intended us to bleed 'em ... as kingsnake described.

if beer isnt involved... you arent working on it right!

[couchflyer]

Originally Posted by yabo0569

the vaccum pump you're talking about can i get that at the local hardware store?

Thanks for the responses!

I got mine at Sears