19 replies to this topic

[69Cooper]

Thanks nicklouse, nothing like first hand experience.

Appreciate you help.

Bit more thought needed then

[DomCr250]

I'd keep with your setup and do a fluid change first.

 

I use minisport 4 pots, cheapest metro pads I can buy (like £4 a set, old stock unipart), just cross drilled 7.5 discs and cast iron drums.  It's even still running the complicated split system and a yellow tag master cylinder.

 

I use brake fluid from Euro's - mainly because it's the cheapest way of buying 5L at a time and with a stack of cars and once yearly fluid swaps I use it quickly.

 

Never had fade on the track, or on the mountain passes in the Alps in the summer.

 

If you have boiled the fluid then the peddle pressure will be pants afterwards I'd suspect.

 

Give it a go, might be a cheap and simple fix.  

[69Cooper]

Quick update.

I checked the whole brake system today and couldn’t find anything obviously wrong !

I bled all the brakes and now have a good brake pedal again, which is good but a little concerning as I don’t really know what the issue was.

Next question is how much fluid does the system hold ?

What’s the best way to replace it? Just put the new fluid in with the old & pump/pull it through, or try get all the old fluid out first.
I have a air driven suction bleed kit.

[Quinlan minor]

Pull it through starting with the furthest bleed nipple until you get clean fluid from each one. 

Do it again in six months time and, at least, annually after that.

 

Worth doing the same with the clutch, too.

[Spider]

I'd suggest bleeding some fluid off and drop the fluid level in the reservoir as low as you can before it sucks in air, then start topping it up and keep bleeding as you normally would. The entire system holds around 400 - 500 ml and here' I'd suggest using a different brand / colour DOT 4 fluid to what's in it now so you can see the fresh fluid coming through, I'd suggest too, bleed off a good 5 full pumps of the pedal once you see the fresh fluid. I'd suggest bleeding it again in say a week and then another week after that, It won't need a full bleed on these subsequent goes, but a good 5 pumps on the Rears and 10 pumps on the Fronts.

 

The higher DOT Number, the higher the boiling point of the fluid itself, however, these are more susceptible to absorbing moisture, so should be more regularly maintained. For normal regular driving, every 6 to 12 months would be OK, however, if doing Track days, then just before you go and no sooner than the day after a bleed off would be wise.