Are you crazy? You won't even have to use butmaybe $10 or $15 worth of brake fluid!

 

DOT3-4 brake fluid is not silicone...the DOT 5 and all specifically named ones are silicone.

 

Yeah, but some people don't like the whole crawl-underneath & get dirty scene.

If you have 15" wheels there's probably not enough room to get at the bleeder screws. If you have 17" there's probably lots of space.

Either way, make sure the car is supported properly so it doesn't fall on you.

 

YES 00, very much so!!! It's more the time issue than the money for fluid.

Jim, I actually like to get dirty ..... hands on ftw!!! Just that I have very little free time.

 

Oh...
Good point. I didn't ask whether they will bleed the brake fluid or just remove the old fluid from reservoir and fill. Acura dealer said Brake fluid change for my RL would be $120 though. I might need to ask them for detail.

Ya.... maybe, I better let dealer do it at that price since I need to jack up front and rear, and do all 4 wheels. Also, it's first time and I may have some trouble. But once I get some experience, it looks like easy job though.

By the way, Sears Auto Service quoted $35 for change the brake fluid but didn't ask whether they bleed the brake fluid from all 4 wheels.

Does some auto shop change the brake fluid without bleeding? Just remove and fill the fluid in reservoir. I think I can do it within few minutes if they do like that. If they do this way, Are there problems??

Sorry for too many questions and speaking. Fogive me since I am newbie like I said. Lots of questions and unclear things even after reading DIY and service manual.

 

Yeah, I didn't have to crawl under though. Just remove the wheel and sit on my butt while my dad pumped the brakes and I bled. Only reason I got dity was it was 100+ degrees outside that day (at least we were in the shade). Well I guess my hands got a little dirty. Thank God it's finally cooling off here! It's now down to about 80 during the day!

 

Bleeding is very easy with 2 people. To do it by yourself you'd need a vacuum pump that cost $40. It's all about time for me.

I'd expect that you are used to the heat by now ...... does it ever cool off there? If I were you, I'd do all of that stuff in the winter. Here, it's also going to be cold enough in a few weeks that when (not if) I slip and crack my knuckles on anything it'll draw blood instantly. Pumice and cuts don't go well together.

 

Guess you got a point there. Why don't you get your brother to help you?

 

I'm better off aerating the brakes myself ..... at least then I know why they don't work.

 

JUst wanted to answer a portion of your questions, an actual complete flush needs to be done, not just refreshen the reserviour. Heat attracts moisture so all the water in the brake fluid works its way to the calipers and starts to coreode them from the inside. Brake fluid itself is hydroscopic so it acts like a sponge and soaks up moisture over time through the reserviour cap, this is why you never keep open brake fluid on the shelf or keep closed brake fluid for more than 2 years, this is one reason they started selling small bottles of fluid.

Enough moisture in the caliper can start to boil and expand, this will actually apply the brakes and lock up a caliper or two while driving at highway speeds, you pull over and in a few minutes the brake unlocks and you can drive again for many miles and they can lock up again leaving you dumbfounded as to what the proplem is, its water in the caliper.