Brake Reservoir Strainer Removal

[rocksonrocks]

I was going to flush my brake fluid for first time by myself. The DIY's I read say to remove the strainer from the brake fluid reservoir and remove as much fluid as possible before starting. I'm planning to use a pressure bleeder.

I can't figure out how to get it out. It spins but it seems to be clipped in somehow. Is my car different (2004 325i sedan)? Is it OK to pressure bleed with strainer installed? I tried removing fluid from the strainer but it freaks me out a bit because there is a delay to the main reservoir level going down. Anybody know how to get it out (without breaking it)?

Thanks,

[Silverblades181]

You don't have to remove fluid from the reservoir. Simply install your pressure bleeder, make sure it has sufficient brake fluid in it.

The strainer makes no difference. Start bleeding from the rear right caliper, then on to the rear left caliper, after that the front right caliper and finally the front left caliper.

Bleed until the fluid becomes lighter. If you track the car it would be a good time to upgrade to a better brake fluid like ATE Superblue. Then it's simple, bleed until the fluid becomes blue.

Btw, if your brake pads aren't brand new, make sure to remember where the brake fluid level was in the reservoir and readjust it to where it was. Brake fluid level goes down as the pads wear out.

[rocksonrocks]

Thanks for the reply. In fact I did buy Super Blue for the color. I've read some people just fill the reservoir and not bleeder. You have to stop a few times to refill but it's an easier cleanup. I was also wondering for your method. When you're done, isn't the reservoir full and the pressure bleeder hose as well? How do you disconnect the pressure bleeder without spilling fluid all over?

[mayor]

Thanks for the reply. In fact I did buy Super Blue for the color. I've read some people just fill the reservoir and not bleeder. You have to stop a few times to refill but it's an easier cleanup. I was also wondering for your method. When you're done, isn't the reservoir full and the pressure bleeder hose as well? How do you disconnect the pressure bleeder without spilling fluid all over?

When you (gently) unscrew the top of the bleeder to release pressure, a lot of the fluid in the hose gets sucked back in the bleeder itself. The part of the hose closest to the car's reservoir doesn't have fluid in it --the hose is never 100% full, so don't worry about that-- and is easily removed.

[Silverblades181]

Thanks for the reply. In fact I did buy Super Blue for the color. I've read some people just fill the reservoir and not bleeder. You have to stop a few times to refill but it's an easier cleanup. I was also wondering for your method. When you're done, isn't the reservoir full and the pressure bleeder hose as well? How do you disconnect the pressure bleeder without spilling fluid all over?

Emptying the reservoir of the old fluid and then filling it with the new one works well, you're right. The pressure bleeder has to have brake fluid in it. The pressure bleeder serves two purposes, it keeps a constant pressure on the brake fluid so that when you open the bleeder, instead of bleeding by gravity, the fluid is pushed out and bleeding becomes a lot faster.

Second, it keeps the reservoir full so that you don't suck in air into the master and defeat the purpose of bleeding. Yes, it can get messy so keep a couple of rags close by. Like Mayor said, slowly release the pressure and then remove the hose. Adjust the brake fluid level like I mentionned earlier, put the cap back on and you can pour some water on the master cylinder to clean everything up. Water gets rid of brake fluid pretty well.

NOTE: Make sure you protect your paint from the brake fluid, it will destroy it.

[rocksonrocks]

That was easy! Maybe too easy. So, yesterday I started sucking out fluid from the reservoir until about the "min" level, chickened out, refilled to "max" with Super Blue and put the cap back on. Today, I put the bleeder on and checked for leaks with no fluid > OK. Then filled the bleeder with about 1.5 liters of Super Blue. Started right rear and flow was good. color went from yellowish to bluish. I wasn't convinced it was the right blue color so I let out about 250ml. Proceeded to left rear, right front, left front. Total fluid flushed for these 3 calipers combined was about 300-400ml. The fluid went fairly quickly from yellow to blue. Total fluid flushed was 1/2 to 3/4 of a liter. This doesn't sound like much. Is the rest of the fluid in the abs/DSC pumps? Maybe next time I'll just put in 1 liter to start so I don't open a second can for nothing.

Anyway, thanks for your advice. Left the strainer in. Filled the bleeder with fluid. No mess during bleeding as I had plenty in there for the job. Cleanup afterward was pretty painless.

A note for those with manual transmission. Don't empty the reservoir too much. The fluid feed for the hydraulic line to the clutch is well above the bottom of the reservoir. Found this during my research and thought I would pass it on.

[Silverblades181]

That amound of fluid sounds about right. There isn't much more then that in the whole system.

Did you bleed the clutch slave cylinder?

[rocksonrocks]

Didn't bleed the clutch slave. Maybe next flush.