In this section we will cover how you flush out your old brake fluid and replace it with new fluid.
By replacing your old worn out brake fluid you will help extend the life of your brake calipers as well as the ABS module.
This also helps improve stopping distance and brake fade as well as a "soft" brake pedal.

You will need a friend to help you.

This is on a 2000 Land Rover Discovery Series II but the process is the same for any car or truck.

Start by removing the wheels and supporting the truck on jack stands, NEVER crawl under a car or thruck that is only supported by a jack.

For this vehicle we needed a 7/16" combination wrench.
You will also need short piece of tubing about 12" in lenght, I used old cruise control vacuum line from my 1997 Discovery.

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Break loose the bleeder screw on the brake caliper and then snug it back up.

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Attach your tubing to the nipple on the bleeder screw and put the free end of your tubing into a collection container.

With the engine off and the windows rolled down have your friend pump up the brake pedal until it is hard and then hold it there.
Loosen the bleeder screw.
Once the brake pedal goes to the floor tighten the bleed screw and then release the brake pedal.
Now pump the brakes back up.
Repeat.
Keep doing this until the brake fluid resevoir is low, then top off with new brake fluid.
Make sure that you use the correct fluid, Land Rovers require DOT 4.
You will want 2 quarts on hand.

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Keep doing this until clear fluid comes out of the bleed screw.
Once that happens tighten the bleed screw and remove your tubing.

Move onto the next wheel.
Repeat.
Do this at all four wheels.

Here are some tips.
Brake fluid is very corrosive, it will eat paint of off your car.
It cannot be recycled, it must be incinerated or disposed of in a class "D" landfill.
If you mix it in with waste oil nobody will take it, if it gets dumped into a waste oil collection drum at a quick lube for example then that whole drum of waste oil is contaminated and cannot be recycled.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture, once you open a bottle of it you must either use it or dispose of it within 6 months.

Land Rover recommends flushing your brake fluid every 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever is sooner.
I recommend every 24 months no matter the miles.

Budget 1-1.5 hours for this job.

 

Wow, Spike, thanks for the write up. This is just what I'm looking for.

 

Rather than remove all 4 wheels and have a two-and-a-half ton truck precariously perched on jack stands, I'd remove the wheels one at a time as you work your way around!

Great write-up though, and impeccable timing since I'm at 59,5xx and getting ready to start all of my 60k stuff this week!

 

I dont remove the wheels. As Spike knows, i'm small enough to work under a stock Disco just fine.. =)

until i have to work on brakes of course..

 

I was going to do it with the wheels on but it would have been kinda hard to take pics for you girls.

 

Haha, Spike called us girls

 

To add to spike's wonderful write-up, here it is using a ONE MAN BLEED tool. What is cool about this tool is that it uses a ONE-WAY valve allowing fluid out but no fluid/air back. I often work alone so I don't have a helper pumping brakes for me.


Use liquid wrench and lightly spray the base of the bleeder valve. let soak for at least 5 min. (I left this step out once on a VW and the valve broke off)

1. Use a 11mm box end wrench for the bleeder valve. DI and DII use the same for front and back. EDIT!-- DI may use 10mm at front and 11mm at back. ( I experienced this recently working on two DI's. One had 11mm on all fours while the other DI had 11mm rear, and 10mm front)
2. Break it loose. Snug it back with fingers.
3. Attach One man bleeder tool shown above.
4. Loosen bleeder valve until brake fluid slowly pours out. (Ensure air bubbles are not leaking in through bleeder valve threads.
5. Using a turkey baster, remove as much of the fluid in the reservoir.
6. Top off reservoir with DOT4 Brake Fluid. I Usually go above max for this job
7. Get in the driver seat and SLOWLY push brake pedal to the floor. Slowly Release.
8. Every few pumps, refill the reservoir and go to the current wheel being flushed and make sure the hose didn't fly off the bleed valve and that you aren't spraying brake fluid all over. (Happened once on my first try.) Also monitor for clarity.

This is not my vehicle, this one belongs to a customer of mine. '04 Disco






A FEW PUMPS LATER... ALREADY GETTING CLEARER








Tighten the bleeder valve and remove the hose pinching it off as you pull it off the valve.

9. Repeat on each wheel.

 

Where did you buy that one man we've got a bleeder thingy?
How much in mainland dollars?

 

Harbor freight sells a one man bleeder for $4 I think. It's cheap but it works.

 

Thank you, hell for $5 if it is a one time use thing it is still worth it.