Brake Fluid Change?

[Firefly]

Anyone done or had their brake fluid changed?

I've got mine in the shop right now for a brake error code and talked to them about changing the fluid--- they told me it was a 2.5 hour job! Told them not to bother.

So what do you all think? Had it done? Done it yourself?

 

[Dudley]

Anyone done or had their brake fluid changed?

I've got mine in the shop right now for a brake error code and talked to them about changing the fluid--- they told me it was a 2.5 hour job! Told them not to bother.

So what do you all think? Had it done? Done it yourself?

Forty+ years of riding motorcycles and I have never had the brake fluid changed (several bikes with over 50K miles). I have never had brake failure. And I would question a 2.5 hour job. My mechanic said that you're lucky if all goes well to do it in 6 hours. AND how can you prove the fluid was even changed??? Nuff said.

 

[sandrunr1]

I don't know if this will help decide but, the oil in the Spyder gets really hot and slung all over the parts it is designed to lubricate. Therefore, occasionally you need to change the oil. Gas gets used as you drive. But in the case of brakes, the only time you need to worry is when you stop. Brake fluid is barely pushed into the line as it is already full and air tight. My question is how often do you change your blood supply? Never? Why would you change brake fluid? Never in air and rarely used. It is no different than your car. I for one think that BRP is doing all they can to keep the maintance people busy with make work. I would never change my fluid unless it turns to beer or mud. JMO.

 

[sandrunr1]

Dudley, :thumbup::agree::agree::agree::agree:

 

[Firefly]

Pretty much what I was thinking too guys.

I did tell them to do the clutch fluid though and the radiator..... just don't have time to mess with them myself right now.... and those things were pretty cheap to have done....

 

[NancysToy]

While I don't necessarily believe in the specified frequency of fluid changes for motorcycle clutches and brakes, it is a necessary evil. Brake and clutch systems are not actually air tight, they can "breathe" ever so slightly through the master cylinder and seals, over time. Brake fluid is hygroscopic...it absorbs moisture from the air it comes in contact with, even a tiny bit of air in the top of the master cylinder or through pores in the ferrous castings so small that they will not even leak fluid. Brake fluid also collects contaminants over time. With small system volumes on motorcycles, these contaminants and moisture become more important...and more damaging, than in a large system on an automobile. If you do not change the fluid periodically, you risk eventual corrosion of your brake or clutch system, as well as wear from any contaminants. How often you do it depends on your climate, your mileage, how hard you use your systems, and the quality of fluid used. I still recommend periodic changes, however.

Another consideration for those with extended warranties is the fact that any brake or clutch system hydraulic failure will probably not be covered if you choose not to flush the clutch and brake systems. Now, if the procedure just didn't require BUDS, it would not be that tough...with the right equipment. This is not an uncommon requirement under motorcycle maintenance procedures, and is even specified periodically for most autos. I have had to do it for my BMW, too. Overkill...maybe, but justified, considering the possible consequences and the importance of the system. There is no dual system on a Spyder!

 

[scudrunner]

My question is how often do you change your blood supply? Never?

Not a good analogy. Blood is filtered by one of the best filtering system, the kidneys. Blood is changed out or externally filtered when those fail.
Having said that, brake fluid is not circulated, therefore no filtering is added to the system. Check for water and other contaminates (color changes, clarity). Water will settle, so bleed the brakes every so often. I bleed mine into a baby food jar and check for water etc. If it's clear and the reservoir is clear, no need to change.

 

[DragonSpyder]

My dealer wanted 4hrs x 2 people to do the change. Can you say $800! They said because of the nanny the system is more sensitive and needed to be done.

I will probably do the change myself shortly as it cannot be a 4 hr job. Then I get to trailer it to the dealer for them to hookup to BUDS.

 

[Dudley]

My dealer wanted 4hrs x 2 people to do the change. Can you say $800! They said because of the nanny the system is more sensitive and needed to be done.

I will probably do the change myself shortly as it cannot be a 4 hr job. Then I get to trailer it to the dealer for them to hookup to BUDS.

Don't be surprised of the cost for the BUDS and the labor. If the system finds any air, it will take every bit of 4 hours and two people to bleed it out.

 

[groundeffect]

I will probably do the change myself shortly as it cannot be a 4 hr job.

I would be very interested in any tips/photos and tricks you could share if you do the procedure yourself.
Cheers.

 

[Firefly]

Someone out here did this themselves And a few have done a brake bleed without needing budds.

We'll get it down to a science somehow!

 

[Capt John]

Anyone done or had their brake fluid changed?

I've got mine in the shop right now for a brake error code and talked to them about changing the fluid--- they told me it was a 2.5 hour job! Told them not to bother.

So what do you all think? Had it done? Done it yourself?

Sabunim5 did his
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15748

 

[groundeffect]

Someone out here did this themselves And a few have done a brake bleed without needing budds.

We'll get it down to a science somehow!

:thumbup:

 

[groundeffect]

Sabunim5 did his
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15748

Yep, read this post and chatted a little about it, but I'm always hungry for more info on this topic!

Thanks.

 

[dmessenger]

Forty+ years of riding motorcycles and I have never had the brake fluid changed (several bikes with over 50K miles). I have never had brake failure.

OK, here is my shade-tree analogy.

Have you ever poured a cold drink into a glass on a hot, humid day and watch the condensation form on the outside of the glass? Well, the same thing happens in reverse when you think about warm brake fluid on the inside of a line during cold weather riding. Condensation forms on the inside of the line, and if enough of it forms, the liquid will expand when it gets heated up from heavy brake usage and can cause the brake to lock up.

This condition occurred on my brother's Harley Davidson and caused the rear wheel to lock up. Luckily, he was not going fast and kept it under control while he stopped. He then had to had to relieve the pressure on the roadside by bleeding out the rear brake which rendered it useless while he drove it home.

I can only imagine what might have happened had he been going fast or if it had been the front brake.

 

[bcspyder]

In the sport bike circles it is a common maintenance item to change out brake fluid annually. As mentioned before brake fluid absorbs moisture and that moisture affects the fluids ability to dissipate heat. High performance brakes generate alot of heat. During a recent rather "sporting" ride one BMW in our group all of a sudden had no brake pressure. The caliper had heated enough to adversly affect the old fluid. A little internet research will shed some light on the importance of brake fluid. It is certainly NOT a maintenance free item.

 

[BillGargan]

I pretty much agree with this as the brakes are a closed system. t suppose replacement is worth considering when you have the braking system open for any of several reasons. But, again, when the brakes are bled after maintenance they put in new fluid for that which is drained by bleeding. I just do not really see the need as a part of normal maintenance. And, it was not done on my 12K check. Nor was my coolant drained and replaced.

I don't know if this will help decide but, the oil in the Spyder gets really hot and slung all over the parts it is designed to lubricate. Therefore, occasionally you need to change the oil. Gas gets used as you drive. But in the case of brakes, the only time you need to worry is when you stop. Brake fluid is barely pushed into the line as it is already full and air tight. My question is how often do you change your blood supply? Never? Why would you change brake fluid? Never in air and rarely used. It is no different than your car. I for one think that BRP is doing all they can to keep the maintance people busy with make work. I would never change my fluid unless it turns to beer or mud. JMO.

 

[boborgera]

OK, here is my shade-tree analogy.

Have you ever poured a cold drink into a glass on a hot, humid day and watch the condensation form on the outside of the glass? Well, the same thing happens in reverse when you think about warm brake fluid on the inside of a line during cold weather riding. Condensation forms on the inside of the line, and if enough of it forms, the liquid will expand when it gets heated up from heavy brake usage and can cause the brake to lock up.

This condition occurred on my brother's Harley Davidson and caused the rear wheel to lock up. Luckily, he was not going fast and kept it under control while he stopped. He then had to had to relieve the pressure on the roadside by bleeding out the rear brake which rendered it useless while he drove it home.

I can only imagine what might have happened had he been going fast or if it had been the front brake.

Just my humble opinion.,
Don't how it could lock up, maybe it was more a mechanical issue.
Also a rear wheel lockup is far worst than a front lockup.

 

[bikeguy]

Back in the day, replacing brake shoes on cars with drum brakes more often than not resulted in leaking wheel cylinders if they were not also replaced or rebuilt. The reason they leaked is that the "O" Rings on the pistons were forced back into the cylinders where moisture had condensed and caused pits to be rusted into the bottoms of the cylinders. The pits tore up the "O" Rings and they leaked. So moisture has been collecting in hydraulic brake systems forever. My Ford Taurus, Ford Excursion, and my BMW all recommend changing the brake fluid periodically so it's not just BRP. There is, in fact, a good reason to change it.

I don't know what has changed in recent years to make brake systems so hard to bleed. There was a time when, with a helper to push the brake pedal, I could easily bleed 4 wheels in 30 minutes. No more. For some reason, it seems almost impossible to get the air out of some systems anymore. If anybody on here knows what has changed to cause this, I'd like to hear it.

Cotton

 

[ataDude]

...I don't know what has changed in recent years to make brake systems so hard to bleed...

The ABS system traps a small amount of fluid between the valves in that control box. To totally refresh the fluid, an electronic signal is required to open those valves.

However, I have ABS on my Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and the Triumph mechanic (very good, BTW) said that I can, in fact, do my own brake bleeding without the electronic signal.

I suppose that a small amount will not be replaced... but am not sure if that's a major deal or not. I will be flushing the Triumph's brake system in the near future.

.