Topic: Flushed the brakes on the pickup

[eigenvector]

First time I've ever done that.  The truck isn't one of those vehicles I typically mess around with.  It's easy to screw up the brakes flushing them, and given how difficult it is to stop once it's moving I leave it alone.

Couldn't do that with my upcoming trip across the pass.

So I changed the pads, , discovered that my left-front was hanging up and not even engaging, replaced all the springs, guides, boots, and then flushed the fluid.   

What a huge difference that made, old stuff was a deep dark green, bleeders were all rusted, left front rotor is warped (slightly).  I flushed it using one of those MityVac multi-purpose bleeders - no help needed, no pumping the brakes, just crack open the bleeder, fill up the reservoir with gunk, repeat as needed. 

Now I don't have to worry about my brakes failing hauling that bike across the pass.  I really wish I hadn't waited as long as I did given how easy it was.

[BobbyR]

Good job!  It is one of those things people forget about.

[strynboen]

in denmark ve have inspecktion evry 2 year..so the cars/trucks dont go that bad..after ve got free inspektions the preis is low..so no problem..just hope they dont make a tax on inspektions..its a easy vay making Money to the state

[mrbreeze]

Good job!  It is one of those things people forget about.

This is true. Along with having an automatic trans serviced/flushed......a very neglected automotive maintenance chore that can wind up costing lot's of money. The Mighty Vac is an excellent tool for this....I've owned mine and used it for years. One thing about flushing brakes.....brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water. When left in the system too long it makes rust and also compresses under pressure which gives a spongy pedal. After flushing a neglected system there will be more chance of developing leaks in the system. The flush can remove accumulations of rust that was helping to seal the leaks. Brake flushing at least every 2 years is good although most people don't even think about it......same with auto trans.

[eigenvector]

It's tough for me, because my truck will literally sit there in the driveway for months without any use.  Come winter, weather starts getting iffy, I'll drive it 100 miles a day for my commute to work.  So it has a very unstable usage cycle. 

It is easy to forget about the brake fluid - in fact, the stuff I pumped out was I'm ashamed to say the original brake fluid.  Yes, I was riding around on 15 year old brake fluid.  No more excuses - it's just too easy to change out.

[Bailgang]

in denmark ve have inspecktion evry 2 year..so the cars/trucks dont go that bad..after ve got free inspektions the preis is low..so no problem..just hope they dont make a tax on inspektions..its a easy vay making Money to the state

I don't know how many states still do if any but when I lived in Illinois years ago, if you owned a pickup truck then I think it was once a year you had to take it in for a safety inspection, it didn't apply to cars just pickup trucks but your truck would have to be in pretty bad shape to fail because the tests were so basic. My brother was once told by a safety inspector that as long as his truck could stop before knocking a hole in the wall he was good to go.

[mrbreeze]

Proof that brake fluid is a neglected part of the car. Why think about it if the brakes are working fine? Why think about the trans if it moves when you put it in gear? Some people will go as far as to check the level of brake fluid in the master. That simply isn't good enough. In your car......stick your finger into the master and scrape the bottom. If it hasn't been service properly you will be amazed at what you see on your finger. Same goes for our bikes. There is a tiny port in the bottom of the master that can easily clog with that sh!t. When that happens the pressure doesn't release when you let go of the lever and the wheel remains locked. They make test strips for checking moisture in the brake fluid. Not a bad thing at all but people just don't think of it till they have problems.

[eigenvector]

in denmark ve have inspecktion evry 2 year..so the cars/trucks dont go that bad..after ve got free inspektions the preis is low..so no problem..just hope they dont make a tax on inspektions..its a easy vay making Money to the state

I don't know how many states still do if any but when I lived in Illinois years ago, if you owned a pickup truck then I think it was once a year you had to take it in for a safety inspection, it didn't apply to cars just pickup trucks but your truck would have to be in pretty bad shape to fail because the tests were so basic. My brother was once told by a safety inspector that as long as his truck could stop before knocking a hole in the wall he was good to go.

Washington inspects cars every 2 years, although it is my understanding that those will cease sometime in the near future.  That said, the inspections are for emissions - not how well the car is performing.  I do remember my dad having to take the car in every year or so when we lived in New Jersey - I got the impression they were pretty tough inspections, but that was decades ago.

[Bailgang]

in denmark ve have inspecktion evry 2 year..so the cars/trucks dont go that bad..after ve got free inspektions the preis is low..so no problem..just hope they dont make a tax on inspektions..its a easy vay making Money to the state

I don't know how many states still do if any but when I lived in Illinois years ago, if you owned a pickup truck then I think it was once a year you had to take it in for a safety inspection, it didn't apply to cars just pickup trucks but your truck would have to be in pretty bad shape to fail because the tests were so basic. My brother was once told by a safety inspector that as long as his truck could stop before knocking a hole in the wall he was good to go.

Washington inspects cars every 2 years, although it is my understanding that those will cease sometime in the near future.  That said, the inspections are for emissions - not how well the car is performing.  I do remember my dad having to take the car in every year or so when we lived in New Jersey - I got the impression they were pretty tough inspections, but that was decades ago.

When I was a mechanic in Illinois back in the early 80's our shop would get a bunch of pickups from customers anticipating the inspection especially Fords with their twin I-beam front suspension with king-pin steering, if those king pins weren't in decent shape then that would almost guarantee a failure in the inspection. The inspections I observed at that time were pretty basic, they focused mainly on steering alignment, brakes, aim of the headlights and general overall condition of the truck but no emission tests were done at that time. That was long ago so I have no idea how it is now days in Illinois.

[hsas.69]

Illinois as a state still inspect trucks but they have to be licensed for certain weight classes. I believe over 12k lbs gvw.

Missouri on the other hand does a full vehicle safety inspection. Although the qualifications to pass are quite loose they're better than nothing. You cannot have the "check engine" or "service engine soon" light on either, which come on for problems causing excessive emissions.

Neither state have set laws on emissions testing but the larger urban areas like Chicago and St. Louis do.

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[Duke McDukiedook]

Man, do I NOT miss Safety and emissions inspections! 

[fastbroshi]

...the stuff I pumped out was I'm ashamed to say the original brake fluid.  Yes, I was riding around on 15 year old brake fluid.

HEY GUYS, I FOUND THE PO!  LET'S KICK HIS ASS!

[scunny]

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