Brake Fluid Test Strips, NOT CHEAP, but worth the money!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mike500, Mar 25, 2012.

  1. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    When or if, you need to change brake fluid.

    I bought these 4 years, ago, and definitely know for sure.


    http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems-FASCAR-1-100-Strip-Strips/dp/B000JFJMGO
     
    #1 Mike500, Mar 25, 2012
  2. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    cool, i gotta bleed out the original DOT 3 in the 2004 corolla today with 70k miles, I went into Rite Aid and asked the pharmacist if he's got any syringes and he gave me a free one that fits my 5/16" o.d. hose perfectly so I'll easily be able to remove the old fluid in the reservoir easily.

    question, I've seen youtube videos saying to disconnect the battery when doing work on ABS-equipped cars, another video says to remove the ABS fuse, some people say just do it like a non-ABS-equipped car. I know the Prius requires special software to bleed the brakes, but are there any extra steps/precautions I need to take to bleed the brakes of my ABS-equipped Corolla? thanks

    here's what I'm using to bleed the brakes:
    Bleeding your brakes | Toyota Corolla DIY
    it doesn't specify which generation corolla it is, and he also says to use 5/16" instead of an 8mm wrench, so I'm not sure how much of an "expert" he is.

    here's what I'm using to R&R front pads & rotors:
    http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/132-9th-generation-2003-2008/399511-diy-front-brake-job-pics.html

    here's what I'm using to clean & adjust rear drums:
    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...leshooting/62006-rear-brake-clean-adjust.html

    Let me know if there are any obvious things those guides missed or recommended incorrectly. My Prius has 50k miles so after I'm done with the corolla I'm going to clean and adjust the rear drums of it and lube the caliper slides. I love how my Prius doesn't use the brakes the way I drive, now if there was only a material for the rotors that won't rust or cost a pot of gold?...
     
    #2 cnschult, Mar 25, 2012
  3. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    #3 Mike500, Mar 25, 2012
  4. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I use this syringe that is made to measure 2 cycle oil to remove extra brake fluid, when I install new pads;

    http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-10111-2-Cycle-Oil-Mixing-Tool/dp/B000G72U0K

    I got mine at Walmart for a little over $3 about 5 years, ago.

    I've seen them there near the oil section in automotive just a couple of weeks, ago.


    It can also be used to remove overfills of transmission fluid or engine oil, without getting under the car and cracking the drain plugs. On most all automatic transmissions, there is no drain plug.

    Of course, I always clean it out with brake cleaner, before using it for another fluid.

    The nice thing about this syringe over regular pharmacutical ones is that the piston does not use a rubber seal. Rather, it uses a larger HDPE end with a larger sized interference fit seal. Solvents and brake fluid does not eat it up like standard nitrile rubber used in regular pharmacudical syringes.
     
    #4 Mike500, Mar 25, 2012
  5. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    awesome!! bookmarked!!!


    since I'm careful never to overfill fluids I would only use a syringe to bleed brakes, since I cannot do it on either of my prius, I only need to bleed brakes of my corolla & forester, on average I would only need one syringe every other year, so it makes sense to just get a free cheap disposable one-time-use syringe from a pharmacy.

    But many thanks for the tip on using brake cleaner to clean out a syringe for use b/t different fluids. I always wondered what to clean my plastic funnels with, now it sounds like my CRC Brake Cleaner will do the trick, after I spray my funnels with it do I finish cleaning it with paper towel or just let it air dry? thanks

    I still need someone knowledgeable (seilerts, brit, patrick, etc) to let me know if I need any extra steps to perform a brake bleed on an ABS-equipped corolla, thanks.
     
    #5 cnschult, Mar 25, 2012
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    No extra steps needed on Corolla with ABS just bleed in the normal way.

    John.
     
    #6 Britprius, Mar 25, 2012
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