$98 Brake Fluid Upgrade - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Texas BRZ · 10-02-2012, 07:18 PM

Hello, everyone.

I've completed 2 (two-day) HPDE events in my FR-S thus far... And so I thought it was really becoming the right time in having my brake fluid flushed and replaced with an upgraded fluid.

My brake pedal was becoming very soft, and it really got to me this past weekend while on the track. The brake pedal was just no longer as responsive to braking feel like it used to be, although I still managed to slow down on the track whenever I had to.

I would be proud to perform my own brake fluid service, but I just didn't feel as comfortable after doing further research and viewing over some DIY's. Therefore, I called a few auto-performance / service shops to get price quotes on labor / type of fluid, and such. Most places were quoting me closer to $200+ with parts and labor. I didn't want to spend that much, and felt I could still find a more affordable solution.

I located a local shop which carries Motul RBF600 for $18.95 per bottle (500 ml each), and picked up two (since I was told two would be enough for my car, and it truly was).

Next, I located a small mom & pop shop which could do the entire flush at a reasonable cost... Which happened to be $60 total, since I was providing the fluid. The owner of the small shop performed the job right in front of me and also let me watch upclose in person... He did a thorough job, and it took him 40-45 minutes to complete.

Brake pedal feels better now, but I'll test it out further within my next HPDE, which is in less than two weeks!

I'm a happy camper for the time being... Now, I'm going to keep my eye out for some quality brake pads for when I feel I'm ready.

Thanks for reading!

ft86Fan · 10-02-2012, 08:45 PM

I'm going to try doing a gravity bleed with this car. I've had good success with all my other cars. It does take longer but pedals are much firmer than doing a pressure bleed.

Texas BRZ · 10-02-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

I'm going to try doing a gravity bleed with this car. I've had good success with all my other cars. It does take longer but pedals are much firmer than doing a pressure bleed.

Can you define this method so that I may keep it in mind for the future?

I'm assuming my service tech did the faster / pressure bleed method (with the vacuum hose to the brake fluid container in the engine bay area, and also to each of the caliper areas).

Thank you.

ft86Fan · 10-02-2012, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas FR-S

Can you define this method so that I may keep it in mind for the future?

I'm assuming my service tech did the faster / pressure bleed method (with the vacuum hose to the brake fluid container in the engine bay area, and also to each of the caliper areas).

Thank you.

With gravity bleed you just put the hose on the nipple and crack open the bleed valve and let the fluid come out. Let gravity do the work. Just keep an eye on the brake fluid reservoir and top it off to make sure it doesn't go too low. It takes a longer time but you don't have to be there the whole time. I find this method the best since there is very little chance to introduce air into the fluid unlike pressure bleed.

Texas BRZ · 10-02-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

With gravity bleed you just put the hose on the nipple and crack open the bleed valve and let the fluid come out. Let gravity do the work. Just keep an eye on the brake fluid reservoir and top it off to make sure it doesn't go too low. It takes a longer time but you don't have to be there the whole time. I find this method the best since there is very little chance to introduce air into the fluid unlike pressure bleed.

Sounds like a more thorough way to perform the job.

Thank you for the insight on this method... May likely come handy to me for my next opportunity.

CSG Mike · 10-03-2012, 03:06 AM

Gravity bleeding is great for doing at home, but it seriously takes FOREVER.

We typically do the "2 person" method, where one person pumps, while the other opens and closes the bleeder. With a properly sized tube, there's no "sucking back" into the caliper, and while it may not be 100% ideal, it's a heck of a lot faster, and we've had no problems with this method on our BRZ.

CyberFormula · 10-03-2012, 03:53 AM

isn't this car compatible with a Power bleeder?

green_comet · 10-03-2012, 04:16 AM

Just get a set of speed bleeders and be done with it.

n8dog11914 · 10-03-2012, 06:12 AM

You guys should look at the Motive Power Bleeder. Basically you hook up a reservoir tank under 15psi (manually pump up). Once that's set, all you have to do is rotate around to the different brake bleeder valves to let the air out and notice the new fluid coming through the system. I love the system and use it currently on my 350Z with ATE Super Blue fluid.

Im_SPEED · 10-04-2012, 01:12 AM

Vacuum bleeder 20min done....

Texas BRZ · 10-20-2012, 09:26 PM

Update: Brake fluid upgrade has proven its worth through 2 (two-day) DE events and counting...

F1point4 · 10-21-2012, 10:05 AM

Brake fluid upgrade does prove its worth.

Just wrote up a DIY using the Motul RBF 600. Described another bleed approach using "Speed Bleeders"

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20311

gmookher · 10-21-2012, 10:08 AM

I gravity bleed this car no problems

you want $$$ brake fluid check out the castrol srf

celica73 · 10-21-2012, 06:10 PM

I use the vacuum pump for the first 95% of the job then make my wife pump for the last 5%.

It's good for both of us.

10-02-2012, 07:18 PM	#1
Texas BRZ Sports Car = Anti-Drug Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2014 Honda CBR600RR Location: Plano Posts: 917 Thanks: 371 Thanked 307 Times in 193 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	$98 Brake Fluid Upgrade Hello, everyone. I've completed 2 (two-day) HPDE events in my FR-S thus far... And so I thought it was really becoming the right time in having my brake fluid flushed and replaced with an upgraded fluid. My brake pedal was becoming very soft, and it really got to me this past weekend while on the track. The brake pedal was just no longer as responsive to braking feel like it used to be, although I still managed to slow down on the track whenever I had to. I would be proud to perform my own brake fluid service, but I just didn't feel as comfortable after doing further research and viewing over some DIY's. Therefore, I called a few auto-performance / service shops to get price quotes on labor / type of fluid, and such. Most places were quoting me closer to $200+ with parts and labor. I didn't want to spend that much, and felt I could still find a more affordable solution. I located a local shop which carries Motul RBF600 for $18.95 per bottle (500 ml each), and picked up two (since I was told two would be enough for my car, and it truly was). Next, I located a small mom & pop shop which could do the entire flush at a reasonable cost... Which happened to be $60 total, since I was providing the fluid. The owner of the small shop performed the job right in front of me and also let me watch upclose in person... He did a thorough job, and it took him 40-45 minutes to complete. Brake pedal feels better now, but I'll test it out further within my next HPDE, which is in less than two weeks! I'm a happy camper for the time being... Now, I'm going to keep my eye out for some quality brake pads for when I feel I'm ready. Thanks for reading! Attached Images __________________ "Did you know that this car comes with 300 horsepower in its stock form? 200 from the engine, 50 in its chassis, and the final 50 within the driver who can make the most of it." Texas BRZ

10-02-2012, 08:45 PM	#2
ft86Fan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Drives: FR-S, Exige S, Miata Location: Basking Ridge NJ Posts: 798 Thanks: 327 Thanked 131 Times in 80 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm going to try doing a gravity bleed with this car. I've had good success with all my other cars. It does take longer but pedals are much firmer than doing a pressure bleed. __________________ '13 Scion FR-S (Whiteout) '07 Lotus Exige S (Aspen White) Touring, Traction, Starshield '95 Miata (Montego Blue)

10-03-2012, 03:53 AM	#7
CyberFormula Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: gti, nsx, integra type r,porsche911 Location: garage Posts: 536 Thanks: 1 Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	isn't this car compatible with a Power bleeder? __________________

10-20-2012, 09:26 PM	#11
Texas BRZ Sports Car = Anti-Drug Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2014 Honda CBR600RR Location: Plano Posts: 917 Thanks: 371 Thanked 307 Times in 193 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Update: Brake fluid upgrade has proven its worth through 2 (two-day) DE events and counting... __________________ "Did you know that this car comes with 300 horsepower in its stock form? 200 from the engine, 50 in its chassis, and the final 50 within the driver who can make the most of it." Texas BRZ

10-21-2012, 10:05 AM	#12
F1point4 Photo Specialist Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 2013 Toyota 86 DGM 6MT Location: Texas Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 587 Thanked 1,802 Times in 420 Posts Mentioned: 94 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Brake fluid upgrade does prove its worth. Just wrote up a DIY using the Motul RBF 600. Described another bleed approach using "Speed Bleeders" http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20311 __________________ Lola - Toyota 86 6MT Dark Gray Metallic My 86 Flickr Set

10-03-2012, 03:06 AM	#6
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,529 Thanks: 8,918 Thanked 14,175 Times in 6,834 Posts Mentioned: 966 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	Gravity bleeding is great for doing at home, but it seriously takes FOREVER. We typically do the "2 person" method, where one person pumps, while the other opens and closes the bleeder. With a properly sized tube, there's no "sucking back" into the caliper, and while it may not be 100% ideal, it's a heck of a lot faster, and we've had no problems with this method on our BRZ.

10-03-2012, 04:16 AM	#8
green_comet Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Ford Focus ST Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 63 Thanks: 5 Thanked 21 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Just get a set of speed bleeders and be done with it.

10-03-2012, 06:12 AM	#9
n8dog11914 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 WRB Subaru BRZ 6MT Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 272 Thanks: 46 Thanked 72 Times in 58 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You guys should look at the Motive Power Bleeder. Basically you hook up a reservoir tank under 15psi (manually pump up). Once that's set, all you have to do is rotate around to the different brake bleeder valves to let the air out and notice the new fluid coming through the system. I love the system and use it currently on my 350Z with ATE Super Blue fluid.

10-04-2012, 01:12 AM	#10
Im_SPEED Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: FRS hot lava Location: Oregon Posts: 151 Thanks: 9 Thanked 32 Times in 16 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Vacuum bleeder 20min done....

10-21-2012, 10:08 AM	#13
gmookher Banned Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: VortechSC,BorlaEL,Perrin,GCRace Location: HighHeatHighAltitudeAZ,USA Posts: 2,254 Thanks: 458 Thanked 669 Times in 394 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I gravity bleed this car no problems you want $$$ brake fluid check out the castrol srf

10-21-2012, 06:10 PM	#14
celica73 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: '13 BRZ / '11 Outback / '06 Tundra Location: Durham NC Posts: 510 Thanks: 6 Thanked 155 Times in 104 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I use the vacuum pump for the first 95% of the job then make my wife pump for the last 5%. It's good for both of us.

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