Go Back   Maxima Forums > Maintenance, Tech, & Care > Fluids and Lubricants

Fluids and Lubricants Motor oil, transmission oil, radiator fluid, power steering fluid, blinker fluid... wait, there is no blinker fluid. Technical discussion and analysis of the different lubricants we use in our cars.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-02-2008, 03:37 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 323
How Do I Change Brake Fluid?

Can anybody give me instructions?
1993-VG30E-GXE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2008, 03:50 PM   #2
Use the Search Function!!
 
mtrai760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle Area, WA
iTrader: (13)
Posts: 6,495
Send a message via AIM to mtrai760
Download the FSM or purchase a Haynes/Chiltons manual.
__________________
98 SE - Supercharged at 10psi w/the works - VQ35 coming soon...
2k SE - Stock... pretty much
88 RX-7 - Sold
95 240sx KA-T 10psi - sold
3 4th gens.... gone....
mtrai760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2008, 06:55 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 221
I had a helper when I did mine for the first time, and it was easy. BUT, I'd never do it myself w/out proper teaching. I watched carefully and understood what was going on, but i really dont know that I would do it by myself, having only the one experience w/ it. A shop will do it for $60-80 bucks around here. I'd stay away from it if I were you.
MichMaxFan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2008, 09:35 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 323
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichMaxFan View Post
I had a helper when I did mine for the first time, and it was easy. BUT, I'd never do it myself w/out proper teaching. I watched carefully and understood what was going on, but i really dont know that I would do it by myself, having only the one experience w/ it. A shop will do it for $60-80 bucks around here. I'd stay away from it if I were you.
I'm beginning to think this too. I can't find any information on it. Even if I tried to suck the fluid out of the reservoir, there's no access to the fluid..there's some screen blocking AND the reservoir is so tiny my guess is all the fluid is in the system.

Do you remember how much fluid you drained out and replaced when you did do it? I'm curious.
1993-VG30E-GXE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 08:25 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 221
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1993-VG30E-GXE View Post
I'm beginning to think this too. I can't find any information on it. Even if I tried to suck the fluid out of the reservoir, there's no access to the fluid..there's some screen blocking AND the reservoir is so tiny my guess is all the fluid is in the system.

Do you remember how much fluid you drained out and replaced when you did do it? I'm curious.
When we did mine, we drained all the lines and it took less than 1 qt to purge out all the old fluid until the only thing coming out was fresh fluid. Mine had never been done, and was quite dark...it is darker near the calipers than it is in the reservoir because the heat transforms the color and degrades its properties. It's far easier than changing the coolant or spark plugs for that matter, but the concern is getting all the air out of the system properly (bleeding the brakes) and following the proper procedures.

Dont open the fill cap unless necessary because air is absorbed into the fluid and degrades the system. Keep it closed at all times unless its getting serviced. I would recommend getting the fluid changed by a mechanic friend or a shop because (I recently learned this) most problems w/ brake lines are due to lack of changing the fluid. It doesnt circulate like oil/coolant/ps fluid and so the stuff at the ends of the lines just sits there and gets old w/ the heat and pressure at the calipers. I think they recommend every 2 yrs or so.
MichMaxFan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 09:55 PM   #6
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NJ
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 2,459
Send a message via AIM to Anuj
i just did mine today! i'll write up a quick diy.
__________________

2002 Nissan Maxima Sterling Mist
2000 Honda S2000 New Formula Red
Anuj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2008, 10:18 AM   #7
GO BUCKS!!
 
00MaxSE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cleveland, OH
iTrader: (13)
Posts: 6,404

Send a message via AIM to 00MaxSE Send a message via Yahoo to 00MaxSE Send a message via Skype™ to 00MaxSE
I have yet to do this as well. There's gotta be a generic write up we can follow.

EDIT: found yours
__________________


Last edited by 00MaxSE; 05-08-2008 at 10:46 AM.
00MaxSE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2008, 01:16 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 855
does brake fluid have shelf life? probably not for UNOPENED bottles right?
FishyMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2008, 02:33 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Philadelphia, PA
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 2,349
Send a message via AIM to wyche89
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anuj View Post
i just did mine today! i'll write up a quick diy.
did you do the writeup yet? i'm gonna need to change mine eventually
__________________

2003 6 speed TE
Looks: Superwhite LEDs Inside Smoked Side Markers
Performance: Cattman Headers, Stillen Intake with Custom MAF-TB Pipe, NWP Phenolic Intake Spacers, 17* Timing Advance
Suspension: Tokico Illumina Struts, FSTB

"I feel the need... the need for speed!"
wyche89 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2008, 09:30 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 323
The procedure seems pretty straight forward, it's all in the BR section of the service manual. All you need is a crowfoot and some vinyl tubing, plus the tools to get the odds & ends off, and a torque wrench. I'm going to do it with a second person, just makes it easier. There is a tool that makes it easier to do it with 1 person. While you have everything off, you may as well inspect your brakes too.

The only thing that confuses me, is that they say to clean out the master cylinder, but I don't see how this would be possible without removing all the fluid. Prior to this statement the manual says to not allow the fluid to go too low in the cylinder, so this confuses me.

They also say to clean the cylinder with clean brake fluid and nothing else.
1993-VG30E-GXE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2008, 11:18 AM   #11
MAXIN' ON
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TN
iTrader: (2)
Posts: 1,262

Send a message via AIM to redls1
I guess you could let it get low/but not empty and then take a rag and wipe it out.
__________________

2007 Maxima 3.5 SE
! 20" CHROME Katana Desire ! MTX MONO AMP !
! MTX 10" SUB ! BILLET GRILL !
redls1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2008, 09:04 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 855
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1993-VG30E-GXE View Post
The procedure seems pretty straight forward, it's all in the BR section of the service manual. All you need is a crowfoot and some vinyl tubing, plus the tools to get the odds & ends off, and a torque wrench. I'm going to do it with a second person, just makes it easier. There is a tool that makes it easier to do it with 1 person. While you have everything off, you may as well inspect your brakes too.

The only thing that confuses me, is that they say to clean out the master cylinder, but I don't see how this would be possible without removing all the fluid. Prior to this statement the manual says to not allow the fluid to go too low in the cylinder, so this confuses me.

They also say to clean the cylinder with clean brake fluid and nothing else.
I don't think you should tinker with it. There's a screen in the master cylinder to filter out particles that'll ruin the lines. The brake fluid system is closed as says and does not circulate. It will drop as brake pad wears down amongst other ways to indicate.

Just bleed the system good and you'll be fine. You don't want it to be empty where it sucks in air and becomes more of a hassle. You'd actually need 3 people. 1 to top off the fluid, one at the brake pedal and 1 at the caliper lol.
FishyMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2008, 08:42 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
iTrader: (0)
Posts: 323
Guys I need to empty the cylinder completely. I have to replace the ABS Actuator - it's bursting at the seems literally. I was driving last week on the main road and I practically completely lost my brakes - I had to use the emergency brake but it doesn't work so fast, the fluid ended up on the street and the level was below the MIN line by the time I got in the driveway, although not completely empty. Luckily I was only 5-min from home at not on the highway.

I'm going to the JY next week to find one - Nissan quotes me around $800.00 for the replacement.

I think according to the manual I have to remove all the fluid from the hydraulic lines when removing the Actuator..I just need to make sure to do the Air Bleed procedure at the end.

Does anyone know if it would be dangerous to use anti-sieze on those brake tubing line nuts when I install the new part?
1993-VG30E-GXE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2008, 02:26 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MB, Canada
iTrader: (7)
Posts: 634
for some reason i thought i just bleed the brakes til the old is out, no?
__________________
We're always together

maxximaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

 
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC7
Maxima.org Forums Home Here you can view your subscribed threads, work with private messages and edit your profile and preferences Frequently Asked Questions on the Forums Search Find other members Registration is free! Support Maxima.org! Receive perks and benefits by donating to Maxima.org Questions? Comments?  Suggestions? Contact Us! Visit our Sponsors View and submit Maxima events Log Out of Maxima.org