Thread: D3 Brake/Clutch fluid flush

I did a brake flush a couple of months ago. I thought that the IID would use the ABS unit to pump the fluid through the lines but it didnt do that for me - I think it seemed to be more the ABS pump activating to ensure fresh fluid is flushed through the unit. Not sure if anyone has had a different experiance to this?

I flush my brake lines every 2 years on all my vehicles (expect the toyota's I've had in the past as they still spec DOT 3 fluid and that absorbs water at a faster rate than DOT 4)

Yeah, I do 2 yrs as a matter of course. Out of interest, what fluid did you use?
i just picked up some Penrite ESP as that appears to meet the spec.

I use the Motive bleeder. Push it through as normal. The IID couldn’t do brakes last time I did mine but will see what it does next time. I used factory fluid last time as it was easier to get and I wanted to use the exact spec as it’s a very specific consistency. There are only a couple of aftermarket equivalents.

Originally Posted by BradC

Yeah, I do 2 yrs as a matter of course. Out of interest, what fluid did you use?
i just picked up some Penrite ESP as that appears to meet the spec.

I just use Penrite Super DOT 4 as its easily obtainable where I am. I think I might purchase one of those motive power bleeders for my next change. I also have a mity-vac and I find its not the best (at least not compared to what I was expecting from it years ago when I purchased it)

Originally Posted by shanegtr

I just use Penrite Super DOT 4 as its easily obtainable where I am. I think I might purchase one of those motive power bleeders for my next change. I also have a mity-vac and I find its not the best (at least not compared to what I was expecting from it years ago when I purchased it)

I've had the motive for about 6 years and it has been fabulous. It does tend to waste a bit of fluid and can be a bit messy if you're not careful. This time around I'm going to try the "dry" technique and just use it to pressurise the reservoir, refilling after each corner. The reservoir on the disco is a lot bigger than on some of my other cars, so it shouldn't be too onerous and will save both fluid and a cleanup at the end.

I put a quick coupler on the motive adapter yesterday, so I'll just hook it up to a spare air regulator to save pumping up the bottle all the time. Of course given how things usually go on this car, I bet the reg fails and I blow the reservoir off the master cylinder.

i bought a mityvac clone last year for a fluid change on my Volvo, but the motive moves the fluid much faster and doesn't get bubbles in the hose. With a vacuum on the bleed nipple I can't stop it pulling air past the threads, so I can't actually tell if the bubbles are "more bleeding required" or just an artefact of the process.

i did check and the Penrite ESP meets the required standard for the D3.

I use my Motive dry. It’s a pain in the arse tbh as you’re constantly removing and topping up but wastes less.

hmmm interesting thread as I'm wanting to flush my brakes on the D3. I have a IID tool but have not explored what it might be able to do as yet.

some questions which will seem dumb t those expereinced in this work.

- Is there a particular motive power bleeder gadget I should consider?
- What is the OEM brake fluid to get?
- is it only the 4 calipers to be bled?
- process for doing the ABS?

Have bled brakes on old trucks and previous 4WD before by the old method of somebody pumping up the brakes while you bleed at the nipple.
I'm assuming you can't do that on the D3/4??
ta
cheers
P

Originally Posted by PeterOZ

Have bled brakes on old trucks and previous 4WD before by the old method of somebody pumping up the brakes while you bleed at the nipple.
I'm assuming you can't do that on the D3/4??
ta
cheers
P

You can still do that if you like, apart from the addition of the ABS module theres really no difference to the brake system of old. I was hopping the last time I did my brakes that my IID tool would be able to use the ABS system to bleed - but no it activates the ABS pump but dosent pump anything through the brake lines. Must only circulate the fluid through the module itself