Changing the Brake Fluid

[Flimflamman]

If you really want to see the old fluid transition to new when bleeding then you can get a different colored fluid (i.e. blue Ate). Just make sure it meets the OEM specs.

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[Bossdog]

I have a question about the hand brake pump. Is the bleeder open or closed? Open when you pull up, closed when you go down? I'm not clear on this.

Also, the OP website for the Motive bleeder kit with billet aluminum cap says 2015 to 2018, does it also fit 2019 and up?

 

[Vlad Soare]

I have a question about the hand brake pump. Is the bleeder open or closed? Open when you pull up, closed when you go down? I'm not clear on this.

Closed.
Close it, pull and release the hand brake five times, then open it and wait until bubble-free fluid comes out.

Also, the OP website for the Motive bleeder kit with billet aluminum cap says 2015 to 2018, does it also fit 2019 and up?

Yes, the reservoir is the same. Not just Mustangs, but it will fit all modern Ford models, plus many other brands. It's a pretty common size.

 

[murick]

For anyone interested, I just changed the brake fluid on my 2021 Mach 1. This thread has been a great help, there were just few details I had to verify on the car.

1. Inspired by a suggestion here, I used Motive pressure bottle (Motive 0109) to pressurize the fluid reservoir, but did not put the fluid in as I did not want to mess with the fluid in the bottle (and in pretty long tube) and risking a leak along the way. I had to fill in the fluid manually, using 100ml syringe and an extension tube, but it was not so difficult (I was afraid of spilling the fluid) and in retrospect I would say it was worth the effort.
2. I used a "european adapter" (Motive Black Label adapter 1109).
3. I pressurized the system to 25-30 psi before each bleeding (according to the bottle manometer).
4. The rear calipers bleeder plug fitted M10 head and I tightened it to 17 Nm (12.5 ft-lbs), following Brembo recommendations (even though those calipers are not Brembo). The only recommendation I found from Ford was 14 Nm, which felt weak.
5. The front Brembo calipers bleeder plugs have M11 heads and I tightened them to 19 Nm (14 ft-lbs). Which technically was a Ford recommendation, but fitted in (interpolated) Brembo recommendations for M10 and M12 plugs as well.

Apart from those details, I followed the Ford procedure, with pumping the e-brake while bleeding the rear calipers.

The reason why I did the fluid change was I was not happy about the brake response after I had had a fluid change done in a shop (during the regular warranty check).
Even though I did not have much of hope and all bleeder plugs except one bled a flawless supply of the fluid, bleeding the one which did not definitely helped.
The brake response lag at the beginning of the pedal travel is gone.

 

[cerbomark]

I ve done this many times on my other cars. I ve used the vacuum compressor method, the motive pressure method (both with and w/o fluid in the motive). Both worked well. Also I have never torqued them. Using a tiny 10MM (or whatever size) box wrench I just snug them down.

 

[murick]

I ve done this many times on my other cars. I ve used the vacuum compressor method, the motive pressure method (both with and w/o fluid in the motive). Both worked well. I had a 911 and it had two bleeders on each caliper (one on each side). So my question is has anyone done this without removing the wheels at all (If you have an open wheel style)? Also I have never torqued them. Using a tiny 10MM box wrench I just snug them down.

I guess once you get the gist of it, you are totally fine by torquing it by hand. In my case it was my first time doing it (on any car) and I got to it only after the shop did already its thing so I did not have any point of reference from the factory.

In fact I had some difficulties loosening the first screw, which was more than snug tight, while the others were also inconsistent. So to establish some consistency I shot for defined torques. Will see at the next exchange how this develops and hopefully would not need the torque wrench anymore .

 

[Skye]

I've appreciated the inputs to this thread and others.

I flushed Skye's brake system this weekend. Attached is a write-up.

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