[alfa] Milano ABS Fluid Change

[Shures <shures@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter,

You will flush the system completely with no fear of mixing if you 
follow your plan.  All you need to do is empty as much old fluid out of 
the reservoir as possible using either a turkey baster or by opening any 
one bleeder and pumping away.  Don't drain below the top of the feed 
lines to the master cylinder(s) though, you will introduce air that you 
will just have to get out again.  You can then pour your new fluid right 
over the old and bleed away.  I think you will accomplish a complete 
change by taking out no more than a cup of fluid from each bleed 
caliper.  You may be able to see a color change when the new fluid makes 
it's way through.

The only time I ever "evacuated" a system was by using an alcohol flush 
to convert a system to silicon fluid years ago.  I Don't think silicon 
is suitable for cars that are actually driven and especially not for 
cars that see track time.

Manually pumping to bleed the front calipers is a tried and true method. 
You wont have any problem as long as you start out with the bleeder 
hose immersed in some liquid so you have an air seal.  Using the ABS 
pump is the only way I know of handling the rears.  Do observe any 
recommendation of duration of running the ABS pump.  I would not run it 
for more than two minutes without letting it cool for a while (maybe 5 
minutes).  I usually accomplish a rear bleed in less than two minutes 
for both rear calipers.

You can pressure bleed the fronts using an old bicycle inner tube.  I 
used a tube from my 7 year olds bike recently that is rated for a 2" 
tire.  Clip out a section (the bad one), insert a PVC pipe cap in one 
end, probably a 1" will do, and clamp the tube to it with an old hose 
clamp.  Place the other end over the reservoir neck and you can use a 
bicycle tire pump to pressurize the system.  You might want to use a 
clamp on the reservoir end too, it will help you hold pressure longer 
but doesn't need to be real tight.  No need to drag the wife or kids 
into the garage at 11 PM on Friday night (did it last week for Nelsen 
Ledges).  All the pressure you want is about 3 PSI.  That will push all 
the fluid you need.

The low fluid sensor will have to be capped.  It is on the reservoir 
next to the fill port and has two sensor wires.  Carefully remove the 
black cap and replace it with a short (3") length of 7/16" hose pushed 
tight down over the sensor port.  Stick a tight fitting bolt in the open 
end of the hose and you can pump up your inner tube and pressure bleed away.

I've been bleeding brakes this way for years and it is as good as the 
Motive Products power bleeder I bought for the GTV-6.  It is also $45 
cheaper. Of course you have to watch that you don't bleed the reservoir 
dry or you have to start over again.  I would do the clutch too if you 
have enough fluid.  I had a low clutch pedal after flushing it last week 
but it came up a bit after maybe 20 or 30 cycles and then was back to 
normal after a short drive and sitting for a couple of hours.

Scott Shure
85 GTV-6
Scuderia Saab (w/ABS)


> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:08:52 +0000
> From: webb.p@domain.elided
> Subject: [alfa] Milano ABS fluid change
>
> Alfisti,
>
> I'm going to be changing the fluid on the Verde (with ABS) for the time trials 
> this weekend.  I have a couple of procedure type questions for you all.
>
> I'm changing from Castrol LMA to Motul RBF600.  Both DOT4 spec, and according 
> to the documentation, compatible.  I'm having to do this by myself so planned 
> on the emptying the reservior first and filling with the new fluid, using the 
> tube in the jar of fluid method for the fronts and using the ABS pump for the 
> rears.
>
> So my questions are:
>
> If I fill the reservior with the new fluid and using this bleeding method, how 
> much mixing will I get?  I'd prefer to get a little as possible.
>
> Is it worthwhile to totally evacuate the system and start with the new fluid in 
> an empty system.  And how hard is it to get all the air out if I start with a 
> totally evacuated system.   Does the ABS play any part in this decision?  IOW, 
> is it harder or easier to get all of the air out of an ABS Milano?
>
> I'm certainly open to any better ideas or procedures.
>
> TIA for any advice or experience.	
>
> - -Peter
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided