Date:         Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:04:24 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Brake Fluid Capacity, 88GL
Comments: To: Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BD70451B.3FF4%msutts@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

The fluid reservoir for the clutch system and the brake system is the
same. Now would be a good time to throrughly bleed both systems. Get two
liters of DOT4.  Don't use anything else.

Suggest you bleed the brakes at this time as well. Not that they may be
weak, but the fluid gets dirty and accumulates water condensation over time.

I got a long piece of clear plastic tube, put one end in a bucket on the
ground, the other end in the reservoir, and a siphon going and siphoned
the old stuff out.

After doing all the replacing work - in my case both brake master and
clutch master, I filled the reservoir back up using a turkey baster and
a a piece of that clear plastic tube attached. A hydraulic oil can with
a piece of tubing on it would work just as well, but would be a little
more expensive. The turkey baster rots out fairly fast, but the oil can
can be added to your shop equipment.

I bled all systems the old fashioned way...... filling the tank several
times and having some one pump the brakes and the clutch while I was
underneath opening and closing fittings. Read brakes I had to get under
the back of the van, but the front brakes I could do just by turning the
wheels the proper  direction for ease of access. I used a 20 oz clear
plastic coke bottle and a plastic tube to collect the exiting fluid. I
was amazed the first time I did this, at the junk, dirt, and WATER that
came out. When I got a good stream of new clear fluid, I tightened the
fittings.

Works good.

I have yet to replace the clutch slave. That one is not fun.

Best of luck to y ou.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Matt Sutton wrote:

>Hi folks,
>    weather permitting, I'm gonna be putting in a new clutch slave cylinder
>this weekend, and figured I'd swap out the hydraulic fluid as well. How much
>should I have on hand?
>
>thanks,
>
>Matt Sutton
>88GL
>Brooklyn NY
>
>
>