Brake fluid replacement

[n8bachelor]

Does anyone know how much brake fluid the LS holds? I looked in the owner's manual and all it said under capacity was "fill to max line."

I recently purchased new tires and the shop performed a "courtesy inspection" which included testing the brake fluid for copper contamination with a paper strip similar to litmus paper. The recommended replacement level is 200 ppm of copper. Mine registered over 300 ppm. I don't yet know if I want to pay the shop $105 to replace all the fluid or do the job myself since I do not have a garage.

Anyway I just want to know how much to buy. Does Autozone or Pep Boys have any sort of special tool to loan for bleeding the brakes? I've never had to do it before. Any advise would be appreciated.

thanks,
n8

 

[nickandersonLS01]

I'm pretty sure you won't have to completely drain the fluid, I could be wrong but I think it just stays put and only gets bad near the calipers. I just went out and bought like 2 32oz brake fluid things for like 7 bux. I used 1 and 1/2 to do my brakes(I bled them real good). I just watch for bubbles + color, when it starts to look like the color of the brand new fluid is when I stop.

EDIT: if you have a friend thats willing to help you for about 30 minutes, this is very simple.

 

[Jim Henderson]

If you can get one, find a Mity Vac pump or some other hand pump to suck out the dirty fluid in the master reservoir. Why pump all that dirty fluid thru the lines? Even a turkey baster will do, you might need a small rubber hose to get past the restrictions in the reservoir.

Brake fluid EATS PAINT so don't spill any and wipe up any spills.

1) Suck out the dirty fluid in Reservoir.
2) Fill up reservoir with clean fluid.
3) Bleed brakes one at a time. A friend who FOLLOWS verbal direction is good.
3a) I have read that the proper home brake bleeding procedure for ABS cars(LS is) is to run the engine so the ABS system is running. This will help keep more pressure on the fluid when you bleed so that any bubbles in the ABS controller get blasted out.
4) Top up the reservoir before it gets empty. Never let up on the pedal when the drain is open.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

[gcwimmer]

As long as are going to change brake fluid consider going to a higher DOT rating or synthetic. Castrol GT exceeds Dot 3 & 4 and can be found most anywhere like Wally World.