Brake flush -- thoughts on doing a 3/4 job

Tiny
MONIKAMONIKA7
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 2.1L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 140,000 MILES
Hi --

I had a recent oil change and it looks like the shop broke the lid on the master cylinder reservoir and didn't tell me, and so I discovered that I have been driving around for at least three weeks with a broken lid, letting moisture into the system.

I know I need to flush the system -- aggravating because I did a flush a few months ago, at which point I broke off the head of one of the new speed bleeders I installed just as I was trying to tighten to final torque as a last step.

So I'm wondering if I can get away with flushing now through only the other 3 lines? I'm thinking that maybe the amount of fluid in the 4th line will be small enough that the amount of moisture left won't be so high that it does damage?

I don't want to spend the time at the moment to deal with getting the screw out -- and/or replacing another caliper. But I also don't want to rust out my brake system.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Monica
Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 7:45 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Actually if you can get something on the broken screw you can get it out fairly easy. If you can fit vice grips on it try that way first if it doesn't feel like it will break loose then don't try to force it. Then take a propane torch, heat around it cool with penetrating oil and take a small hammer and tap around the caliper screw. The propane torch won't get it too hot to hurt anything. Do this about 5 times in succession then try to remove the screw they usually come out. Because of the abs system you want to do all 4 wheels.
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Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 7:49 AM
Tiny
MONIKAMONIKA7
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  • 3 POSTS
Hi --

Thanks for the quick response -- it's not broken off flush so I can try vice grips. Also read that I might be able to cut a notch with a Dremel tool and just use a screw driver. I appreciate the advice!

Monica
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Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 7:59 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I've done the heat, hammer and oil trick for years never lost one yet.
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Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 8:17 AM
Tiny
MONIKAMONIKA7
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Buying/working with a propane torch is actually over a line I told myself I wouldn't cross -- but so was working on the brakes -- and that went pretty well (last screw snafu aside) so I suppose I should suck it up and go for it!
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Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 8:45 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It 's just one of the things you need although not that much.
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Friday, March 11th, 2016 AT 9:32 AM

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