Bleeding Brakes

I had my entire system including ABS power flushed at the scummy dealer. $150, it was worth it. There is a notable difference in the pedal.
The dealer tries to sell it every 2 years, the owners manual recommends every 10 years.

Especially when flushing brakes, consider upgrading to DOT4 fluid. The primary benefit is that it has a higher boiling point than DOT3.

https://blog.amsoil.com/dot-3-and-dot-4-brake-fluid-whats-the-difference/

Fless said:

Especially when flushing brakes, consider upgrading to DOT4 fluid. The primary benefit is that it has a higher boiling point than DOT3.

https://blog.amsoil.com/dot-3-and-dot-4-brake-fluid-whats-the-difference/

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I, personally, have never had a need for DOT4, even pulling a trailer down the Grapevine or the Coquihalla. The Coquihalla was done with 3 adults, 2 kids, and a fully loaded trailer. We measured our weight and it was near 10000 lbs. The GVWR is somewhere around 12000 lbs. As long as you drive sensibly, you should never have an issue with braking. This includes using properly set up trailer brakes, gearing down, keeping your speed reasonable, and not riding the brake. We kept our speed at or below 50 mph. Once it got up to 50 mph, I'd gently use the brakes to slow down to 40 mph, keeping the truck in 2nd gear. Never once did I even come close to brake fade.

Coming down a pass is when so many people do not use their brakes correctly. They don't even gear down. I loved towing with my Duramax when I had it.

I'm in total agreement about gearing down when towing downhill.

There's not a significant price difference for the improved performance of DOT4, so it's worth it to me. If I'm bleeding 'em, I'm using the better stuff. Never know when you'll need it.

Fless said:

I'm in total agreement about gearing down when towing downhill.

There's not a significant price difference for the improved performance of DOT4, so it's worth it to me. If I'm bleeding 'em, I'm using the better stuff. Never know when you'll need it.

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Yea, better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it.

PNW VietVet said:

Coming down a pass is when so many people do not use their brakes correctly. They don't even gear down. I loved towing with my Duramax when I had it.

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I was coming down some mountains in pa and on the DIC I noticed it said grade braking. Never knew I had this option. It did a fairly nice job. Should come in handy if I ever tow.


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the blur said:

That does nothing unless you move brake fluid through the system. And the only way to do that is bleed..

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It replaces the fluid that you have extracted, it is better than nothing?

I exchanged all the Brake fluid in my Burb with DOT4 by using a homemade bleeder that I made from a vacuum pump and a glass pickle jar.

Started at passenger rear and vacuumed out fluid until new, clean, fluid started coming out through the clear hose... making sure to keep the reservoir topped off of course.

Then lather, rinse, repeat with the drivers rear, followed by the passenger front and then the drivers front.

Worked beautifully and all new DOT4 fluid.

I still want to get all 6 stainless braided lines at some point in the future, but for now the new fluid combined with the cross drilled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads work great.

kbuskill said:

I exchanged all the Brake fluid in my Burb with DOT4 by using a homemade bleeder that I made from a vacuum pump and a glass pickle jar.

Started at passenger rear and vacuumed out fluid until new, clean, fluid started coming out through the clear hose... making sure to keep the reservoir topped off of course.

Then lather, rinse, repeat with the drivers rear, followed by the passenger front and then the drivers front.

Worked beautifully and all new DOT4 fluid.

I still want to get all 6 stainless braided lines at some point in the future, but for now the new fluid combined with the cross drilled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads work great.

Click to expand...

Good job Ken...... lol...