Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Advice needed on brake/clutch fluid

[dave996]

I'm about to replace my brake and clutch fluid, any recommendations on what to use would be much appriciated or even how it is done as it's just me and Mr Haynes!

Cheers

Dave

[Harv748]

Its pretty straight forward mate...just like normal.

The only difficulty is if your system has been completely emptied, then it can sometimes be a bit of a sod to get some through to start with again. As you start, squeeze the tubing between the resevoir and the MC to expel as much air as poss, and then with the bleed nipple open, really pump the lever to start some going through. Once its on its way, then just do it as normal.

Someone will be along in a mo to tell you about bleed tools etc, I have always just used a piece of hose on the nipple, with the other end in a waste container half full of old fluid, making sure the tube end is submerged. Works fine for me.

TIP OF THE DAY!

If you have adjustable levers (span) then put them on the largest setting for bleeding....more pump per pull...always good in my book

[Edited on 27-3-2006 by Harv748]

[m1keyp]

I can also recommend these http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Delivered from the states in no time

[dave996]

cheers gents, Harv that IS a top tip, I actually hadn't thought of that, cheers mate.

[Jools]

Or you can look at the Brembo Catalog fo a complete run down on how to fit a whole brake system.

The clutch side is sometimes more difficult because pumping the lever to move the fluid through, with the bleed nipple closed, also tends to activate the clutch, so what I do is make sure that I wait for a second or so, with the clutch lever back to the bar and the bleed nipple open to make sure that the clutch return springs have also had a chance to push any fluid back.

[Carbon749]

If your system has been completly drained it will be a pig to get started (as said before)

My top Monday tip ...

Do the hose on the bleed nipple with the loose end submerged in fluid. Open the nipple half a turn, pull the lever and hold it back to the bar (or down for rear brake), close the nipple and then let the lever go. This will stop you drawing air back in to the system. Once you are pumping fluid through rather than air you should not need to close the nipple between pumps .... if you know what I mean

[dave996]

Cheers guys.
Oh it is a completly empty system

[rockhopper]

Tip of the day (thanks to Nelly) is when you have finished bleeding, stick a cotton bud or similar down the inside of the nipple (fnar fnar) to soak up any fluid in there. Stops the nipple corroding as brake fluid absorbs water.

[andyb]

tip of the other day......keep the reservoir full, and use a syringe on the end of your short bit of pipe, obviously without the needle, to draw the fluid through at the nipple end.

[m1keyp]

Or get a mityvac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!