How much should a brake job cost?

[73F100Shortbed]

Too add to what Don said about taking the cap off, which is a good idea, you can also loosen the bleeder and push the fluid out that way as well. I've done both ways and have also just pushed them back without the top off.

 

[Truckin4life]

If you push it out the bleeder valve you lose the fluid though, by removing the cap your leaving room for the fluid to go. As the fluid shouldn't go all the way to the top. You keep all your fluid, and make your job easier at the same time. By taking of the brake fluid cap that is..

 

[73F100Shortbed]

That is true. I have found on a few occasions that opening the bleeder has allowed some air to come out even though there was no spongy pedal or anything like that. I've also seen not removing a cap cause a master cylinder to fail, but that was only once. But yeah I definitely have to agree if you don't want to add fluid to just remove the top.

 

[Truckin4life]

Also, when you do take the lid off the brake fluid reservoir that once you put it back on and start the car to test your brakes, you will have to pump your brakes up several times to get everything back in working order. MAKE SURE YOUR CAP IS BACK ON though... That isvery important! haha.

Once you get the pressure back in your pedal everything should be great!

 

[73F100Shortbed]

MAKE SURE YOUR CAP IS BACK ON though... That isvery important! haha.

 

[silverz51]

Yeah, I think that I needed a few extra tips before I started. It would have saved me some time but most of all, a lot of labor. I decided to remove brake fluid from the reservoir a little at the time while I compressed the piston on each side. To be honest, I never even thought about opening the bleeder ports. Anyway, the fluid level remained as required and yes, I did definitely pump the pedal *a lot* before even taking it down from the jack stands. I replaced pads before in a car and almost crashed when the pedal went all the way down the first time I applied the brakes afterwards
Frankly, the part where I should have gotten help was with the wheels. I just underestimated the amount of actual physical exertion needed for the job. I was not in shape to do it and I ended up paying the price with some pretty bad strained back & legs. Oh well, I guess I just forgot I'm not 20 years old anymore or do mechanic work regularly

Oh yeah, as for the bleeding of the brakes goes, I still remember with anguish my last *bleeding* experience. I had back in the '70s a MG Midget. Of course, being an English car it was a nightmare to keep it running. It had a cursed and possessed hydraulic clutch which had air in the system. It was impossible to fix. 2 different mechanics tried several times and gave up. I tried everything including replacing the entire system and rigging up a "power bleeder" to force all the fluid and air out of the system.. No, it never worked right it was a disaster. I finally sold it to some other nut who though he could fix it.