http://www.ebay.co.u...=item48409e0c02

Is that all I'll need to renew the brake fluid? They've been feeling rather sluggish over the past month...so might give bleeding a shot.....

Any pitfalls?

Many thanks!

Edited 26 February, 201214 yr by fsa

Thats all I used, although I would recommend some sort of syringe to empty the fluid resovoir as much as possible and then top up with new fluid, otherwise your pushing old / diluted fluid through the system.

Make sure you don't use too much pressure in you spare tyre. I use no more than 26 psi.

As mentioned when your finished you'll need to remove the excess fluid from the brake fluid reservoir, i use my pella 600 for that.

So should I use the pela to empty the reservoir before bleeding to minimise bleeding through with old fluid, or do the bleeding first to remove air then sort the reservoir?

I've only ever bled the hydraulic brakes on my pushbike....two syringes, valves and some clear tubing. I'm guessing the principle is the same.

On another note, would this be a good time for me to check the brake pad thickness and change if needed? How thick should they be? There wasn't any mention on the MOT last July, but am a little worried about the increased braking distance on dry roads recently.

When I did mine I emptied the old fluid out first and re-filled with new, so I was bleeding as much fresh fluid through as possible without diluing it with the old.

I would check the pads and discs first an case that is the problem with your braking and its not the fluid.

If I remember correctly my new pads had between 10-15mm of meat on them when they were new.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

Is it worth getting one of those brake fluid testers, or just change it anyway since there's no record of brake fluid change on the service history?

An Ezibleed would not fit my last two cars (Nissan Prairie and Mazda Premacy) due to the design of the master cylinder. Halfords sell Ezibleeds you could ask them if you could check the fit on your brake fluid reservoir before purchasing. Be carefull when you remove fluid not to go too low or you risk getting air in the system, if you remove around a third the level will be OK when you finish. Don't forget to disconnect the tyre first before the Ezibleed or fluid reservoir or you will spill fluid all over the place.

I would just change it. The eezibleed has the correct fittings for the Fabia as well.

One more, hopefully the last, question......a few youtube videos show the wheels removed for easier access. Is this what you did on the fabia, or will jacking up + axle stands be enough to get access to the valves?

I'd take the wheels off but it can be done leaving them on.

Don't forget to do the rear passenger side first then the rear drivers side followed by front passenger side and finally front drivers side.

I've always had the car up on two pairs of ramps as these pressure bleeders do tend to leak their air out a bit - so by working from ramps you can "whizz" round the 4-off bleed points a lot quicker than by just jacking up one wheel at a time to reach the bleed valve. I've also modified a Hozelok garden sprayer or two to act as low pressure reservoirs as the air line supplied with Gunson's bleeder is stupidly short! Though these Gunson's bleeder kits are good all the same, I've bought 2-off so far - seals usually fail after a few years. After use, wash the kit out completely and store somewhere warm and dry! Oh, and always remember that you will always end up with brake fluid on the floor!! Dispose of used fluid in the same way as used engine oils - no, not down the drain! Depending how much abuse the bleed valves have had in the past, they might need replacing if they have a step on them or they have rusted up badly.

mr rooney: thanks for the reminder.....furthest one from the reservoir first.

Rum4mo: Oh no, never down the drain! I doubt I'll get time to get my hands on some ramps by the weekend, so might have to resort to jacking rear up first, then front. I'll spray some WD40 on the valves before undoing them just in case. Wash gunson with isopropyl afterwards?

If the seal fails and given I will only ever use it on the one car, would I be better off to fleabay the eezibleed once I'm done and just buy another one when the next bleed/flush is due?