Old hydraulic fluid?

Shocks, springs, anything to do with the running gear

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Captain Jack
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Location: Langford, Somerset

Old hydraulic fluid?

Post by Captain Jack »

Hi,

Tomorrow, I'll be replacing one of my rear brake callipers. After this I'll need to bleed the system but I was wondering if I can use old but unused fluid to fill up the reservoir with? The plastic bottle that that fluid has been in is about 2 years old and the bottle has been opened before.

Any objections?

CJ
2003 - 2008: 1998 Peugeot 406 2.1 TD 110bhp LX Saloon
2008 - 2009: 2004 Honda Accord 2.2 CDTI 136bhp Executive Saloon
2009 - 2013: 2002 Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI 110bhp Executive Saloon
2013 - 2021: 2007 Peugeot 407 2.2 HDI 170bhp Executive Saloon (mapped to 213bhp :twisted:)
2021 - ????: 2016 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 180bhp Titanium
jasper5
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Re: Old hydraulic fluid?

Post by jasper5 »

Don't use it!

Brake fluid absorbs water, it will almost certainly be contaminated.

New fluid from a sealed container is required.
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Captain Jack
3.0 24v
Posts: 3820
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:26 am
Location: Langford, Somerset

Re: Old hydraulic fluid?

Post by Captain Jack »

Gotcha - thanks John!
2003 - 2008: 1998 Peugeot 406 2.1 TD 110bhp LX Saloon
2008 - 2009: 2004 Honda Accord 2.2 CDTI 136bhp Executive Saloon
2009 - 2013: 2002 Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI 110bhp Executive Saloon
2013 - 2021: 2007 Peugeot 407 2.2 HDI 170bhp Executive Saloon (mapped to 213bhp :twisted:)
2021 - ????: 2016 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 180bhp Titanium
User avatar
Captain Jack
3.0 24v
Posts: 3820
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:26 am
Location: Langford, Somerset

Re: Old hydraulic fluid?

Post by Captain Jack »

That was a pain. The nut securing the hydraulic tube just would not turn! First I rounded it off with a number 11 spanner, then I tried it with self-gripping spanner and that just rounded it off some more. Had to go to Homebase and get that pipe grip thing to finally free the nut.

The grinding noise was actually a completely stripped brake pad on the back of the disc. As the calliper is completely seized, only the piston pushed pad was actually doing anything. The pad on the front of the disc hardly had any wear.

Anyway, all replaced, brakes bled - seems OK and no noise any more.

Didn't feel like tackling the rear top links. Access to awkward and I lost some of my tools somewhere :( Will get a garage to do that.
2003 - 2008: 1998 Peugeot 406 2.1 TD 110bhp LX Saloon
2008 - 2009: 2004 Honda Accord 2.2 CDTI 136bhp Executive Saloon
2009 - 2013: 2002 Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI 110bhp Executive Saloon
2013 - 2021: 2007 Peugeot 407 2.2 HDI 170bhp Executive Saloon (mapped to 213bhp :twisted:)
2021 - ????: 2016 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 180bhp Titanium
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