Compared to other cars I drive Iv'e noticed my 940T brakes go farther to the floor than others. Everyone I've asked says don't change the brake fluid, which to my knowledge hasn't been changeg in 143K miles. Does anyone have an opinion?

Ringlee is right about the brake fluid. I would at your first chance flush out all the old stuff and put in new. I do think that you get a better (harder) pedel feel if you bleed the brakes with an assistant pumping rather than using a pressure bleeder. I've tried using the mityvac and various home brew contraptions to self bleed my brakes but get the best result by dragging my little sister out of bed and having her pump the brakes while I bleed.
Mike

I drug my 8-year-old out there a couple days ago to pump the pedal while I bled. He did a better job than anyone I've ever used before. We were in perfect coordination. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on his mentality or on mine....

Sometimes the little guys/gals do much better than us older folks at following directions. My father had me pumping away since I was around 6 or 7 so I'm very familiar with the method. Unfortunatly for me my little sister is outgrowing the tom boy stage (she's 12)and is getting into make-up and all that other stuff. Its really hard to understand her especially with the 13 year difference in age.

Several many years back, my, (new, first and last) better half had the duty of pumping the brakes while I controlled the bleeder screw. After pumping the brakes for a full minute plus, I still was not getting any output - open screw - press brake peddle - close screw - raise peddle…"What pedal are you pushing"? "The brake pedal, (stupid)!" she said and thought. Several more tries, I got out from under the car. What could be the problem? "Show me", I said. She pointed to the pedal to the left of brake pedal. I still have a little fun with this but I have to be careful. My kids, 16 and up, have more patience with this operation.

Maintaining about 5 or 6 cars now.
--
Tom F '95 954

Bribe her with a new lipstick and tell her she can put the makeup on at the same time she is pumping. Had my kids help since they were old enough to hit the pedals, and at 28 and 33 they still help out, sometimes reluctantly. So, I bought the power bleeder that Steve mentioned.

dick

It does suck when you don't have a helper. I moved in with my fiance and she refuses to even look at my car when the hood is up, unless its an emergency (Hey I used to drive a 87 saab they were all emergencies). So I made pressure bleeder using a garden sprayer. Another method I've used when I'm bleeding fresh fluid is to run some clear tubing from the bleeder nipple to the master cylinder then pump away the bubbles. I can get good result with this although Its limited to when you have fresh fluid in the lines, don't want that old cruddy stuff going into your master cylinder now do you.
Mike

With three 940s and one 740, I will confirm that the 940 brakes are a little softer with greater pedal travel. But: your brake fluid absolutely must be flushed completely every two years, as noted in your owners' manual. The people giving you contrary advice are completely incompetent. Brake fluid absorbs moisture, which corrodes both the calipers as well as the very expensive ABS components. If you fail to do this regularly, you will face some awful repair bills. Either buy a pressure bleeder and do it yourself, or take it to a shop to have them do it. Use DOT 4+ fluid (such as Valvoline Synpower brake fluid or ATE).

I just remembered. I replaced the two front brake lines, and bled them in the process. Does that mean I only have to bleed the back two? They were rplaced 6 months ago.
If I syphon fluid out of the master cylander enough times year, wouldn't that replace my brake fluid too?

Thanks for all the opinions.LOL

Syphoning will not remove the fluid in the calipers and lines since there is no pumping around like in an automatic transmission or the power steering. You must flush system using pressure at reservoir or vacuum at caliper bleeding screw.
Good practice is to syphon out old fluid from reservoir, refill with fresh and then flush system. And as is usually stated in service manual, "use only fluid from a sealed container". Don't take the opened bottle that has been laying around in the trunk of the car for the last 5 years.

Happy bricking
Mikael Larsson

'93 945 330'km
'93 BMW R1100RS

How much fluid will I have to buy?
What brand fluid pressurator should I buy?
Still the fluid looks clean?
What is the fluid made?
Won't I dislodge some sealant from some seals?

Happy Bricking!

Turbo gal

-Half a quart?
-Dunno, I did one myself. Bought a used reservoir cap from the wreckers, a tire valve from a tireshop and the cheapest pump with valve fitting I could find.
Drilled a hole in the cap and mounted the valve.
Now I can pressure bleed my brakes after a few strokes of the pump. Release and refill with brake fluid and pump again. It also doubles as a cooling system pressure tester. Found a very minor leak the other day that's been around for a year!
-It's not expensive to flush the system but rusted calipers are. Not no mension what happens if you must emergency brake and the brake fluid is humid and boils.
-I think it's a kind of glycol. And it eats paint, beware!
-If you have brake fluid coming out your seals you have major problems!
Replace seals or calipers.

Happy Bricking!
Mikael Larsson