-=> TOM WALKER wrote to ROY J. TELLASON <=-

 ->  WC> I also changed brake fluid regularly,

 -> I can't say I've heard of that one before.

 TW>  It is a Smart Move. I have the Brake Fluid Changed periodicly in my
 TW> Cars.
 TW> Brake Fluid is Hydroscopic, It has an afinity for Moisture. Besides
 TW> lowering the boiling point it causes corrosion of the calipers.
 TW> Particualrly those made out of Aluminum.

Absolutely. I can't think of a repair procedure
I hate worse than cleaning up after the mess this can cause
a brake system.
I've successfully done it twice on motorcycles using
techniques and procedures not described in the factory manuals.
In fact manuals claimed it could NOT be done without
shop equipment but I had no problems short or long term.

Pushed the piston out by opening and closing the bleeder valve
while depressing and releasing the brakes after removing rim and
disc. This takes some patience.
Using extremely fine grade non-residue sand paper to clean up the 
mess, that's not what it's called but I can't recall just now
what it is called. Rinse with brake fluid just to be sure.

Seals come with the rebuild kit and they are easy to replace 
but care must be exercised not to damage them.

A small C-Clamp and a small block of wood takes the 
place of a hydraulic press in replacing the piston.

Changing the fluid is simple, fill a suitable size hose
with brake fluid, attach to bleeder valve with the other end in a 
container to hold the old fluid with some fluid in it so 
air doesn't back into the line and just pump the brake 
as you replace fluid.

Definately easier than doing the repairs, in one case I had to
replace the stainless steel pistons as they were pitted :-(
OTOH the motorcycle, 650cc twin, only cost me 300 dollars 
to purchase in one case with a spare engine to boot.
Ten days after receiving it I rode it to work in perfect 
working order :-)

Total cost to put in perfect working order was well under
100 dollars, about 70 dollars IIRC.

A shop would have charged me hundreds.
Oh yeah, made my own wiring harness as well as the old one was toast.
Automotive style bullet connectors, oversized wiring and enclosed
all the wiring in thick walled plastic tubing.
Too bad that particular bike didn't corner well but off the line it
was fairly awesome for it's size.

Disc brakes are a _good_ thing and having them in proper working 
order is essential.

To sum up changing brake fluid is cheap insurance and if done
regularly and pads checked you likely need no other maintanance
than changing the brake pads or at worst a cracked hydraulic line.
 
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