Brake/Clutch Flush Question

[mike1]

When flushing the brakes every 2 years (on a 2006 Z4MR) is it necessary to bleed the clutch? I read posts saying it's not required and some do it. If it's not required maintenance and not necessary I'd rather not do it. Any input would be appreciated.
THanks, Mike.

 

[Chippie]

Brake fluid absorbs moisture that can boil at the brake pistons allowing the air to then compress, that’s why it’s recommended to change the fluid every 2 years, the clutch is unlikely to boil the fluid, personally if it was me and it wasn’t too difficult I’d bleed the clutch while doing the brakes just for piece of mind and my OCD

 

[XMetal]

Brake fluid absorbs moisture that can boil at the brake pistons allowing the air to then compress, that’s why it’s recommended to change the fluid every 2 years, the clutch is unlikely to boil the fluid, personally if it was me and it wasn’t too difficult I’d bleed the clutch while doing the brakes just for piece of mind and my OCD

But the clutch shares the same fluid with the brake. So...if brake fluid absorb moisture, then so will the clutch fluid (same reservoir)!

It's not too difficult to bleed the clutch...just an extra step and you'll need to get under the car to do it.

 

[Chippie]

Brake fluid absorbs moisture that can boil at the brake pistons allowing the air to then compress, that’s why it’s recommended to change the fluid every 2 years, the clutch is unlikely to boil the fluid, personally if it was me and it wasn’t too difficult I’d bleed the clutch while doing the brakes just for piece of mind and my OCD

But the clutch shares the same fluid with the brake. So...if brake fluid absorb moisture, then so will the clutch fluid (same reservoir)!

It's not too difficult to bleed the clutch...just an extra step and you'll need to get under the car to do it.

I realise that, which is why I suggested doing it at the same time, obviously brake fluid needs changing at recommended intervals due to safety where as the clutch isn't.

 

[RedUn]

Bled mine and it felt better after

Edit to add, be careful the slave cylinder has some sharp edges on very close to the bleed nipple!

 

[mike1]

Did the brake/clutch flush today, not bad. Time consuming taking wheels off/on, cleaning pressure bleeder.What else is there to do? Isolation sucks, but needs to be done.
Thanks for the input, stay healthy Mike.

 

[Silverzedtom]

The first time I bled mine I did the clutch too as I didn’t know what fluid was in there and didn’t want them mixing. I’ve only done the brakes since and tend to do them annually when the wheels are off.

 

[Spaniarduk]

Bled mine and it felt better after

Edit to add, be careful the slave cylinder has some sharp edges on very close to the bleed nipple!

Is a special tool required to open up the bleeding nipple in the clutch line in ///M? When i replaced the brake fluid and also removed my CDV i intended to flush the clutch line, but the difficulty of accessing the car from laying underneath (car on axle stands), the fact that i was already tired and that the nipple seemed different (needle-like and smaller than the ones in the brake calipers) put me right off doing it. I must say it still nags me :?

 

[Argenta]

I thought "flush" was just another word for bleedning, in which you get new fluid anyway.

 

[RedUn]

Bled mine and it felt better after

Edit to add, be careful the slave cylinder has some sharp edges on very close to the bleed nipple!

Is a special tool required to open up the bleeding nipple in the clutch line in ///M? When i replaced the brake fluid and also removed my CDV i intended to flush the clutch line, but the difficulty of accessing the car from laying underneath (car on axle stands), the fact that i was already tired and that the nipple seemed different (needle-like and smaller than the ones in the brake calipers) put me right off doing it. I must say it still nags me :?

I seem to remember it being a pain in the arse too but I didn't have a special tool no, just take your time with it

 

[Beedub]

i caused myself some major problems getting air into the clutch system.... Absolute nightmare to sort out.

 

[RedUn]

It's definitely better as a 2 man job

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I was thinking about doing my brakes - is a pressure bleeder sufficient if you are doing it by yourself?

 

[RedUn]

Yeah that'll work just keep an eye on the fluid as the res isn't the biggest on the zed

 

[mmm-five]

I thought "flush" was just another word for bleedning, in which you get new fluid anyway.

Bleed is to get air bubbles out.

Flush is to replace all the fluid - and is then followed by a bleed.

 

[Argenta]

Yeah well I've never managed that without getting new fluid there.