I'm about to start bleeding the brakes using the gravity method. I removed the screen and then removed brake fluid from the rear chamber of the master cylinder with the turkey baster but haven't been able to get it into the front chamber. Do I need a baster with a really narrow and tapered syringe or am I just missing a way to reach into the front chamber to remove the fluid?

 

I don't like turkey basters because they tend to not hold a seal very well and leak everywhere since it just works on suction from the bulb ...and they're fat like you mentioned. I have a bunch of these cheap pumps from Amazon that i use for various fluids--one specifically dedicated to used brake fluid that works great for emptying master cylinders. Works way better than a turkey baster.

 

I just push on a piece of silicone hose on my baster, then route that to the front chamber to suck it dry.

 

I used a sprayer from a spray bottle. The pick up is thin enough to sneak into the front chamber.

Takes some fiddling to get it in.

 

I use the quicker picker upper. Paper towels to soak up whatever baster can't reach.

This has the advantage of removing any dirt and contaminants.

 

How often do you guys bleed your brakes?

 

Replace fluid in reservoir every year. Brakes are bled when i replace pads and or rotors.

Track days gets a full flush.

 

Only if I open the system or change fluid. On the S2k that is each year at least (I change out the fluid completely each season with track use). On other cars, almost never unless I open the system or change fluid, which is much less frequent. On 2 of my cars it has been 4 years since I changed the fluid and I have never bled. Zero reason to in that case since there is no air entering the system. I have never once bled brakes after a pad change since there is no way for air to get into the system thus no reason to do it.

 

I like to crack the bleeder open prior to pushing in the piston, on a pad change, makes it a bit easier, and you prevent debris from clogging the ABS module. You'd be amazed at how much crud there is in your calipers.

 

So you just suck out the reservoir with a baster or syringe of some kind, wipe out any crud, and fill with clean fluid? Just like we do with the clutch MC?