What's a fair price for....

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318MoparGuy

318MoparGuy

MoparHokie
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
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Location
Waynesville,NC
pulling a vacuum and evacuating the brake system of all the old brake fluid, installing new fluid and bleeding brakes? How much time is involved in doing this at a shop? I am located in western NC if that makes a difference pricing wise. I haven't gotten any quotes yet, just wanted to see what you guys and gals felt about what would be a fair price. Thanks as always....
Greg
 
Don't you just use something like denatured alcohol and pump it through the system with the brake pedal until it comes out clear from every wheel cylinder/caliper? That's what I've always done.
 
65 Dartman said:
Don't you just use something like denatured alcohol and pump it through the system with the brake pedal until it comes out clear from every wheel cylinder/caliper? That's what I've always done.
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Don't know....I never changed the fluid myself....had this current fluid changed about 2 1/2 years ago, but can't find receipt to check price.
 
Just like bleeding your brakes. Drain the fluid from the master cylinder and fill with fresh. Open a valve and pump till fresh fluid comes though. Repeat with the other wheels till finished. That's how I did my 65.
A friend opened the brake line at the master cylinder and all of the valves. He used compressed air and blew the lines out. I did that with fuel lines. He used low air pressure and secured a plastic bag to each brake line. Blowing gently he cleaned his lines quickly
 
You live in a beautiful part of North Carolina. I'm in the piedmont area. We are in the center of the state which is great for travelling. Equal time to your area or the beach area.
 
2 1/2 years isn't very long for brake fluid. Even the dealer doesn't recommend changing it that often unless there a problem (contamination)??

Treblig
 
Treblig said:
2 1/2 years isn't very long for brake fluid. Even the dealer doesn't recommend changing it that often unless there a problem (contamination)??

Treblig
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My car is a 73 Dart Swinger...I am just going by a post written by Slantsixdan ( he recommended every 2 years). No I don't have any issues with the brakes...front disc/rear drums. Just looking for a fair price to do this.
 
Just did this on my Duster but replaced the master cylinder. Here's a couple of Youtube videos a guy posted that helped me tremndously. One shows how to make a dirt cheap one man bleeder, the other demonstrates how to flush the entire system using it. The flush took me all of 20 minutes.

Now any job depends on what is working and not working on your car. Also how old are the components and if your bleeder ports are frozen, etc. Any easy job can become difficult.

How to make a cheap brake bleeder - video
How to do a complete brake flush and bleed - video
 
318MoparGuy said:
What does that translate to $$$ wise? Thanks...
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Around here about $130. I know someone that just paid that for "power-bleeding" on a modern car with ABS. I do not think you need to do that (or pay that) on an old Mopar. It's really easy to do it yourself!
 
318MoparGuy said:
What does that translate to $$$ wise? Thanks...
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In So Cal a brake flush is $100-129 at independent repair shops. That sounds like what you are doing. Most shops used a brake flush machine but others used vacuum bleeder to exchange all fluid.

So cal independent labor rates are $80-$120 /hour
 
318MoparGuy said:
What does that translate to $$$ wise? Thanks...
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Obviously by now you can see from the above posts that it varies.
I used to be a professional mechanic for almost 40 years and do side jobs here and there, so for that job I would charge about 80-100 and consider it easy money.:D

You really should give it a go, and as far as bleeding, buy yourself an inexpensive bleeder kit and consider it your new tool that you bought with some of the saved money.:D

https://www.walmart.com/ip/2-In-1-B...4406&wl11=online&wl12=754723265&wl13=&veh=sem
 
We charge about 80 bucks (I think) to do a brake flush at the shop I work at. I use a Harbor Freight vacuum brake bleeder, it usually takes me about 15 min once the car is up in the air and if none of the bleeders give me any trouble.
 
Tadams said:
You live in a beautiful part of North Carolina. I'm in the piedmont area. We are in the center of the state which is great for travelling. Equal time to your area or the beach area.
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Yes it is really nice living up here in the mountains... the views are really cool. I used to live in Waxhaw, NC but it was flat and too damn hot all summer. I think we used the A/C here about 4-5 times so far...what a difference!!!
 
daliant said:
We charge about 80 bucks (I think) to do a brake flush at the shop I work at. I use a Harbor Freight vacuum brake bleeder, it usually takes me about 15 min once the car is up in the air and if none of the bleeders give me any trouble.
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Thanks daliant and also to everyone that responded to my post... take care Greg
 
Just flush new fluid thru. Some old fluid will be left, but what you are trying to do is get new fluid with its fresh moisture absorbants into the system. If you change to DOT 5 (silicone), you need never flush again, but it is costly and getting rarer.
 
BillGrissom said:
Just flush new fluid thru. Some old fluid will be left, but what you are trying to do is get new fluid with its fresh moisture absorbants into the system. If you change to DOT 5 (silicone), you need never flush again, but it is costly and getting rarer.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill for the info...that explanation makes good sense to me.
Take Care,
Greg
 
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