Brake Fluid Renewal C5

jmd · Post by **jmd** » 25 Mar 2007, 08:07

I intend renewing the Brake Fluid on a C5. Has anybody any advice to offer. In what sequence, or in what order should the system be bled.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 25 Mar 2007, 10:04

I haven't done the job but my Revue Technique says: Front left, front right, rear left, rear right - but in French!!!

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Mar 2007, 10:38

I'll not argue with the French Authority

but back in the old days of conventional braking systems, it was always rear brakes first followed by the fronts. The idea was start far away from the master cylinder and work your way to the slave cylinder closest to it so that would be RL, RR, FL and FR. In this way you get the air out of the longest pipe runs and any brake load compensators first.

I take it the C5 is fully conventional in the brake department?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 25 Mar 2007, 11:20

Not wishing to cause embarrassment here, but Xantia's should be bled in the same order; N/S/F, O/S/F, N/S/R, O/S/R.

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 25 Mar 2007, 12:11

Correct me if I am wrong, bu, isnt a C5 like a Xantia in that the brake fluid is the suspension fluid and not a seperate liquid?

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 25 Mar 2007, 12:27

wrinklet1 wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, bu, isnt a C5 like a Xantia in that the brake fluid is the suspension fluid and not a seperate liquid?

Unfortunately you are wrong.

The C5 has seperate conventional vaccum servo brakes.

Regards,
Simon

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Mar 2007, 13:38

Mandrake wrote:
wrinklet1 wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, bu, isnt a C5 like a Xantia in that the brake fluid is the suspension fluid and not a seperate liquid?
Unfortunately you are wrong.

The C5 has seperate conventional vaccum servo brakes.

Regards,
Simon

Hence my point of how I was always led to believe conventional brakes should be bled! Or have I been doing it all wrong these past 30 years

Knowing me, there is a good chance I have as well...

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 25 Mar 2007, 13:39

yep the C5 employs the completely standard 'old style' DOT fluid vacuum assisted brakes system.
You must go to the deeper innards of your garage and dig out your old 'brakes bleed kit' from ancient times where you had some kind of a BLMC in your driveway.
Except you will need yet another new lid for the bleed kit

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Mar 2007, 13:45

AndersDK wrote:yep the C5 employs the completely standard 'old style' DOT fluid vacuum assisted brakes system.
You must go to the deeper innards of your garage and dig out your old 'brakes bleed kit' from ancient times where you had some kind of a BLMC in your driveway.
Except you will need yet another new lid for the bleed kit

Vizibleed is what you need. It's a one-way valve that fits over the bleed nipple via a length of hose and sits in a pot of brake fluid. Makes it nearly as easy as doing a Hydraulic Citroen then and is a one-person job.

The Eazibleed system I think you are referring to Anders, uses a pressure source, usually a tyre, via an adaptor cap on the master cylinder. The pressure head forces fluid out when the bleed nipple is opened.

I've never liked them much. I always eneded up with an engine bay covered in brake fluid resulting from an imperfect seal on the master cylinder causing a brake fluid shower

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 25 Mar 2007, 14:15

citrojim wrote:The Eazibleed ...

... I always eneded up with an engine bay covered in brake fluid resulting from an imperfect seal on the master cylinder causing a brake fluid shower

Sounds so very familiar

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 25 Mar 2007, 16:39

DickieG wrote: but Xantias should be bled in the same order; N/S/F, O/S/F, N/S/R, O/S/R.

Seems there's no rhyme nor reason for order. Bleeding instructions for the Xsara go - RH rear,LH front, LH rear, RH front. For the Pug 306 order is - LH rear, RH front, RH rear, LH front. Could it be that the Xsara has ABS and the Pug hasn't?

jmd · Post by **jmd** » 26 Mar 2007, 00:32

Thanks everybody for your comments & help. That was why I asked the question JohnD - there seems to be neither rhyme, or reason to the order of bleeding brakes. Although the C5 is Dot4 fluid and different in this respect to the Xantia - the bleeding sequence is similar. Is it true that the sequence should always start nearest to the Master Cylinder. I take it that NSF is the side nearest to the Steering Wheel, as we understand it here in Ireland & the U.K.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 26 Mar 2007, 07:25

jmd wrote:I take it that NSF is the side nearest to the Steering Wheel, as we understand it here in Ireland & the U.K.

Err no, N/S/F is "The wheel nearest the kerb at the front" i.e. Left front.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 26 Mar 2007, 09:02

[quote="jmd"] Is it true that the sequence should always start nearest to the Master Cylinder.quote]

No!!!

jmd · Post by **jmd** » 27 Mar 2007, 00:30

Thanks DickieG.... I always thought so, (nearside nearest the kerb). I had an argument with a mechanic some months ago, on this subject, and he was so insistent - on near side being the drivers side, that he almost convinced me. You have clarified that for me.