Brake Fluid Purge

[basement]

Picked up a 70 A-body to work on with my son and the car will eventually be his (can't believe he's taking drivers ed already, where does the time go). Have done alot of interior work this summer and plan on working on the suspension and primarily the brake system. The brake fluid appears quite old so I would like to completely drain the system of all the old fluid and replace with new stuff. What is the best way to do this, disconnect the lines at both ends and run air through them? Also, short of replacing the drums with disc is there any thing else you recommend doing to the brake system, I definitely want this car safe for him to drive.

I've been posting several A-body questions lately but the other abodyonly site that I frequent does not have near the response or general good fellow ship as cuda-challenger. My hats off to everyone at this site.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I wouldn't disconnect the lines, unless the short rubber ones from the solid line to the brakes are dry-rotted. I would just open up one bleeder at a time, and give the pedal a few pumps as you keep adding new fluid to the master cylinder. It won't take long to get the old stuff out of there. Auto-supply stores have a little kit to catch the old fluid, in case you don't want it squirting everywhere.   


  Mike

[Robb]

agreed.


you can use some airline tubing and some pop bottles instead of the kit. 

be sure to watch the Master Cylinder while your doing this and insure that it does not go dry, else you will have to bench bleed the M/C  (unnecessary PITA)