How much do I need to change mine out? ie replace all the fluid in the whole system?

 

I read in a forum that someone did it with two bottles. I always thought that it would take more than that. Check it out:
http://www.socalevo.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2699

 

One liter should do it. I've flush my entire system using a one liter can. If you botch the job you would need two liters.

 

thanks for the info, yeah I saw the thread on socal but that guy is not ASE certified mechanic so I wanted to see what the specs called for.

 

3 pints (AP/Brembo sized bottles) should be fine, if you are using more than that you are wasting fluid. AP551 is a great fluid and not over the top pricewise. I would stick with AP, Castrol or Brembo fluid, however at 68.00+ a litre it is kinda pricey for a street vehicle, unless you have that kind of money to burn. A litre bottle, would be plenty. One thing to note, brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs water, so it does not have much of a shelf life once the original seal has been broken. Just an FYI.

Good luck!

 

FWIW, I have been using a "heavy duty" brake fluid available from Ford dealerships in my Evo (1 year) and Talon (7 years). It has a 550 F dry boiling point and only costs about $4 per container (pint?). I have never had a problem with this fluid boiling. It is so cheap that you can bleed the brakes until you are sure all the old fluid is gone. As pointed out above, brake fluid is hygroscopic. The boiling point drops as water is absorbed. For street cars it is probably more important to change the fluid regularly with an 550F BP fluid rather than keep an expensive 600F BP fluid in the system for a long time. This Ford fluid is so cheap it is not a big hit to the wallet to change.

 

He's right, but I always buy two - that way I never end up needing brake fluid I don't have 1/2 way through the project.

 

That fluid is actually really good for the money - if I remember correctly it is re-packaged Winmax (wilwood) fluid, very similar to AP Racing 551, Brembo, and Motul....good find!