Sooo, whilst I'm waiting for a bit to arrive, I'm going to start the brake overhaul. Pads were done last year and have hardly any kms on them, so they're fine, but replacing rubber flexis with braided, doing the modulator modification, replacing the accumulator and doing the rear brake bias thingy (can't remember its name!) mod as well. This'll all be over a few days.

What I'd like to do is drain off as much fluid as possible before I get started, so I've got an empty reservoir, etc.

Crack a rear nipple and run engine?

Just undo each hose at the wheel cylinder and stick a jar under each while I go and have a few beers?

Time is not of the essence, so what's the best way to drain the system?

Note, I'll be working in an apartment car park (hence trying to drain now and minimise mess on dismantling) and on my own (although I can get someone to assist for the final re-fill/bleeding part), so the easier the better.

Ta ever so.

I've never short cutted draining entire system George, but for a full fluid change I just empty master cylinder (I've got one of those vacuum bleeder things) refill with fresh fluid and repeat the RAVE bleed process ad nauseum until I have spotless bubble free fluid coming from every orifice. Warning- have around 6 litres of DOT4 ready if doing it this way!
Probably not the short cut you wanted though. Maybe others have emptied the system more effectively, but you'd still have to bleed ad nauseum anyway!

A full drain in advance will hardly prevent it from getting messy, I Always have a couple of those cheapo 5 litre cans of screenwash at hand, cut off one side and you have a perfect drainpan for small areas.

Rear brakes are on the power circuit so applying the brakes with the ignition on and a rear bleed nipple undone should get quite a bit of it out. You should also be able to bleed a lot out from the nipples on the brake modulator.

Thanks guys.

The plan now is to do rears and modulator, and just let the remainder use gravity when I do the front hoses. However, we've hit a teeny snag.

Some time ago, I'd spotted and grabbed some tubing thinking, "This'll be ideal for brake bleeding" - poor misguided fool.

I go to my "stores" cupboard this morning and what's missing? Yup, you guessed it.

Upon enquiring of Madam if she had any ideas where it may have gone, I got a rather sheepish look. A few months back she was having all new kit and caboodle fitted in the water purification shop she has when, apparently, the guy doing the work lamented that he was short some tubing.

So whilst I no longer have anything to bleed the brakes with, at least I know that the tube I did have is helping control the spread of cholera, plague and whatever else the populace of Tondo would get from drinking out of the mighty Pasig River!