so i have a 1980 elco thats been sleeping for almost 7 years ive been doing alot of work to it and noticed the brake fluid is very dark brown and probably bad, is there an easy way to drain and replace the old fluid or would it just be better to take it to a shop, where they probably have some huge machine to do it for you? ive been doing alot of work on the go part, now i need the stop part to work properly

The lowest point of the brake system is at the wheel cylinder. You may have a split system and have to drain the front and the back separately. Get that old stuff out of there and replace it with new. You will have to fully bleed the system when you are done. Uncork the line and let it drain into a pan just like you were draining the oil. You could also set up a catch can to eliminate one step.

After sitting 7 years you can bet the rear wheel cylinders are bad. I would do them and calipers at the same time. If you flush the system I am afraid you will get to do it over if you don't change them out. Rebuilt calipers about $15 bucks each and $10 for new rear wheel cylinders.

After sitting 7 years you can bet the rear wheel cylinders are bad. I would do them and calipers at the same time. If you flush the system I am afraid you will get to do it over if you don't change them out. Rebuilt calipers about $15 bucks each and $10 for new rear wheel cylinders.

I agree. What you might want to do is to start the flushing process with the old stuff still in place. I'd rather not have crap fluid pushed into my brand new calipers or cylinders.

If your brakes are not leaking and the rubberseals on the wheel cylinders are still soft they should not be a problem but it sure as heck doesn't hurt to make it all new.
Use a suction gun or an old turkey baster to remove the old fluid from the master cylinder and try to wipe as much sediment as you can get off the bottom of the master cylinder bowl(there usually isn't much so if you use a small stiff brush to stir it up into the fluid so that it will be sucked out) then do a brake bleed of the system until you get clean fluid at each corner starting with the pass. side rear wheel cylinder,drivers side rear,pass. front and then driver side front.Remember do not let the master cylinder run dry,try to keep it at least half full so you don't suck air into the system.

Don't know about rust issues where you live, but an inspection for rusty brake lines before you get into it might be worth while. If needed, now's the time......