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Brake fluid changing/bleeding

I would like to take a minute to thank everyone who offered their
knowledge and experience on the subject of brake bleeding, especially Don
with his amazing attention to details!

Well, it was stressfull. Here's few things I noticed:

	* Old fluid was so dirty and the color was so rusty I couldn't believe
	  it.
	* The job is easier if you remove the wheels, which gives you a chance
	  to inspect other system components.
	* The right rear bleeding valve was too rusty to be loosened. Had
	  to skip it. (which means I might have to repeat the whole thing
	  soon - I know of a cheap source for roses!)
	* Another bleeding valve was ok to loosen but was so rusty it wasn't
	  allowing the fluid to escape. I think it is worthwhile to buy new
	  bleeding valves if your car is as old as mine (1982). Also, the
	  valves that suffered the most from rust where the ones with the
	  missing rubber covers. (It pays to replace these little things!)
	* The car had a brake job done after I bought it (2.5 years ago),
	  which included a new caliper etc. All components looked old and rusty
	  and obviously I was taken by another expensive dishonest mechanic.
	  The most recent one I dealt with is a *cheap* dishonest one, who told
	  me last winter that he bled the brakes. I guess he forgot.
	* All sensors wires were cut. Same with brake fluid reservior.
	* The brake lines were rusty and flaky. How safe are they?
	* One thing I couldn't understand is why my car was losing oil
	  from the power steering reservior everytime my wife releases the
	  brake. Is that normal? No one mentioned this as a side effect of
	  bleeding the brakes.
	* The brakes definitely feel better. But there is still a spongy feel
	  to them. Any ideas?
	* Was it worth it? In fact is it worth it to DIY's? Well, I guess I'll
	  tell you about it in another post.


Again many thanks!!

- --
Tareef Attar
Toronto, Ontario, Canada