Brake Fluid - Biggest Neglect, Biggest Benefit

[webfors]

I'm going to just say it. Most neglect their brake fluid. It took me a few decades to realize how easy and cheap it is to bleed fresh fluid into the lines yearly and the braking difference with $5 in fluid is HUGE.

Recently bought a 2014 Caddy ATS, and extracted a brown slurry from the brake lines. It's going to get two full bleeds over the next month. My wife commented "OMG, what's wrong with those brakes".... because she so used to my mint maintenance of brake systems on our cars. The brakes were fine, but the fluid was terrible.

Benefits of regular bleeding:
- much better peddle feel and response; can make the difference between hitting the moose, or not.
- Keeps contaminates out of your brake lines which are no doubt rotting things from the inside.
- Calipers will last longer
- Pads/Rotors will wear better
- Less brake fade under heavy/continuous braking; Having a cabin in Cape Breton highlands exposed old fluid quick driving those roads.
- Less likely to be stranded due to a seized caliper that rotted from the inside (happened twice to me before I learned).

I don't care the brand. I used ST DOT3 for the van, along with a full four corner brake tear down, lube, rebuild with new rotors, pads and final bleed. Brakes are so good it's silly. The job cost me $300, including shop supplies. Now it gets $5 of fluid a season and brakes get an annual cleaning for the next 50k.

This is a repeat for the old timers, but could be good info for new BITOG'ers.

 

[JoelB]

I just bought a bleeder bottle with a check valve in it. Going to attempt my first ever self done flush with it. I agree brake fluid is often neglected and leads to more cost of replacement of components down the road.

 

[webfors]

I just bought a bleeder bottle with a check valve in it. Going to attempt my first ever self done flush with it. I agree brake fluid is often neglected and leads to more cost of replacement of components down the road.

Bingo! $5 to avoid hundreds in brake parts that fail. And then there's the risk mitigation of having better brakes. If you believe in the quantum universe, after doing your brakes well you are eliminating a whole permutations of existence where you hit something because of bad brakes

 

[webfors]

I just bought a bleeder bottle with a check valve in it. Going to attempt my first ever self done flush with it. I agree brake fluid is often neglected and leads to more cost of replacement of components down the road.

I just picked this up. I have the vacuum operated hand pump at the cottage that works ok on the bikes. Since almost everyone has an air compressor, looks promising.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07WRBH5JY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[CarlB]

These are very affordable and can inform when it is time.

 

[webfors]

View attachment 274145
These are very affordable and can inform when it is time.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[rijndael]

I've had those testers, the body ends up cracking in to 2 pieces. I just use a volt meter now.

 

[zfasts03]

every 3-5 years for me with Valvoline DOT3/4

 

[Tman220]

If my brake fluid isn't basically clear, I'll crack the bleeders and fill the reservoir until it is. Doing it this way basically results in once every 2 years i'd say.

 

[webfors]

If my brake fluid isn't basically clear, I'll crack the bleeders and fill the reservoir until it is. Doing it this way basically results in once every 2 years i'd say.

2 years is still considered aggressive in the world of brake fluid.

You'll never have issues by keeping it clear regardless of mileage or time.

 

[webfors]

every 3-5 years for me with Valvoline DOT3/4

Even in Philly, eh!? I find 3 years is max with the cold winters and hot humid summers. My Suzuki DR650's get it yearly. I can't lock up the rear otherwise, and I do about 20k on them

 

[VolkswagenFox21]

I have to admit to neglecting brake fluid changes in my cars. All cars in my signature still have original brake fluid, except for the Jetta. Interestingly, the FRS, which is 9 years old, has a separate clutch and brake reservoir. Brake fluid is like new, while the fluid in the clutch reservoir is quite dark. I'm going to change both this summer. Next year I'll get to the Corolla and (if I still own it by then) the Tucson.

 

[The Critic]

You'll never have issues by keeping it clear regardless of mileage or time.

How does clarity represent fluid condition? Moisture is not the only driver of deterioration. The fluid's additive package could be depleted, resulting in corrosion to components.

 

[Patman]

I’m still on the original brake fluid in both my 2016 Civic and my 2018 Corvette I will admit that in my almost 40 years of owning cars it’s one thing that I have neglected quite often. But I will also admit that when I have periodically had it done on various cars, I never honestly noticed any difference in brake feel at all.
I do plan on having the brake fluid done on both of my cars this year though. I just had a lot of other maintenance items that I felt were way more important and I had those done over the last few months.
In reality there are probably a huge amount of cars out there that are 15-20 years old and have never changed their brake fluid. I’m curious why it didn’t just become standard industry practice to change the fluid every time a car got new pads and rotors.

 

[walterjay]

I have test strips that I use. After 5 years it registers as good. Do I really need to change the fluid?

 

[zfasts03]

Even in Philly, eh!? I find 3 years is max with the cold winters and hot humid summers. My Suzuki DR650's get it yearly. I can't lock up the rear otherwise, and I do about 20k on them

I will shorten to 3 years. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[martinq]

Drain and fill the reservoir with each oil change helps keep it fresh.

 

[ripcord]

I have test strips that I use. After 5 years it registers as good. Do I really need to change the fluid?

Those test strips usually just detect the presence of copper which is an indicator of corrosion. Copper corrosion is a decent proxy for water content.

The problem with old brake fluid is that it absorbs water up to a certain percentage level and then it's fully saturated. Once that happens, and because it's heavier than glycol, water starts to separate and migrate to the lowest points in the system which are usually the calipers or wheel cylinders. After a while those corrode and start to stick. Plus, if you get your brakes good and hot, the water in the calipers can boil, turning the water into a compressible gas and then no more hydraulic pressure when you apply the brakes.

So, long explanation over, if you trust your test methodology, no you don't need to change the fluid. Personally, I still would as it's cheap and easy.

 

[webfors]

How does clarity represent fluid condition? Moisture is not the only driver of deterioration. The fluid's additive package could be depleted, resulting in corrosion to components.

Sure, but let's be honest man. The probability of clear brake fluid being compromised is pretty low... I've yet to look under the hood of any car and see clear/clean fluid unless it was mine after a major bleed, or when it's fresh out of the bottle.

Anything's possible I suppose. I've always been of the opinion that the only way to have "clear" fluid is changing it often like a nut.

 

[webfors]

I’m still on the original brake fluid in both my 2016 Civic and my 2018 Corvette I will admit that in my almost 40 years of owning cars it’s one thing that I have neglected quite often. But I will also admit that when I have periodically had it done on various cars, I never honestly noticed any difference in brake feel at all.
I do plan on having the brake fluid done on both of my cars this year though. I just had a lot of other maintenance items that I felt were way more important and I had those done over the last few months.
In reality there are probably a huge amount of cars out there that are 15-20 years old and have never changed their brake fluid. I’m curious why it didn’t just become standard industry practice to change the fluid every time a car got new pads and rotors.

Major difference in feel on all the jobs I've done. Even the wife notices each time I do. Maybe the car/model makes a difference.

Drain and fill the reservoir with each oil change helps keep it fresh.

Excellent tip! 500ml syringe with plastic hose makes this a 2 minute job! I do this for power steering yearly on the Dodge Van. Takes ATF+4. One quart lasts me 3 years.