Flushing brake fluid

[GenesisGuy70]

How often do ya'll do it? Ford doesn't mention anything about the brake fluid in it's maintenance schedule. I've got 105K on the car in the sig and figure it's probably about time. When I changed the fluid in my last car which has 140K on it at the time the fluid was black and I'm not trying to have that happen again.

Yes, I did a search and couldn't find any thread about this.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Complete flush and bleed every 2 years regardless of mileage. Moisture problems can be expensive to fix.

Look at my signature. A couple of weeks ago I change the master cylinder on my 84 Honda for the first time. I had not failed but was getting "soft" in its feel and there was a bit of dust from seepage around the push rod from the brake pedal. So safety first, I changed it. I'm the original owner. And the calipers have never been touched.

 

[JC1]

I try to do it every two years. Its overkill but its easy to do.

Regards, JC

 

[Rat407]

In all the vehicles I have owned I only flush the brake fluid when I have to replace brake pads and shoes. I have never had any issues.

It is a good idea to do it I'm sure and can't hurt anything. I think I read somewhere that it is recommended to be accomplished every two years because of potential moisture build up in the brake fluid.

 

[Artem]

I usually change mine during brake pad replacement. Sometimes it takes 50k, sometimes it takes 100k.

If the car was bought new, the fluid usually gets dark by then and could use a change, seeing as new fluid is clear as water.

My regular daily drivers usually go the distance before a fluid flush but something that gets driven spirited always gets serviced sooner because my life depends on the brakes working @ 100% when I'm doing triple digits... "On a closed road, of course"

 

[marc1]

Originally Posted By: Throt
How often do ya'll do it?


Unless specified by the manufacturer (and that was only on one vehicle I have ever owned) I only flush when I need to break into the hydraulics i.e. flex hose, caliper, master replacement etc.

 

[Eddie]

+1 MARC1

 

[Rolla07]

Did mine in october for first time. Dont think i will bother again.

 

[mclasser]

I know Honda recommends it every 3 yrs, regardless of mileage. This is what I stick with on all my vehicles now.

 

[KGMtech]

every 2-3 years. Try to do it in nice weather, not so much fun if it's cold outside.

 

[Bluestream]

Each time you change the pads bleed off a bit of fluid. That way you never need a flush Local BMW dealer does this and told me dont bother with the flush (overkill)

 

[LotI]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
I know Honda recommends it every 3 yrs, regardless of mileage. This is what I stick with on all my vehicles now.

+1. If you plan on keeping the vehicle past the lease/payments timeframe.

 

[HTSS_TR]

The recommend is 2 years for most vehicles with DOT-4 brake fluid (which is most European vehicles), and 3 years for DOT-3 (which is most Japanese vehicles).

I bleed/flush every 4-5 years and it happens to be the same time I replace front pads.

I have Miyvac 7201 that I use to bleed my brake, it is only 10-15 minutes job but other works(raise/lower car, remove/reinstall wheels) take much longer.

 

[Lolvoguy]

I find a nice slow gravity bleed is just as useful as one of those pressure bleeders.

I had one for my bmw, but sold it after I learnt of the gravity bleed. easier and i can do it alone as opposed to relying on someone else to pump the pedal. Just have to make sure the res. stays topped up to avoid any air in the system

 

[AKhan87]

3 years starting now, all my celica's and the 06 Camry had CLEAN fluid coming out when replaced after 190k+.

98-99 corollas we have and the 96-00 civics, always had Dirty brake fluids.

From never having issues to making it a maintenance, I bet that even 3 years is overkill but I'm going to stick to 3 years.

 

[bvance554]

I've never flushed my brake fluid, and I've never had a reason to. Ardent BITOGers will tell me of the impending doom and expensive repairs, but yet I have never experienced any issues. Flush away if it makes you feel better.

 

[Oil Changer]

To summarize, if you have not flushed your brake fluid at this point, do it then forget it about it.

 

[mjoekingz28]

For those that dont change theirs, just have a look at sportbikes where the reservoir is right there. You just change it when it starts to darken. But still, i think they tell you in the manual every year or two.

 

[Astro14]

Every two years as required by both Mercedes and Volvo. I do this for my other cars as well. Old fluid boils at a lower temperature because of the moisture in the fluid. That moisture can cause corrosion in expensive parts like ABS modules. The calipers and other brake parts on all my cars are original, no corrosion, no failures.

It takes a liter to do it completely. And $10 every two years beats one $1500 ABS module, or one loss of brakes on a mountain road.

 

[supton]

I've been doing every 2-3 years, but might just start doing it once/year. It's not that hard to do, after all.