Brake Fluid Change???

[Motzking1]

Brake fluid absorb moisture over time. That is a fact. Water boils at 212f brake fluid at about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Meaning if your brake fluid is contaminated with water it will affect the point at which it boils. Wet brake fluid( brake fluid containing moisture above 1%) boils at approximately 311 degrees. Water is much more corrosive than brake fluid meaning it will Rust or corrode the internal components of the braking system at a much faster rate than brake fluid alone. Brake fluid that is open to the atmosphere will fairly quickly absorb moisture. Of course there is a lot of factors that affect this. How long it is open to atmosphere. Ambient temperature dew point ect. Bla, bla, bla. If you live in Seattle like I do it becomes contaminated in the vehicle anywhere from 3 to 6 years. If you live in Arizona probably closer to 6+ years. Those are simply estimates based upon my experience. I work for one of the largest Distributors of brake parts in the Northwestern United states. It is a family business and I am the 3 generation in the business. I am also an ASE Master Automotive technician for 24 years. I do know a thing or two about brakes. With that being said I recommend replacing the fluid whenever the brakes are done. It's just a logical time to do it it's approximately the correct interval. Of course that varies with mileage driven and all that good stuff. Why I pay to have a brake flush done independent of a brake service. It just doesn't make Financial sense. It should be done at the time the brakes are serviced in a proper brake service. Brakes work as an entire system together. Outside of a normal service and replacement of brake pads shoes it's just an unneeded expense. I hear what everyone is saying about the corrosion inside of the system and possibly affecting calipers and are wheel cylinders. I have personally done thousands of brake services on thousands of vehicles. Of 1000 Vehicles serviced about 3 have ever had a caliper Frozen from corrosion internally. I know calipers are replaced quite often and that's okay with me since it makes my family money. Go right ahead and replace those calipers but I rarely ever see them go bad from internal corrosion. 99% of the time it's from a slider that is external that is frozen or damaged not internal damage. If you're worried about the expense of replacing calipers due to internal corrosion you're worried about something that is highly unlikely ever to affect your vehicle. The brake fluid flush independent of a brake service is just a waste of money in my opinion. Wait and tell your servicing your brakes and do it then it should be less labor since you're already in there. That's just my two cents.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[CoryM]

Originally Posted by Motzking1

Brake fluid absorb moisture over time. That is a fact. Water boils at 212f brake fluid at about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Meaning if your brake fluid is contaminated with water it will affect the point at which it boils. Wet brake fluid( brake fluid containing moisture above 1%) boils at approximately 311 degrees. Water is much more corrosive than brake fluid meaning it will Rust or corrode the internal components of the braking system at a much faster rate than brake fluid alone. Brake fluid that is open to the atmosphere will fairly quickly absorb moisture. Of course there is a lot of factors that affect this. How long it is open to atmosphere. Ambient temperature dew point ect. Bla, bla, bla. If you live in Seattle like I do it becomes contaminated in the vehicle anywhere from 3 to 6 years. If you live in Arizona probably closer to 6+ years. Those are simply estimates based upon my experience. I work for one of the largest Distributors of brake parts in the Northwestern United states. It is a family business and I am the 3 generation in the business. I am also an ASE Master Automotive technician for 24 years. I do know a thing or two about brakes. With that being said I recommend replacing the fluid whenever the brakes are done. It's just a logical time to do it it's approximately the correct interval. Of course that varies with mileage driven and all that good stuff. Why I pay to have a brake flush done independent of a brake service. It just doesn't make Financial sense. It should be done at the time the brakes are serviced in a proper brake service. Brakes work as an entire system together. Outside of a normal service and replacement of brake pads shoes it's just an unneeded expense. I hear what everyone is saying about the corrosion inside of the system and possibly affecting calipers and are wheel cylinders. I have personally done thousands of brake services on thousands of vehicles. Of 1000 Vehicles serviced about 3 have ever had a caliper Frozen from corrosion internally. I know calipers are replaced quite often and that's okay with me since it makes my family money. Go right ahead and replace those calipers but I rarely ever see them go bad from internal corrosion. 99% of the time it's from a slider that is external that is frozen or damaged not internal damage. If you're worried about the expense of replacing calipers due to internal corrosion you're worried about something that is highly unlikely ever to affect your vehicle. The brake fluid flush independent of a brake service is just a waste of money in my opinion. Wait and tell your servicing your brakes and do it then it should be less labor since you're already in there. That's just my two cents.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Yeah, my shop rarely replaces calipers since we check pins and pistons prior to quoting. Pins or swollen pads are definitely the common problems, and lots of other shops call for caliper replacement just because the pins need some lube. I do still find some stiff caliper pistons, but very low percentage (and usually those stupid e-brake in caliper design or fixed calipers where one piston is stiffer than the others.).

I always figured flushing when relined was best since you are disturbing the sediment in the calipers when pushing the pistons back. No better chance to get it out than when it is loose. It's also just easier as a shop to keep track of when you have flushed customer cars. I've yet to boil brake fluid with street pads. I've found even with unflushed fluid the street pads will fade/melt before the fluid boils but it's probably pretty close. Performance pads are a different story though.

Had a newer AMG G-wagon in a few weeks ago and it needed 4 calipers due to stiff pistons. I think they were $3200 and had to come from Germany.