Take care of your brake fluid

One of the main maintenance activities of the car is the regular inspection and maintenance of the brake system. Many drivers believe that this operation is so simple that it can be successfully carried out on their own, in their own garage or even in a parking lot. We explain why it is worth contacting a specialized workshop for a seemingly standard “replacement of pads”.

One of the main maintenance activities of the car is the regular inspection and maintenance of the brake system. Many drivers believe that this operation is so simple that it can be successfully carried out on their own, in their own garage or even in a parking lot. We explain why, to replace the blocks, you should contact a specialized workshop.

The wear of brake system components such as pads, discs, drums or pads is largely dependent on the driving style and the quality of the parts used. If the degree of wear of these elements can be easily checked independently by controlling the thickness of the brake disc or pad, then in the case of brake fluid, on which braking efficiency depends, the situation is more complicated. The fluid is also subject to wear, but it is impossible to check its properties "by eye" without the use of specialized equipment.

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“Brake fluid is the most important consumable component of the brake system. If it is outdated, it poses a real safety hazard, as it can lead to the brake pedal falling into it and even to a loss of braking ability,” warns Maciej Geniul from Motointegrator.pl.

Why does brake fluid wear out?

Brake fluid loses its properties over time. One of the main characteristics of a suitable liquid is its high boiling point, reaching 230-260 degrees Celsius.

“Brake fluids based on glycol are hygroscopic. This means that they extract water from the environment, such as moisture from the air. Water, getting into the liquid, lowers its boiling point and thereby reduces its effectiveness. It may happen that such waste fluid boils during frequent braking. This creates air bubbles in the brake system. In practice, this may mean that even if we press the brake pedal all the way, the car will not slow down, ”explains a representative of the Motointegrator service.

Brake fluid also has an anti-corrosion effect that wears off over time. The only solution to keep your brake system free of rust and keep it in good working order is to change the fluid regularly.

“It is impossible to assess the effectiveness of brake fluid without specialized equipment, because we do not have the opportunity to check its parameters at home. However, such a fluid test is the moment for a professional workshop equipped with the appropriate tester,” adds Maciej Geniul.

Fluid replacement only by a specialist

In order to properly change the brake fluid, this also cannot be done in the parking lot under the block, because this operation requires the use of a special procedure.

“In order to properly change the brake fluid, first of all, the old, used fluid must be carefully sucked off and the entire system cleaned of contaminants. If we do not remove the remnants of the previous liquid from the very beginning, the boiling point will be lower. It is also very important to be efficient. bleed the system." - advises Maciej Geniul.

As you can see, the maintenance of the brake system only seems to be simple. In fact, to perform it correctly and safely, you need to have the appropriate equipment and knowledge.

The situation is even more complicated if we have, for example, a modern car equipped with an electric parking brake. In such a car, for servicing the brakes, it is sometimes necessary to have a special diagnostic tester that puts the car into service mode and makes it possible to calibrate the system later. In this case, without the appropriate equipment, we will not even dismantle the brake pads ... and the brake system is not only pads.