![]() Syringe and hose to drain and bleed the system.Appropriate brake fluid - check your owner's manual.A level surface to park the car, with space all around for working.Check for a firm pedal, and that the fluid level is within limits.Repeat steps 4 and 5 to be sure all the old fluid and contaminants are removed.Methodically bleed all 4 brakes, starting with the furthest wheel from the master cylinder - do not let the reservoir run dry, and do not allow any bubbles or air into the line whilst bleeding.Fill the reservoir with new fluid - making sure to use the correct type.Jack up the car, safely supporting all four corners with substantial axle stands - You’ll need to get to every bleed nipple before moving the car.Ensure the car is parked on a level surface, suitable for a jack and axle stands - not on gravel, grass or any other uneven/loose surface.However, if you do decide to change your brake fluid yourself, then we’ve put together this quick run-through of the process, with things you'll need and things to look out for: How to change your brake fluid The difficulty involved in changing the brake fluid is why we generally recommend people take their car to a qualified mechanic or garage to get it changed. ![]() Using a jack to manually lift the car, will likely take 2-3 hours - and that’s if everything goes well! Whilst the task of changing the brake fluid is not necessarily an overly complicated task, it does require a certain amount of appropriate tools and equipment. Changing your brake fluid involves lifting the car in the air, which if done incorrectly, can result in serious injury or worse. Can I change brake fluid myself?įirstly, you should only work on safety-critical parts of your car with qualified supervision, the correct tools, and consumables. When the fluid has been absorbing moisture, though, it can boil prematurely, causing very dangerous braking effects such as brake fade. Normally this will pose a little issue, as oil boils at a much higher temperature than water. In this instance, such as descending a long hill, the contact surfaces become extremely hot and this heat can transfer into the brake fluid. One of the most serious issues this can cause is when the brakes are needed for an extended period. Once the brake fluid becomes saturated with water and debris, it will degrade faster within normal use. What can happen if you don't change your brake fluid?Īs we've discussed, having contaminated brake fluid can cause issues with the braking performance, but this is not the only thing bad that can happen.Īs well as the brake fluid becomes contaminated with debris, it can also absorb moisture from leaking seals and joints, as well as from the reservoir cap. ![]() The reservoir cap is tight - moisture can enter if not.Too full - Brake fluid is corrosive and overflowing will damage nearby components.Contaminated - any particles will cause issues, particularly in cars with ABS.Dark - it should be a golden brown similar to the colour of olive oil.You will want to check that your fluid is not: It is important to include the brake fluid in your monthly fluid level checks, not only for the level but condition too. Many factors affect the required frequency of fluid changes, including brake usage, type of vehicle and more, but the general advice is to change your brake fluid at least every two years. How often does brake fluid need to be changed? Because air is compressible, it absorbs your braking force, instead of using it to slow the car as it should. This is especially apparent when air gets into the system, either through a broken pipe or hose, or when repairing brakes. Because the fluid is transmitting force, any contamination can affect the level of force applied when braking. With this, the fluid may lose some effectiveness as its primary function as a hydraulic oil is incompressible. Not only this, but small fragments of rust, dirt and other debris may enter the brake fluid over the years of operation and level top-ups. Like almost any liquid, brake fluid deteriorates over time. The braking system is a relatively simple component of a modern vehicle, and other than a few additions such as ABS, they have remained unchanged for many years.īrake fluid is simply a kind of hydraulic fluid used to apply force to the brakes, the brake pedal is attached to a cylinder - called the master cylinder - that applies hydraulic force to the fluid, which is in a sealed system of pipes travelling around the car.Īt each wheel there are secondary cylinders, which are integral to the brake callipers on cars with disc brakes, and hidden inside the mechanism on drum brakes, the brake fluid transmits force to each wheel, applying pressure to the braking surfaces. Find a service partner What does brake fluid do?
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