Brakes are essential for stopping a car in time. But like any other system, they can fail if not maintained. Follow these simple steps to keep your brakes in good condition:
When Should You Flush Your Brake Fluid
When should you flush your brake fluid? This question has come up a few times and the answer is not always clear. Brake fluid is a necessity for your car, but it can also be harmful if it isn’t flushed regularly. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Brake fluid is a consumable product and needs to be replaced as part of your regular vehicle maintenance. If it’s not being replaced, the brake pads will become less effective over time.
2. The lifespan of brake fluid depends on a number of factors, including how often the brakes are used and how well they’re maintained. A rule of thumb is to replace brake fluid every 3 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
3. The best way to check the level of brake fluid is to use a syringe or turkey baster and squirt some into the reservoir. If the fluid isn’t visible after you’ve inserted the needle into the reservoir, it’s time to refill it.
How to Check If Your Brake Fluid is Low
If your brake fluid is low, you may notice decreased stopping power and increased wear on your brakes. Here are four simple steps to checking if your brake fluid is low:
1) Park the car in a safe location with plenty of room to spare.
2) Disable the emergency brakes.
3) Pull up on the emergency brake handle all the way to the floor.
4) Release the emergency brake and wait 20 seconds before braking again. If the pedal feels significantly harder to press than normal, your brake fluid is probably low.
How to Add Brake Fluid if It’s Low
If your brake fluid is low, you may need to add more. Follow these steps to add brake fluid if it’s low:
1) Park your car in a safe location.
2) Shut off the engine and remove the key.
3) Open the door and place a container under the rear wheel.
4) Remove the wheel assembly.
5) Locate and remove the cap on the master cylinder.
6) Remove the brake booster hose from the master cylinder.
7) Squeeze a few drops of brake fluid from the brake booster hose into the container. Be careful not to get any on your hands!
8) Replace the cap on the master cylinder and tighten it using a wrench.
9) Reattach the brake booster hose to the master cylinder.
10) Close the door and start your car.
When to Replace Brake Fluid
If you’ve put a lot of miles on your car, the brake fluid can start to smell bad. Brake fluid is a vital component of your car’s braking system and needs to be replaced regularly depending on how much use the brakes have been getting. When to replace brake fluid depends on the make and model of your car, but it’s typically recommended that you do it every 3-6 months or 6,000-12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Conclusion
When do you flush your brake fluid? Many drivers don’t even know this answer, and when they do, they often end up doing it incorrectly. To avoid any potential issues, here is the proper procedure for flushing your brake fluid:
1. Check the Owner’s Manual to see if your vehicle requires brake fluid to be replaced every 7,500 miles or every year. If so, you will need to replace the fluid at the same time you replace your pads or rotors.
2. Remove the cap on the reservoir behind the front left wheel (or right rear wheel on a RWD car). Pour about 2 quarts of fresh Master Cylinder Brake Fluid into the reservoir. Do not overfill; adding too much fluid could cause a leak and waste product.
3. Replace both caps and tighten them securely with an 8mm wrench (or equivalent) . Be sure to write down which side was on which axle before refilling as this information may be useful during maintenance procedures later in life .
4 Wait at least 30 minutes after filling reservoir before starting engine . This allows any air bubbles that were created while bleeding to dissipate completely