Brake fluid change

[tkk]

FI at have brake fluid change as a recommendation for their 2 year service. Has this any merit for a low mileage Moho (<5k miles)?
Any informed views welcome
tk

 

[Badknee]

Brake fluid absorbs water. Water boils a lot sooner than brake fluid but at 5k miles in two years I wouldn’t bother.

 

[Stealaway]

Garage's have a brake fluid tester now. It takes a sample and tells them if it's nessessary

 

[David and Sally]

I often wonder how systems that have a diaphragm on the master cylinder get water into the fluid. It's a sealed system?

 

[TheBig1]

I would say that you should be pretty safe at such low miles, but as mentioned above, brake fluid absorbs water, which leads to brake fade. It shouldn't be too expensive to change, as all garages have the kit these days to push fresh fluid through.

One point of note though is the combined brake/clutch master cylinder in fiat and some other manufacturers

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[Hettie's Crew]

Ours wasn’t changed until five years old because the Fiat Professional garage tested it each year.

 

[bigtwin]

Garage's have a brake fluid tester now. It takes a sample and tells them it's nessessary

I’ve corrected that for you.

Ian

 

[Happy Jim]

I bit the billet and paid for a service this year just to get a stamp! (I DIY otherwise), I asked the garage to change the brake fluid.....only to be told “nah, we test it and only change it if needed”, nice approach not just taking my money so they are now my “goto“ Moho garage! (Forest MOT, Wokingham).

Jim

 

[wiljoy]

My van is nearly 8 years old now and never changed the brake fluid. My garage do contamination check. They have 5 mechanics and very rarely need to change the brake fluid as its a sealed system. The boss says it a modern day moneyspinner which he doesn't agree with.

 

[gus-lopez]

I often wonder how systems that have a diaphragm on the master cylinder get water into the fluid. It's a sealed system?

condensation in the container?
I changed mine last year mainly because it is a combined system & the colour was black.

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[Googlebot]

I changed mine, snapped a brake nipple off and only just managed to get it out.

Nearly cost me a new calliper.

Getting at the clutch cylinder was such an arse I decided changing nearly all of it through the brakes was fine.

 

[tkk]

Thanks all,
Ill give it a miss this time. may get to use the brakes more soon!

 

[Landy Andy]

The brake hydraulic system is not a sealed system. It’s got a vent in the cap.

 

[David and Sally]

The brake hydraulic system is not a sealed system. It’s got a vent in the cap.

But does it have a diaphragm under the cap sealing the fluid from air?

 

[cmcardle75]

FI at have brake fluid change as a recommendation for their 2 year service. Has this any merit for a low mileage Moho (<5k miles)?
Any informed views welcome
tk

Brake fluid can be killed by overuse (i.e. braking a lot) or by water (absorbed over time). This is why there is a period recommendation as well as a mileage one. However, if they're not spongy feeling and the fluid is still light straw coloured, you can probably go longer than 2 years, unless it is compulsory on the service schedule.

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[dunnah01]

I crack each bleed screw every year otherwise they will seize up and be a real PITA. Brake fluid change when car is new to me and then never again, although most end up getting a change due to other issues

 

[Lenny HB]

Motorhome is going in for its second service in a couple of weeks (4 years old) as we have only done 10k since the last service so just having a light service but I've asked for the brake fluid to be changed this time. One reason we like mountains and don't like brake fade. I wouldn't bother getting it changed at 2 years.

 

[bigwood]

When we bought our Rienza it had been stood for nine months so for piece of mind I had a full service done by the garage we normally use. They tested the brake fluid and did a full service and inspection.
They found nothing wrong with the brake fluid but suggested the fronts discs and pads be changed next service. Considering the motorhome had only done 25000 I was surprised by that.
When they did change the discs and pads I mentioned the handbrake needed adjusting. When they pulled the drums off the linings were coming away from the shoes.
The difference in the brakes was really noticeable and the handbrake holds on three or four clicks. They did change the brake fluid at this time.

 

[dunnah01]

Not sure if brake fluid test is any use. It's a long way from the reservoir to the caliper and brake fluid doesn't flow very much so testing the reservoir fluid seems pointless

 

[Roger20]

Brake fluid can be killed by overuse (i.e. braking a lot) or by water (absorbed over time). This is why there is a period recommendation as well as a mileage one. However, if they're not spongy feeling and the fluid is still light straw coloured, you can probably go longer than 2 years, unless it is compulsory on the service schedule.

VW don't recommend changing brake fluid until 3 years from new and thereafter every 2 years.