Auto Repair in Stillwater

Regular maintenance on a vehicle's braking system is critical. Performing scheduled maintenance on rotors, brake pads, and brake fluid is essential to healthy performance. Without regular maintenance, a catastrophic failure is likely. Fortunately, one component of that equation, brake fluid, is a cinch to test yourself. It's a breeze to test your brake fluid at home using brake fluid test strips. As needed, a full brake fluid flush should be professionally done regularly on any vehicle.

Brake fluid is a liquid chemical solution that is critical to the performance of hydraulic braking systems. When you press the brake pedal, the brake fluid exponentially increases pressure on the braking system. Each vehicle is designed with a specific type of brake fluid in mind. Utilizing the correct type of brake fluid is imperative. Adding the incorrect fluid can have long-term detrimental effects on a vehicle's continued performance.

Brake fluid should also have a high boiling point. A high boiling point allows the fluid to remain liquid despite the immense temperatures generated from the brake pads. If brake fluid does not have a high boiling point it is vaporized by the heat output of the brake pads and a brake malfunction occurs.

Over time, brake fluid can go bad. Performing regular maintenance of a brake system is monumental. Preserving brake fluid consistency and reliability is easy with a brake fluid flush. A full flush involves completely draining all the old liquid. The stale liquid is then replaced with fresh pristine brake fluid. Any particulates from decaying lines are flushed out with the old liquid. As is any moisture that may have been in the lines.

There is also a difference between a brake fluid flush and a bleed. A brake bleed releases just enough fluid to remove any air bubbles in the line, which can be detected if you find that your brake pedal feels spongy or soft. With a bleed, any unwanted material will remain in the lines. As a general rule, a brake fluid flush should be performed by professionals every 30,000 miles and a brake bleed should be performed as needed.

If you are in need of a brake fluid flush, bring your vehicle into our auto repair shop today!