Brake fluids can be made of different base components—such as glycol-ether, mineral oil, and silicone – some of which are prone to absorb moisture from the air.

That’s important and here’s why. Brake fluids must have a high boiling point because they are exposed to very high temperatures in the wheel cylinders of drum brakes and disk brake calipers. But over time, depending on the formulation, fluids that have been degraded by moisture can vaporize under hot temperatures. When vaporization occurs, your brakes can fail.

Vaporization is even more likely to occur from continuous light braking while driving on hilly or mountainous areas, like the North Georgia mountains, because this kind of driving generates the highest temperatures in your brake lines. In case of vaporization, your brakes won’t work properly even when pushing the brake pedal all the way to the floor, creating a dangerous situation.

Over time, in addition to moisture from the air, contaminants can also get into brake fluids and work their way into your brake components. For optimal brake performance, call us today to schedule an appointment to flush your brake fluid.