Braking News and Brake Flushes

Well I thought it was a little funny to title this newsletter “Braking News” instead of “Breaking News”. (Ok so maybe it’s not that funny”)

Anyway most folks think that having the pads and rotors replaced on your vehicle is all you need to do to keep up with your brake’s maintenance. The reality is your brake system needs to be flushed periodically as part of your regular maintenance

In normal driving conditions brake fluid becomes contaminated over time. As brake fluid becomes overheated the moisture in the brake line vaporizes and braking efficiency is reduced. Over time this causes contamination that can lead to rust and corrosion that will lead to the breakdown of braking components.

If you ever looked at the brake fluid in your vehicle’s reservoir it should be clear with a yellowish hue. When brake fluid becomes older the color will change to a deeper amber color or perhaps a brownish almost black liquid. This is a red flag for your brake system and  a brake flush is needed soon otherwise you may severely damage your braking system.

Having a brake flush will help ensure proper brake system performance and increase the lifespan of your brake components. Flushing and replacing brake fluid is a small cost however replacing rusted brake lines and other components can run well into the hundreds of dollars. Clearly there is a value in having a brake flush when needed.

We recommend that your vehicle has a brake flush every 30,000 miles. Think of it being this simple, brake fluid is as vital to stopping a car as engine oil is to keeping it going. You wouldn't drive your car with dirty old oil would you ? So let's keep this in mind when having your car serviced