Change Your Brake Fluid

Atlantic Dawn

€24.99 for this kit, would love to hear anyones experience using it?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_204645_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

Crasp

I thought ABS made working on brakes more difficult? I could do it on a bike/motorbike, but wouldn't attempt it on a car. Then again, I don't do it on my bikes either, I still leave it to the pros.

lomb

2 year changes are probably specced for repeated autobahn stops from 100+mph and high humidity environments. Apparantly moisture can be absorbed into it through the rubber hoses and plastic tank. Id say 3 or 4 years would be safe for the average car. If the easibleed is used then no software is needed as the fluid is just pushed through, however if air enters a vw system the the abs module needs to be activated to flush the air out. Just use a pressure bleeder!

robtri

Esel wrote: »

Fuppin' heck, that's some mileage! :eek:

I was just thinking the same..... :eek:

Esel

-Corkie- wrote: »

I didnt put it up. A mate of mine had it as a taxi got it for 6k last year..:)

Don't say he was quitting the game because there's no money in it?

-Corkie-

Esel wrote: »

Don't say he was quitting the game because there's no money in it?

No I am totally O/T here but he got a 2010 Passat then and got a new 2011 Caravelle last week. He works 24/7 though, dogs life.

-Chris-

-Corkie- wrote: »

Thanks Chris for mentioning it last night. I have mine booked in with VW next week to do it. It has not being done since new (07) now over 292k..:)

Is there any way we'd be able to get a photo of the old fluid or any info on it (water content etc.) if you'd chance your arm to ask?

I'd always recommend it, or do it, because the manufacturers recommend it, but I'd be interested in the real-world experience of it.

-Corkie-

-Chris- wrote: »

Is there any way we'd be able to get a photo of the old fluid or any info on it (water content etc.) if you'd chance your arm to ask?

I'd always recommend it, or do it, because the manufacturers recommend it, but I'd be interested in the real-world experience of it.

I will ask any way but I was looking at the wifes car today and thinking of what you were saying last nite and the fluid in my reservoir seemed to be duller in colour than her car. Mine has over 4 times the mileage.

BrianD3

Colour doesn't mean a whole lot when it comes to brake fluid. If the fluid is dark it doesn't mean that there is a lot of moisture in it or that it has been contaminated.

Brake fluid change interval on my Laguna is 72,000 miles or 4 years. So, if Renault say 4 years and some other manufacturers say 2 years and they use the same Dot 4 spec fluid, who is right?

I have seen enough conflicting info on this to be unconvinced about the value of routine brake fluid changes. I have seen official (older) documentation from Renault which states that brake fluid doesn't need to be changed as part of servicing, only if a major component of the brake hydraulic system is replaced.

In terms of sticking to service schedules and anything else being shoddy maintenance - on the same page where it recommends 72k miles/4 years for replacing Laguna brake fluid, it also says that airbags should be replaced every 10 years. On a car with 6 airbags - I don't believe this is going to happen in reality, not in Ireland or in any other country.

Stheno

Thanks for the thread Chris, will be asking my mechanic to do this on my car when I get it serviced, not been changed since I've had it and it's done over 45k miles in that time.

dnme

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

€24.99 for this kit, would love to hear anyones experience using it?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_204645_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

Works well. But in my case the kit had no compatible cap for my brake fluid reservoir. I had to go to a scrap yard, get one there and mod it to fit this kit. Dont use too much pressure in the tyre. 15psi should do it.