Why change your brake fluid?

- Private group -
Thu, 03/09/2017 - 11:00am

Story Location:
271 Commercial St
Rockport, ME 04856
United States

Brake Fluid is a hot topic because most people don't know why it should be changed. Did you know the average motorist who drives 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year uses his brakes about 75,000 times a year? Did you know that nearly half of all motorists in a recent Car Care Council survey said brake failure was their number one fear amongst driving emergencies?

So consider this: After three years of service, the average boiling point of the brake fluid has dropped to a potentially dangerous level because of moisture contamination and may not meet minimum federal requirements for brake fluid.

 

Brake fluid is a specialized type of hydraulic fluid whose properties are designed to provide pressure transfer to operate the brake while dissipating the heat developed during braking. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it can absorb water.  Since fluids cannot be compressed, they create a reaction within a sealed system according to a principal of science known as Pascal’s law (Force = Area x Pressure). By using this principle we can take a relatively small piston size inside the master cylinder and by depressing the pedal, exert physical force from the driver which will develop pressure inside the brake system.   When the pedal is released, springs or seals allow the fluid pressure to decrease, which allows the brakes to release.

 

Having the proper brake fluid type for your vehicle allows it to absorb the heat without boiling and push or apply adequate pressure to the brake pads or shoes to stop your vehicle. In the event of a brake system failure your pedal may go too low or even to the floor, requiring you to pump it several times to attempt to brake. Proper care of brake components and fluid will keep your brake system in top performance, allowing for safer stops. Make sure to have the fluid level and condition checked on a regular basis and have the fluid changed or flushed on a regular basis every couple of years, or better yet have this done when your brakes are replaced.

 

With EVERY service at Rockport Automotive, we check the condition of all your fluids as part of our complimentary checklist.  Give us a call at 236-2431 to schedule your next appointment or log onto www.rockportautomotive.com and click Schedule An Appointment.