Changing or not changing brake fluid

[Walter F.]

I have and 84 Corvette which I have owned for 8 years. The car has 150,000 miles but has had many replacement parts by myself and previous owners. I only put about 1,000 miles a year on the car . It is garaged and well serviced. However lately i have been hearing I should change the brake fluid every 3 years. That would mean every 3,000 miles in my case. I have never changed the fluid in this car. I have been told all different stories. Some from mechanics that say dont change it unless it is milky gray to changing it will destroy the seals and other parts by adding new fluid to and old system that has never been changed. can anyone give me some guide lines?

[Domenic T.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Walter,
I've not seen anything on changing brake fluid but think it's not a bad idea as it absorbs water and the conditions as to where you drive. Rain, snow, and other conditions would matter.
I see rust in brake cylinders, calipers, and the MC. I try to bleed the brakes and get the dirty fluid out when I change the shoes or pads. The fluid turns amber as it absorbs moisture and the moisture seems to re-group at the bottom of the system and rust the calipers or cylinders.

Dom

[Terry M.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

I change brake fluid every 2 years in ALL of my driver cars except the 1970. It has DOT5 int he brake system and I flush that every 20 years or so. As Dom says, it is easy to do when replacing the brake shoes/pads.

I am told some of the high end European cars recommend brake fluid flush every two years in their owner's manuals, but I have not verified that myself.

[Joe L.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

I change brake fluid every 2 years in ALL of my driver cars except the 1970. It has DOT5 int he brake system and I flush that every 20 years or so. As Dom says, it is easy to do when replacing the brake shoes/pads.

I am told some of the high end European cars recommend brake fluid flush every two years in their owner's manuals, but I have not verified that myself.

Terry------


As long ago as 1980 Honda specified a brake fluid change every 30,000 miles.

[Duke W.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

The German OEMs recommend changing brake fluid every year or two years.

To my knowledge GM has never recommended brake/clutch fluid changes, but having owned cars for up to 50 years I learned the hard way that changing fluid periodically will save you from having to rebuild hydraulic components due to internal corrosion from absorbed moisture in conventional polyglycol brake fluid.

Duke

[Terry M.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Terry------


As long ago as 1980 Honda specified a brake fluid change every 30,000 miles.

Well so much for my "high end" idea. Even if it is Honda recommending it, I still think it is a good idea.

[Patrick N.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

I have and 84 Corvette which I have owned for 8 years. The car has 150,000 miles but has had many replacement parts by myself and previous owners. I only put about 1,000 miles a year on the car . It is garaged and well serviced. However lately i have been hearing I should change the brake fluid every 3 years. That would mean every 3,000 miles in my case. I have never changed the fluid in this car. I have been told all different stories. Some from mechanics that say dont change it unless it is milky gray to changing it will destroy the seals and other parts by adding new fluid to and old system that has never been changed. can anyone give me some guide lines?

I have changed my fluid on my 88 this past spring. my 88 sits for a couple months between drives, and the fluid hadn't been changed in a long time. so far no leaks but i don't how how different 88 with ABS is from 84.

[Mike E.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Don't forget if you have a manual transmission in C4-C7 it will have a hydraulic clutch. In just a couple years the fluid will get nasty black color. It should probably be changed at the same time.

Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Don't forget if you have a manual transmission in C4-C7 it will have a hydraulic clutch. In just a couple years the fluid will get nasty black color. It should probably be changed at the same time.

Mike

Mike,
Some folks are way ahead of this curve.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c6-corvette-general-discussion/2250773-take-care-of-your-clutch-preventing-or-curing-pedal-issues.html

Those who have been on a recent road tour with me have seen me change the clutch fluid at some of the overnight stops. I change the fluid in the clutch reservoir every couple of weeks to every couple of months depending on the amount of driving.

[Pat H.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

After having multiple issues with my C-3 callipers leaking a mechanic advise me to just bleed you brakes every spring when you bring the car out from storage. I've been doing that even since the early 90's and haven't had any issues so far. Usually on the first bleed at each calliper/wheel cylinder, there is this murky fluid that come out and then it clear up after the second or third bleed. The master seems to stay clean so far with on sediment.

[Robert B.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Brake fluid absorbs moisture. That moisture both ruins brake components and significantly lowers the boiling point of the fluid, resulting in increased fade. Change it ASAP.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

Mike,
Some folks are way ahead of this curve.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c6-corvette-general-discussion/2250773-take-care-of-your-clutch-preventing-or-curing-pedal-issues.html

Those who have been on a recent road tour with me have seen me change the clutch fluid at some of the overnight stops. I change the fluid in the clutch reservoir every couple of weeks to every couple of months depending on the amount of driving.

You use GM or Prestone or which brand?

[Terry M.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

You use GM or Prestone or which brand?

I am using GM fluid because it comes in a metal can, so it will store better as I carry a can with me on the road. Prestone is highly regarded by the serious track folks on Corvette Forum, and I think that is a pretty good recommendation. If I wasn't carrying it with me, I would use Prestone at 1/2 to 1/3 the GM price.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

I am using GM fluid because it comes in a metal can, so it will store better as I carry a can with me on the road. Prestone is highly regarded by the serious track folks on Corvette Forum, and I think that is a pretty good recommendation. If I wasn't carrying it with me, I would use Prestone at 1/2 to 1/3 the GM price.

Thanks. The Prestone is what I seemed to find recommended as well.

[Walter F.]

Re: Changing or not changing brake fluid

I was told by one person that some dealerships do not flush the brake system but just suck out the fluid from the master cylinder and add new fluid.Would that suppose method do any good with the old fluid still in the calipers? That is how many mechanics do transmission services. The drain the pan add a new filter and the rest of the fluid stays in the converter.