When to Replace Brake Fluid?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164
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From:
I got in the habit with my autos that when I change oil or every other time I take a turkey baster and suck the brake fluid out of the master cylinder and replace with new. It is hard to get a turkey baster in some of the resoviors but you can use other smaller things, hyperdermic needles etc.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,352
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From: Augusta, GA
Whew, I thought I was the only one that didn't change brake fluid.
Ron, you are right on the money. Brake fluid does not deteriorate unless contaminated. DOT5 does not absorb moisture. I am an old auto mechanic, hotrodder and bike builder and in all my years I have never just changed brake fluid as a maintenance item.
An for the guy that said new fluid made the brakes feel better, you cannot compress a fluid, no matter what it is so you must have had air in the system that you bled out thus making the lever stiffer. And for the recommendatin at every 10k miles - hell, I would be doing this twice a year !
Ron, you are right on the money. Brake fluid does not deteriorate unless contaminated. DOT5 does not absorb moisture. I am an old auto mechanic, hotrodder and bike builder and in all my years I have never just changed brake fluid as a maintenance item.
An for the guy that said new fluid made the brakes feel better, you cannot compress a fluid, no matter what it is so you must have had air in the system that you bled out thus making the lever stiffer. And for the recommendatin at every 10k miles - hell, I would be doing this twice a year !
Brake fluid most certainly does degrade.
I suppose you think fork oil doesn't need to be replaced either?
All I can say from my personal experience is at least when the brake pads have to be replaced it just makes since to flush the old, black, worn out oil while you have the system open.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
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From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
I guess you never change brake pads either?
Brake fluid most certainly does degrade.
I suppose you think fork oil doesn't need to be replaced either?
All I can say from my personal experience is at least when the brake pads have to be replaced it just makes since to flush the old, black, worn out oil while you have the system open.
Brake fluid most certainly does degrade.
I suppose you think fork oil doesn't need to be replaced either?
All I can say from my personal experience is at least when the brake pads have to be replaced it just makes since to flush the old, black, worn out oil while you have the system open.
Ron
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: BFE MI
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From: Augusta, GA
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From: USA
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
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From: USA
How many actually change brake fluid in their cars? Havn't done a single car in my 40 years of driving. Unless major work is done, it aint needed. It's a none compressable fluid and don't change. It can't absorb moisture in a close system unless you drive around with the cap off as it's not vented to atmosphere. There is nothing special with a Harley that needs periodic fluid changes.
Ron
Ron
Last edited by KBFXDLI; Feb 12, 2009 at 05:19 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Parkton, Maryland
Ron: Go bleed your front caliper and you will see how much deterioration the brake fluid goes through. Water finds its way in and that does compress and degenerates your brake performance. My bike takes Dot4 which degrades 2x faster than Dot5. Same with the cars. They get flushed with every re-line.