Brake Fluid flush, Worth it?

[buddha102]

Im thinking about doing a brake fluid flush on my lanos, seems that my braking power is really bad. Read some articles on the net, which says

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.

Any1 did it on there car?

Is it worth it?

Is it hard job?

I dint changed my since i bought the car in 2002 (car was made in 2001)

Source: http://www.aa1car.com/library/bfluid.htm

[MMamdouh]

i have did it before... frankly didn't notice any "performance" gains as far as the brakes are concerns but lets be honest... the only way to experience the real effect of such service is to boil the old brake fluid under hard braking and have a crash... i'd rather have a brake fluid flush

MMamdouh

[wolfsreign]

well how hot is the fluid at normal operating temp?
then i thought if you increase the pressure of a fluid, you increase the boiling point...?

or is this only the fluid at the caliper?
~wolf

agreed though, would never hurt to do it just incase.

[MMamdouh]

well how hot is the fluid at normal operating temp?

well... brakes are not as engines in terms of heat... it depends on your driving style and road conditions... i have managed to deform the plastic wheel covers and smoke the pads to oblivion during city driving... it was more "insane city driving"... on the other hand i touch the brakes once or twice on a 55 kilometers trip to work on the highway... basically the brakes will be just COLD

their is no ideal temp for brakes when it is used... it is so various due to difference in driving conditions and driving style.

then i thought if you increase the pressure of a fluid, you increase the boiling point...?

you got that right so supposedly at 10k PSI during braking would increase the fluid's boiling point (brake fluid + water mix) so it probably wont boil at the first high temp braking... once you release the brake pedal you are back to normal pressure (the braking system @ atmospheric pressure when you don't apply the brakes) so you are back to standard boiling points for both the brake fluid and water

since heat will not disperse as fast as the brake pressure then the hot components will keep on heating the fluid and it might start boiling and that will produce gas bubbles inside the calipers... i recon you can imagine what will happen during the next use of the brakes under the current situation

or is this only the fluid at the caliper?

the most affected area with the boiling process is the fluid in the caliper as it is the area were all the heat is generated.

MMamdouh

[wolfsreign]

so are there different grades/weights for the fluid then?
yes i know its not oil, its hydralic fluid.. just im just thinking out loud.. basically get like a heavy weight or something to increase the BP even more?

also i know most rotors have this, but what about a rotor that also moves air around...?
i know thats why they make slotted and drilled and both. but the inside of the rotor has those like holes.. so why dont they improve the design of lets say pull air in through the middle hole, or something. idk. just rambling. anyways...

Buddha, let me/us know how it feels after the change, if you do it.
~wolf

[buddha102]

here is a video that should answer your question wolf :P

http://www.ehow.com/video_2326808_choos ... fluid.html

I might have to check my brake fluid of the color, but i still have to change it if i keep the car for a while (which i will). Ive got to read some articles about changing brake fluid.

[Daniel]

WARNING!
Don't mix DOT 5 (silicon base) with any other brake fluids.
Don't use DOT 5 if rubber parts are not compatable with.

http://www.bardahl.ca/products/pmp/6013.html .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid .

[wolfsreign]

thought it was DOT3 for brake fluid? >.< unless thats power steering. oh well.
~wolf

[daewoomofo]

there is alot of different types of brake fluid. dot 3 is one type, its actually the most common type i think. but you can use brake fluid in the power steering system. but DO NOT use power steering fluid in the brakes!

[MMamdouh]

how can you use brake fluid in PWS system??? i recon it will foul the system... right?

MMamdouh

[daewoomofo]

no. both systems are hydrolic. brake fluid is a very refined hydrolic fluid, it is very clean so that it wont destroy seals in the brake system. the power steering fluid is bacicly a unrefined verson of the brake fluid. its an old scool thing i leaned from my dad years ago. some say dont do it, ive been driving with it since i put the engine in the woo over 2 years ago. no power steering porblems yeet

[wolfsreign]

yea... basically what mofo said. both are hydraulic. oh. ive only heard of DOT3. haha. got skooled again. thanks for the info mofo.
~wolf

[Marksta]

I need to flush my brake/clutch fluid, too, as I haven't done it and my Chevy Aveo is coming up on 55k miles. The brake/clutch fluid is black...and I'm pretty sure it should be clear. I don't know how to change my brake/clutch fluid as I've never done it before. Does anyone have a good resource for me that will tell me how to do it for my 2005 Chevy Aveo? Help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark