One of the things that your mechanic checks at each service is the quality of your brake fluid, including its water content.

Brake fluid and its worst enemy – water, are highly attracted to each other.  Moisture from the air will work its way into the brake fluid any way it can, forming a dysfunctional relationship that causes trouble for all involved.  This happens slowly but continually, even when you are not driving the car and is exacerbated in humid conditions.  Once we find a water content of 2-3% or higher it’s time to change the fluid.  Here is a quick explanation of why aged brake fluid with even this seemingly low water content doesn’t function properly.

This happens slowly but continually, even when you are not driving the car and is exacerbated in humid conditions.  Once we find a water content of 2-3% or higher it’s time to change the fluid.  Here is a quick explanation of why aged brake fluid with even this seemingly low water content doesn’t function properly.

The brake fluid transfers the power from your foot on the brake pedal to the brake pads to stop the car.  The brake pads can reach extremely high temperatures due to the friction and this heat is passed into the brake fluid.  Healthy brake fluid can take a lot of heat.  However, aged brake fluid containing water boils at a lower temperature, forming air bubbles which do not transmit the force of your foot to the brake pads anywhere near as efficiently.  While you may feel this during normal driving as spongy or slow to react brakes it’s more likely that you would only notice a difference if you had to brake heavily or repeatedly as this is what generates a lot of heat.  This is also the time that you don’t want your brakes to let you down.

While you may feel this during normal driving as spongy or slow to react brakes it’s more likely that you would only notice a difference if you had to brake heavily or repeatedly as this is what generates a lot of heat.  This is also the time that you don’t want your brakes to let you down.

If you happen to notice any indicators that a car's brakes might require repair or service, just book online with Woolgoolga Motors and get the vehicle's brake system checked at our Woolgoolga service centre today.