Break Line Flush

[joe99000]

Dealer says I should flush the break line whenever I change the pads. Is this normal? What's the general cost for something like this at somewhere like meineke?

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by joe99000
Dealer says I should flush the break line whenever I change the pads. Is this normal? What's the general cost for something like this at somewhere like meineke?

RIP OFF ALERT.

You should have it changed and flushed every 3 years, regardless of pad changes.

[joe99000]

Yeah. I suspected so. He also says the rotors should be retooled when you changed the pads. This seems a bit more reasonable.

[whizmo]

Yeah. I suspected so. He also says the rotors should be retooled when you changed the pads. This seems a bit more reasonable.

Another area of controversy. Most of today's rotors don't have enough thickness for machining, so many mechanics think a much better strategy is to simply replace the rotors every 2nd or 3rd pad change. That's what I do with my cars and I have quiet brakes and good pad life. And it reduces the cost of most 4-wheel brake changes to $125 or so.

- Mark

[joe99000]

Thats a good strategy. But where can I get all my break pads done for $125?

[bigdadi]

Originally posted by joe99000
Thats a good strategy. But where can I get all my break pads done for $125?

BRAKE ... please.

[VettePilot]

Originally posted by N_Jay


RIP OFF ALERT.

You should have it changed and flushed every 3 years, regardless of pad changes.

Correct, this is the item most people overlook.

[75blazer]

Originally posted by joe99000
Thats a good strategy. But where can I get all my break pads done for $125?

In your garage.

[ctobio]

And for $50 and some brake fluid, you can bleed your own brakes as well:

http://hondapilot.org/forums/showthr...ighlight=bleed

[normkol]

I see you're also from Staten Island.

Guy's Tires has a good rep for service, I used to use their store on Forest Avenue, but that has closed.

I just had front pads and rotors replaced on my Tribute at Firestone, on Forest Ave and Richmond. The pads were about $150, a brake flush was $60. They seem to have done a good job.

If it was warmer weather, I would have tried to do it myself, but this job couldn't wait.

[formazzkikr]

I've never flushed brake lines on any of my cars ever, I think its a complete waste of time and money, why is it necessary?

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by formazzkikr
I've never flushed brake lines on any of my cars ever, I think its a complete waste of time and money, why is it necessary?

How many cars have you had?
How long have you kept them?

[formazzkikr]

I've had 5 cars myself currently I have a 99 Tahoe 5+ years, 96 Firebird Formula 9+ years, 95 Cavalier 2+ years (daily beater car) was very poorly maintained prior also, and it still runs like a champ, restored 2 1967 Firebirds with my dad and had both for over 5+ years, and my dad has had plenty of vehicles in his 40+ years of owning and restoring cars and he has never done it either to any of his cars.

I've never owned anything other than GM vehicles, I'm merely looking up info for my cousin who was told he needed to flush his brake lines, which I found hard to believe, but I don't know anything about Honda’s and if they can't handle not having that done unlike all the GM cars that have passed through my family.

Thanks for any info.

[whizmo]

Originally posted by formazzkikr
I'm merely looking up info for my cousin who was told he needed to flush his brake lines, which I found hard to believe, but I don't know anything about Honda’s and if they can't handle not having that done unlike all the GM cars that have passed through my family.

The reason calendar-based brake fluid changes are recommended on most of today's cars is because brake fluid is hygroscopic - it actively seeks and absorbs water from the air. Over time, the moisture content in your brake fluid gradually rises and this promotes corrosion in the system. Additionally, water in brake fluid vaporizes (boils) at a much lower temperature than the brake fluid itself and when your brake fluid boils, you have a compressible gas in your brake system and the pedal goes to the floor.

Flushing your brakes by bleeding them with new fluid removes the moisture and gets back to having what you want - pure brake fluid with the original properties necessary for optimal brake function.

Now there has been a gradual shift over time to add brake fluid maintenance to car's schedules where it wasn't there before or was at longer intervals. (I don't know what GM is recommending these days, but I'd be surprised if they are saying their fluid is "lifetime".) I believe this is due to three reasons: 1) Many cars now have extremely expensive components in their brake systems (e.g., ABS pumps) that are more sensitive to corrosion issues; 2) today's cars are heavier than yesterday's and make much higher demands on their brake systems; and 3) today's cars generally are expected to perform at a higher and safer level than yesterday's cars - we're now in a period when what was acceptable twenty years ago is not acceptable now.

So it's a judgment call on how often you should have this done. The mfg's judgment is usually 2 to 4 years. Can you ignore these recommendations? Sure, and you may have no problems. But don't complain when your brake pedal goes to the floor coming down a mountain grade or you have to replace a $1800 ABS pump. It's the old pay now or pay later tradeoff.

- Mark

[formazzkikr]

Thanks Whizmo (mark), that makes sense what your saying when looking at it that way. I'll let my cousin know, and leave it up to her. Thanks for your help.