Brake Fluid Change in Walnut Creek
Your vehicle requires different fluids to function optimally, and brake fluid is one of them. For most car owners, brake fluid is an "out of sight, out of mind" component of their vehicle. It's easy to forget about it, that’s why at Frank’s Auto Service in Walnut Creek we offer brake fluid testing and brake fluid change service.
What is brake fluid, and why is it important?
Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that serves as the medium by which power is transferred – from the pressure generated by your foot on the brake pedal to the brake pads on your vehicle’s wheels. The brake system magnifies this power (brake pedal, brake booster and brake master cylinder are involved), and the brake fluid transfers it to the calipers and ultimately, to brake pads.
Much like other fluids in your car, brake fluid can become contaminated, deteriorates with age, and becomes less effective. Brake fluid is also hygroscopic – it absorbs moisture, so over time its moisture content increases causing less effective braking and possible damage to the brake system components. This is why it is important to change brake fluid whenever the occasion demands – which is typically every 2 years or if the water content reaches 3%.
How do we know that it’s time to replace the brake fluid?
While there are some obvious signs that the brake system needs to be inspected – unresponsive brake pedal, noisy brakes, burning smell, or ABS dashboard light coming on, they don’t necessarily mean that it is the brake fluid that needs to be replaced. At Frank’s Auto Service in Walnut Creek we can perform visual inspection of the brake fluid – it allows us to quickly verify if the brake fluid is discolored and likely needs to be replaced. But the “gold standard” is to combine visual inspection with a brake fluid test that tells us the water content of the brake fluid. Once we know the water content of the brake fluid, we can make correct brake fluid change recommendation.
If it has been a while since your vehicle has undergone brake inspection and brake fluid testing, we highly recommend calling Frank’s Auto Service in Walnut Creek to make an appointment. Whether you are getting ready for the summer vacation, or planning a winter ski trip, or simply commuting to and from work, brake system is the primary safety system of your vehicle. So call Frank’s Auto Service and schedule brake system inspection – we will check out the brakes and the brake fluid and let you know if any repairs are needed.
We also offer convenient online appointments.