The Importance of Flushing Your Car’s Brake Fluid

Owning a vehicle can be a big responsibility, as it is a big investment that requires regular maintenance to prevent significant and costly repairs. Flushing the brake fluid in your car is an important part of maintenance that you must have done to prevent major issues with the braking system and keep it running smoothly.

How Brakes Work

Vehicles use brakes to stop, which is vital for a car. Cars use four of them, with two in the front and two in the back. The front brakes tend to work the hardest because the car’s weight shifts towards the front when stopping. The two types of brakes are disc brakes and drum brakes, with the disc type being the most effective. Disc brakes are usually in the front of the vehicle and drums are usually in the back. Front brakes work the hardest, so it makes sense for the most effective type to be in the front of the vehicle. The braking system functions with a hydraulic system, and they require fluid like any hydraulic system.

There are four brake rotors on a vehicle, with one being on each wheel. For a vehicle to come to a stop, pressure needs to be applied to the rotors to stop the wheels from turning. Brake pads clamp onto the rotors so the vehicle can stop. This clamping action is what allows the pads to apply pressure on the rotors. Vehicles use a brake pedal to apply pressure to all four rotors, which is where the hydraulic system comes in. The pedal needs to be stepped on, which uses brake fluid to apply the necessary pressure to clamp down on all four rotors. Brake fluid is important to stopping all four wheels, and this fluid needs to be changed to maintain its effectiveness.

Brake Fluid Problems

Braking systems are susceptible to wear and tear, as with anything that requires daily use. Materials on all the moving parts in the brake system can break off with use, which can get into the fluid in the hydraulic system. Moisture also can get into the system, which creates rust that can break off into the fluid as well.

The combination of the materials and the rust getting into the fluid results in it becoming less effective, which will make it harder to stop a car. A good way to clean the debris out of the fluid is to get it flushed by a professional mechanic every so often. It is important to have this done after a certain amount of time to keep the system running smoothly and the brakes working properly. There are ways that your mechanic can detect if the brake fluid is not as effective and needs to be flushed.

There are also some symptoms that could indicate your car’s brake fluid may need to be flushed and replaced with new fluid. The first symptom is if the brake pedal needs to be pressed harder than usual. Another one would be if the pedal needs to be pressed more than one time to stop the vehicle. Both of these can be a sign of low fluid levels.

A few more symptoms of a braking issue are if the dashboard brake light is on, if there is a clear or brown liquid leaking under your car, and if the fluid level in the reservoir is below the minimum line. It is important that you are aware of these issues and to get your vehicle checked out to see if the fluid needs to be replaced. This is necessary to ensure safety and to avoid an accident that can be caused by a car not stopping properly.

Trust the Pros

It is important to get the brake fluids flushed to keep them working effectively. It is recommended to have the brakes flushed around every 30,000 miles or so. The flushing process involves removing the old fluid that may be dirty or ineffective and replace it with new fluid.

This maintenance can prevent issues from arising and keep the brake system running smoothly. Get your car checked out or brakes flushed at Ultimate Bimmer Service located in Carrollton and Dallas, Texas, where our specialized service technicians are waiting to help with any maintenance or repairs your BMW may need.