Kyle's Corner (FYI) is it Time to Change Your Brake Fluid?

Well, by now we are
all aware of Toyota's
'unintended acceleration'
difficulties. Problems,
problems - even the greats
can run into problems!
Rather than focusing on
acceleration, what about
the other end - braking?

And specifically, should
you have the brake fluid
replaced on your vehicle?
It is a fact that most drivers
never have the brake fluid

changed on their vehicle. This might be because most people do not keep a vehicle
very long let alone running the wheels off' (I have a Volkswagen Jetta with 503,000
miles on the clock and yes, the brake fluid has been replaced several times!).

Concerning brake fluid replacement, many vehicle owner manuals recommend
having the brake fluid changed every two years or 24,000 miles. The fact is that
most drivers never have it done and there have been no specific brake failures
reported because of it. This suggests that it is not a priority for most people.

However, realistically, if you plan to keep a new vehicle more than five years
or if you have purchased a use vehicle that is five years old and you would like
to drive it for a number of years, a brake fluid flush and change is indeed worthwhile.
New brake fluid can prolong the life of wheel cylinders, calipers, master cylinder,
and other brake components.

If you decide to have the brake fluid on your vehicle replaced, many
independent garages can do the work. Be certain, however, that the garage
uses a good quality brake fluid. If you desire, you can possibly buy a quart
of say Castrol GT DOT 4 brake fluid and ask the independent garage to use
it. However, before you purchase brake fluid for your vehicle, contact
the new car dealer who sells your vehicle an ask the service technician if
Castrol or another kind of brake fluid will be okay for your vehicle. The
dealer will be able to suggest a brand of brake fluid that is suitable for your
vehicle (and it usually does not need to be what the dealer sells).

An independent garage will likely charge you an hour of labor to replace the
brake fluid on your vehicle. Be sure to get a quote first before you schedule to
have the work done. Also, I prefer to be at the garage to observe 'check' if the
brake fluid is actually being removed and replaced from the vehicle (you should
see the mechanic spending some time at each wheel of the vehicle plus
refilling the master cylinder reservoir in the engine bay.

Today, Toyota is having some problems related to acceleration. Focusing on
braking does not seem like a bad idea!

Have an auto question or comment? You can email it to me at
Kbusch3@verizon.net. Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best
for the Price..." www.DriveTheBestBook.com.