The brakes are one of the most crucial components of your vehicle. Brake fluid has the same level of significance as brake pads and rotors in a vehicle. Without it, neither the brake pads nor the rotors will perform as they are designed to, which would result in the vehicle being unable to come to a safe stop.

On average, changing your brake fluid costs about $105. The cost of brake fluid varies depending on the type of fluid, where you buy it, and how much you need. Labor charges also vary depending on your location and where you take the car. A brake fluid flush should be performed by a mechanic to guarantee your vehicle’s safety.

 In this article, we will discuss all you need to know about brake fluid and how much it costs to change the brake fluid in your vehicle.

How Much Does it Cost to Change Your Brake Fluid?

The cost to change the brake fluid in the majority of automobiles will run you an average of $100.

Brake fluid may be purchased for anywhere between $6 and $39 per quart, and technicians often charge between $150 and $210 per hour. 

Top 10 Suppliers’ Cost and Labor Estimates

When Should You Change Your Brake Fluid?

To maintain your level of safety while driving, you should change your brake fluid if it includes any water or other contaminants. Even though the majority of professionals will tell you to replace your brake fluid every two years, the vast majority of people don’t bother until it’s too late.

If you don’t change your brake fluid regularly, you risk having less effective brakes, pedals that go all the way to the ground, or having to pump your brakes to come to a stop. Your brake capacity may be affected if the brake fluid in your system becomes contaminated with moisture, since this may alter the way the brake system responds to increasing temperatures.

What Is the Purpose of Brake Fluid?

Because the braking system in your vehicle is an enclosed network, nothing should be permitted to exit or enter the system. It is essential because the braking system is hydraulic. As a result, when you apply pressure to the parking brake, you rebalance the brake fluid, which in turn pushes it and strengthens the preliminary load that is applied on the foot pedal.

For the braking system to function properly, the brake fluid must be kept pristine and uncontaminated at all times. Because brake fluid is hygroscopic, it attracts water molecules from the surrounding environment. This phenomenon will take place very gradually unless there is a backflow, but it will finally result in a bigger percentage of water over time.

When water is added to brake fluid, a significant amount of heat is produced which lowers the boiling point of the fluid. This causes the fluid to be less effective, which in turn leads to a mushy brake pedal. 

Changing the brake fluid will help safeguard the brake lines and any other parts of the braking system that are exposed to it.

When Should You Replace Your Brake Fluid?

Both vehicle and driver factors might affect how often brake fluid should be flushed, although the recommendation is every two years. It is essential to replace the brake fluid at regular intervals per the recommendations provided by the manufacturer. 

How you drive the vehicle is the primary factor that determines how long the brake fluid in your vehicle will remain effective. Vehicles that log a significant number of miles will need more regular oil and fluid changes.

Before putting the car back on the road, you are required to replace the brake fluid if it has been tainted with water or any other potentially hazardous chemicals. When making important repairs to your vehicle, like replacing your master cylinder, you must also replace the brake fluid.

It may be difficult to change the brake fluid because every time the cap on the master cylinder is removed, a small quantity of water that is present in the air will be soaked up. This shortens the period that the braking fluid will remain effective.

How to Check the Condition of Your Brake Fluid

Your car’s braking fluid is kept in a small plastic reservoir, which is normally located in the engine compartment of the vehicle. This reservoir will have two markings: LOW (L), and FULL (F). The mark has to be kept in this space between the two lines. If you are having difficulty seeing the mark, you might try positioning a light behind the reservoir.

It is considered normal if the level is a bit below average but remains in the middle of the lines. Because the brake shoes as well as pads on your vehicle wear down over time, the caliper pistons will push out much more, causing the brake fluid level to decrease. In addition to this, the brake pads on your car will eventually need to be replaced, and releasing the piston will bring the brake fluid level back up to its FULL level.

If the level is lower than the LOW mark, you want to look into the possibility of a brake fluid leak. A hydraulic braking system is a closed network, thus there shouldn’t be any leakage of brake fluid at any point. If the brake fluid level is very low or the master cylinder keeps emptying, there is probably a leak somewhere and you should have your automobile checked out by a professional as soon as possible.

How to Perform a Brake Fluid Replacement

To begin, raise the car and place it on jack stands so that it is stable. Performing a brake fluid flush with the wheels still on the vehicle may be possible in theory, but in practice, removing the wheels from the vehicle makes the process much more convenient and clears up more space. Additionally, to drain the brake fluid, you will have to release the four pins that are located behind the brakes.

Take a little amount of brake fluid out of the master cylinder. ==Your braking fluid may be removed from the master cylinder with the use of a turkey baster if you lift the hood of your vehicle. You need to be careful with the master cylinder, as an overflow might cause the pistons to be forced out of the cylinder.

Take the wheels off the vehicle, then loosen the bleed nut. A bleed nut is going to be included on the caliper of the disc brakes. Contrarily, the bleed screws for the drum brakes will continue to be located behind the spin cylinder.

Attach one end of a brief segment of clear rubber hose to your container. You should also make sure that one end is secured to the bleed screw located on the brake that is farthest away from the head cylinder. In most automobiles, this is the wheel that is located on the rear passenger side (RR).

Then grab a wrench and turn it counterclockwise to open the bleeder. Be very careful since bleeders tend to hold, and it’s simple to hurt them if you’re not careful. There will be a trace amount of brake fluid that will start to leak out.

Pull the screw out once the brake pedal is to the floor, while the other person gently pumps the brake pedal. Be careful to replenish the master cylinder with fresh brake fluid at regular intervals while you bleed the brakes. Operate as many times as necessary until the brake fluid that is expelled from the hose is clear. Carry out the identical procedures for each wheel, always beginning with the one that is located the farthest away from the head cylinder.

To ensure that all of the old brake fluid is flushed out, some individuals will first run alcohol through the braking system before introducing new brake fluid, and then they will add the new brake fluid thereafter. This is done to ensure that the brake fluid is completely clean.

Signs of Bad Brake Fluid

Inspection is the most effective method for determining when it is necessary to replace the brake fluid, as was discussed in the earlier part of this article. On the other hand, you may also see odd behavior coming from your brakes, which would indicate that the brake fluid needs to be replaced.

Even while preventative maintenance should keep this from occurring, it is still conceivable that a leak has developed, which has resulted in observable negative consequences. The following are some of the indicators of deteriorating brake fluid:

• The ABS warning light turns on
• The brake pedal operates strangely
• Car doesn’t stop properly
• Bad smell

Examining the contents of the transparent container allows you to determine the level of braking fluid. It should be transparent or have a yellowish tint. When it becomes darker, or even black, it is time to consider having it changed as quickly as possible.

Remember to check the amount of the braking fluid along with the color, however, do not leave the reservoir uncapped for an extended period since this might cause the fluid to become contaminated.

When it comes to changing the brake fluid, no hard and fast rule should be followed. It is dependent on a wide range of factors including your driving style, the weather where you live, the kind of vehicle you have, and many more.

Conclusion

Brake fluid is a very important part of the operation of any vehicle. When the brake fluid begins to show indications of deterioration, you should change it immediately. The accompanying symptoms may not always manifest themselves at the time when it is necessary to replace the brake fluid. As a result, you should make it a habit to check the amount and color of the brake fluid regularly. We recommend monitoring all of the fluids at the same time, preferably when you take your vehicle in for an oil change.