Brake Fluid Change

garcon6

Due to have a full service on my Peugeot 3008 1.6Hdi 2010 I did ask about having a brake fluid change though it would be an extra £30. As I got my car from auction there is not a great deal of service history but recently passed MOT. Is it best to get a brake fluid changed when brake pads are to be replaced what difference does it make.

gilbert_and_sullivan

£30 is cheap, and yes its worth doing as brake fluid is hyrdroscopic, changing the fluid flushes out any moisture or air thats got in and helps to extend the life of the calipers by keeping internal corrosion and wear to a minimum, and is worth doing to make sure the bleed valves undo should you need to change a flexible pipe at any time.
You should notice an improvement in the 'bite' of the brakes after.

Proper brake servicing, strip clean and lube is just as important and often completely neglected by garages incl main dealers unless the customer specifically requests.

tberry6686

for £30, when you have no idea if it has ever been changed, then it is well worth doing.

Wish I could find a place that would do mine for £30 as both cars could do with it, best price I have found, so far is £70.

arcon5

Doesn't matter when you get it done. Brakes don't need to be stripped or wheels off for it if it's in the air.
Test the fluid first. It may well be perfectly fine. The devices for testing it are exceptionally inexpensive.

colino

A £30, at a garage, fluid change is not worth doing. If you must change the fluid you are doing it for two reasons; one, it is hygroscopic so it actively absorbs moisture from the air, normally at the reservoir end of the system. Secondly the brake fluid becomes contaminated from brake seal parts and to a degree, corrosion too, normally at the calipers and cylinders.
To do a worthwhile change of the fluid, you would have to run new fluid throughout the system and every brake nipple would have to be cracked and bled. That would remove the moisture laden fluid from the open (reservoir) side of the system and get rid of the black gunge at the operating ends too.
For £30 you get the apprentice putting a turkey baster into the reservoir and sucking the old fluid out, refilling and letting the delighted owner see shiny new fluid there.

Joe_Horner

Not necessarily, Colino.

If they were quoting £30 as a separate job then you're probably right but, if it's in the air and wheels off anyway for a service then it's only 5 minutes and a litre or so of fluid to connect up a pressure bleeder, crack the nipples, and pump the fluid through.

In that situation, £30 is money for old rope!

colino

No Joe, that's not how job pricing works or techs would never earn a bonus and garage owners would have to trade down to Audis. Only in a fixed price service is the whole package set. Everything else gets charged at book time.

Joe_Horner

Not by my local garage - he has the experience to know what jobs will overlap and prices the job as a whole. He's snowed under as a result!

I get discount anyway for being in the next workshop along from him but, if he didn't price the way he did I'd still be doing all my own maintenance. I don't mind paying someone for the hours they work, but I won't pay them twice for the same hour!


eta: of course, as a local independant he doesn't get bonuses, and he prefers older cars for himself anyway!

colino

If you have a spare few bob, get a hold of an old Autodata workshop times book (I don't think they do hardcopy anymore, everythings on the screen) and you will see how a proper, profitable garage should price jobs. You already know by referring to paying for the same hour twice, but that is the only sane way for a half-busy workshop to plan and bill time!

arcon5

I doubt even quickfit would replace brake fluid through the top. He'd still have to crack the bleed nipples at each wheel anyway so makes no sense. Especially if a nipple had to be drilled out, he'd just be back to where he started.
Makes no sense, even for a cowboy.

arcon5

Workshop times by the likes of autodata would be used as a guide only. Garages know full well some jobs simply create more problems as they go on, would be a rookie mistake to use them strictly.