A vehicle comprises of a combination of important parts that work in unison to keep you moving safely. However, once you’re moving, you also need the capability to stop.
All of today’s vehicles come with a hydraulic braking system that pressurizes and delivers brake fluid to your wheel brake assemblies for stopping your vehicle. That braking system requires an intermittent examination, and maybe some required maintenance.
Bleeding brakes is the method of taking out air bubbles from the brake lines. A brake fluid exchange is the process of replacing old brake fluid with new clean brake fluid. A brake fluid exchange is a vital maintenance task suggested by some vehicle manufacturers.
The Role Of Brake Fluid
Brake assemblies are an intricate system comprising of a plethora of components, including wheel cylinders, pads, rotors, shoes and drums, and lines and hoses. When you depress the brake pedal, brake fluid puts pressure on the brake pads, then onto the rotors causing the vehicle to slow down and stop.
When your brake fluid becomes low, not only can it signify that your brake shoes or pads are worn, however, your hydraulic brake system also is at risk of consuming air which could be possibly serious and dangerous. Below are a couple of signs that your brake fluid is low or is leaking:
Soft pedal: Also known as spongy brakes, soft pedals are when the brake pedal feels “spongy” as additional pressure is applied to the pedal and the pedal might sink lower to the floorboard. This might be an indication that air has got into the hydraulic system.
Oily pool under the vehicle: Brake fluid can leak from many places, including the hoses, surrounding the calipers and out of the master cylinder. Leaks need to be fixed sooner than later since brake fluid levels are going to be decreasing quickly, and air could be getting into the hydraulic system.
ABS warning light: The Anti-lock Braking System light signifies that there is a failure with the antilock braking system, which might be a brake fluid leak or something more severe.
Dated brake pads: Thinner brake pads are going to require more brake fluid to stay near the wheels, making the brake fluid basin seem low.
Brake Fluid Exchange as Opposed to Brake Bleeding
A brake fluid exchange involves taking out basically all the fluid from the system and exchanging it with new brake fluid. Brake bleeding is the process of taking air out of the hydraulic braking system, and whereas some old fluid might be removed in the process, most of the brake fluid is going to remain in the system. If you’re performing a total brake fluid exchange, your brakes are going to be bled as included in the service, however, not all brake bleeds comprise of a total brake fluid replacement.
Go over your owner’s manual of your vehicle to find out when/if a fluid exchange is recommended.
Do your brakes need to be serviced? Take your vehicle to Rov-N-Techs, and our professional technicians can examine your brake system and let you know should you need brake bled, a brake fluid exchange or something else completely different.
Rov-N-Techs In Scottsdale, Arizona
Rov-N-Techs performs all factory recommended services on Land Rovers & Jaguars at affordable prices! Master Technicians, Joe Caraway and Kevin Curtis worked at Land Rover of North Scottsdale for 10 years before opening their own shop in 2006 under the name of “Rover Techs”. Now known as “Rov-N-Techs” Joe and Kevin offer over 35 years of combined Land Rover experience. Contact us today!
