30,000mile brake flush

I would never buy a used vehicle from anyone. You are right and actually very few people ever do their brake fluid for the life of the vehicle. But, how many people ever have brake problems in the first six or so years anymore?

 

@BillsSR5 ....I did say MIGHT lol ..... I thought so too and they were nice and did the ECM flash a while back - no questions asked !

 

I noticed with mine I had a hard time getting a warranty issue resolved even tho I had a legit warranty at the time, I had to go to 3 different dealers to replace a leaky front strut 1 week into ownership of a Toyota certified used car warranty.

 

Brutal ....where are u located ?

 

Northeast USA its pretty much the same with Toyotas dealer services thru out this whole area, I just happened to find a good service guy after 3 dealers running me around one was even the same place I bought the truck.

 

Well this is my first Toyota, so lets hope i have good luck with it and the dealer network!

 

if you have a good relationship and they are handling your warranty issues without deflecting them than stay with them. Also remember Toyota corp. and Toyota dealerships are two different things, I called Toyota corp about my strut issue and they told me that this was a warranty replacement issue whereas the dealerships were trying to convince me that it wasn't a warranty replacement due to the fact struts/shocks are wear and tear replacement items(was a used truck with 39k miles) not subject to the warranty.

 

That's pretty much my logic
I'm in Ontario as well if it wasn't so cold for the cost of fluid id be doing it.
But given the weather and I don't often have time on weekends (gotta enjoy life) and busy during the week with work, I'll pay to get it done.
Just not sure if at 46k it's needed already.

Yesterday marks 2 years of having it.
Haven't called the dealer yet . But at $93 not bad

 

I don't know what's going on in this thread but the manual definitely doesn't call for a brake fluid flush at 30k. Are we just taking the dealer's word for it?

 

As mentioned, the fluid will begin to get darker as more moisture is absorbed into the fluid. Living in the northwest, changing out the fluid every 2 years is a must to help eliminate corrosion in the brake system.

I do it myself and can be done with a check valve or having the tube on th open bleeder submerged in the capture bottle.

YouTube has a ton of videos. Takes 30 min and cheap insurance.

 

In fact, the factory maintenance guide doesn't EVER suggest you need to flush the brake fluid. Check the color once a year maybe and change if it looks like coffee. If you're having that problem you probably need a new reservoir cap or something. Unless your truck is 20 years old.

 

in all my years of driving which is over 42 and owning over 30 different trucks and cars, i never changed brake fluid on any of them unless a brake cylinder went or line rusted, but never flushed or changed. just saying...

 

Look at your transparent brake fluid reservoir. Advise the color of your brake fluid. Is it low? Change only according to your manual. Read your owners manual.

 

So you don't plan on changing it ever?

 

Like others mentioned....its preventive maintenance and entirely your choice. ABS pump/module $2000++, vehicles are more complex now than ever ! I feel better having had it done.

Now a non-serviceable AT that's a whole different conversation....

 

Not the guy you're quoting but I sure don't! I've got better things to spend money on than two cans of brake fluid and two hours of my time.

 

LOL. This has devolved into the 3rd gen oil change thread.

 

holy shit if one of your drivers ever gets into a crash and someone is injured, their lawyer would have a field day if they find this out.

Thats also circular reasoning, there's people that haven't changed their oil in 30k miles but that doesn't mean thats not really stupid lol.

Now I don't think changing brake fluid is as vital as changing your oil, but its a really weird place to cheap out and cut corners, at least follow MFG schedules. Whats a fluid exchange cost like $100?? People spend $40k on a truck then get cheap over brake fluid

 

Thank God someone with reason in here! I was really starting to worry seeing all these "enthusiasts" rationalizing one of the easiest precautionary maintenance you can do. Its $100 fucking dollars and its what your 4,000lb+ truck loaded with human lives depends on to stop itself. And THAT is where people are gonna pinch pennies?!

To add to your VERY CORRECT explanation I think the bigger problem isn't necessarily that you're going to get so much water in their your brakes will fail... thats really rare. However ANY moisture at all becomes corrosive and will eat away at the internals of your brake master cylinder, ABS systems and sensors etc etc etc. Again its so cheap to have it replaced everyone should do it out of abundance of caution alone.

 

I leave in PNW where it rains like alot and never had a rust from the moisture nor had any problems with brake systems. Had 2 Toyotas that I drove to 200k and my second car in the garage sits at 100K with original brake pads and brakes are just fine.
Never replaced the fluid on either of them. there is no need to do that, it is a closed system. You have higher chances to have failures after flushing.