Boiling brake fluid!

[laser_jock99]

Went up over Long Mountain near Welshpool last weekend. Coming down the long lane on the Churchstoke side I managed to overheat the front disks by not using low gear enough on the way down. The result was by the time I got to the road junction at the bottom the brake fluid in the front calipers had turned to steam. Not very good for stoping a Surf I can tell you!

I stopped at a handy garage and bought some brake fluid. Once cooled down enough I bled 1 litre from the brake system, filled up with new brake fluid and carried on my way.

Moral- if faced with a long, steep descent use engine braking as much as possible. Change all your brake fluid every 2 years- it absorbs water from the atmosphere which turns to steam at the most inconvenient times.......

Nevillef

[Bogus]

Brake Fluid

If youve got ABS change it every year. Due to its hygroscopic ( moisture absorbing) qualities as well as reducing braking efficiency the water can corrode the little shuttle valve thingies in the ABS. Many years ago I had some very expensive repairs to a neglected BMW 325 ABS system which had lots of little corrosion spots jamming up these little shuttle valve gizmos.
You can check the gravity/ boiling point to see if its absorbing moisture but its easier to simply replace it annually. and well worth it

Bogus.

[andy]

Went up over Long Mountain near Welshpool last weekend. Coming down the long lane on the Churchstoke side I managed to overheat the front disks by not using low gear enough on the way down. The result was by the time I got to the road junction at the bottom the brake fluid in the front calipers had turned to steam. Not very good for stoping a Surf I can tell you!

I stopped at a handy garage and bought some brake fluid. Once cooled down enough I bled 1 litre from the brake system, filled up with new brake fluid and carried on my way.

Moral- if faced with a long, steep descent use engine braking as much as possible. Change all your brake fluid every 2 years- it absorbs water from the atmosphere which turns to steam at the most inconvenient times.......

Nevillef

I had the same problem the other week, was coming down the Honister Pass in the Lake district, and just before the bottom the pedal went to the floor, had to stop at the nearest pub for an hour to let it cool down.

Has anybody looked at fitting drilled front discs, or has anybody already done it.

[exmee46]

Yep - happened to me recently - and very exciting it was too.


Prob should advise all new owners to change the fluid on receipt of the vehicle.

Kev

[laser_jock99]

If youve got ABS change it every year. Due to its hygroscopic ( moisture absorbing) qualities as well as reducing braking efficiency the water can corrode the little shuttle valve thingies in the ABS. Many years ago I had some very expensive repairs to a neglected BMW 325 ABS system which had lots of little corrosion spots jamming up these little shuttle valve gizmos.
You can check the gravity/ boiling point to see if its absorbing moisture but its easier to simply replace it annually. and well worth it

Bogus.

When I refurbished my front calipers recently one of the brake pistons was seized with rust. I should have changed all the brake fluid then really. I only put about 1/2 litre in. What probably happened is that that the old fluid (and most exposed to the air) in the header tank went down to the calipers leaving new fluid in the header tank. I'll just change it all next time!

Nevillef

[Rob]

hmmmh! Glad I changed mine recently then