Brake Fluid Low?
Brake Fluid Low?
So i changed my brakes and brake fluid in June and today i was coming back from a snowboarding trip in Wisconsin and i got the brake fluid low warning. Once i got home i popped the hood open and saw that the brake fluid level was below the minimum. Is it normal to lose brake fluid like this... or do you guys think i have leak?
It is a sign that your brake pads might need changing (again??). Unless you have a leak, the fluid should never go low. That being said, once the pads lose friction material, the piston travel makes the fluid go lower in the reservoir.
Do not add fluid to the reservoir until you check your brake pads. If you determine the pads are getting thin, change them, and this will force the fluid back into the reservoir and you'l be good to go. If you were to add fluid to top it off and THEN change pads, you would likely force the fluid out the top of the reservoir and into your engine bay, when you compressed the piston to put the new pads in.
For what its worth, I had a brake fluid leak this summer. The right rear caliper had a loose banjo bolt, causing it to piss fluid when I stepped on the brake pedal. I tightened it up and it's been fine since. Make sure you wipe up and then hose off any painted surface that gets brake fluid on it... it'll eat paint for breakfast.
Do not add fluid to the reservoir until you check your brake pads. If you determine the pads are getting thin, change them, and this will force the fluid back into the reservoir and you'l be good to go. If you were to add fluid to top it off and THEN change pads, you would likely force the fluid out the top of the reservoir and into your engine bay, when you compressed the piston to put the new pads in.
For what its worth, I had a brake fluid leak this summer. The right rear caliper had a loose banjo bolt, causing it to piss fluid when I stepped on the brake pedal. I tightened it up and it's been fine since. Make sure you wipe up and then hose off any painted surface that gets brake fluid on it... it'll eat paint for breakfast.
I think in order for this scenario to play out, both sets of pads, front and back would have to be worn thin. And I doubt the pads that the OP replaced in June have worn out. Take a look at the pads and see if this is the case first but look on your driveway for any leaks or pay someone some money to find it.
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