Adding brake fluid
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
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Adding brake fluid
I may need to add brake fluid. The manual says not to simply add brake fluid. It's is take it to the dealer and have the brake linings checked and check tour a leak as well. My check brake fluid light is on. The level is barely below the middle mark on the reservoir. Can I simply add brake fluid or should I take it to the dealer?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tonawanda New York
Level should be at max. or slightly below. And should never change unless its leaking.Take your wheels off and look for signs of leaks around brake calipers and brake hoses. I have no problem adding fluid to proper level on vehicles. It also may be electrical. If you see no signs of leakage.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Eatonville Wa.
I may need to add brake fluid. The manual says not to simply add brake fluid. It's is take it to the dealer and have the brake linings checked and check tour a leak as well. My check brake fluid light is on. The level is barely below the middle mark on the reservoir. Can I simply add brake fluid or should I take it to the dealer?
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From: T-Town WA
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: San Jose CA
there is a big difference between "you can" (and I agree, you "can") and "you should".
the ONLY time the brake fluid should be at max is w new rotors and new pads.
after that it will never be below min unless something major is wrong!
my opinion: NEVER EVER "top off" brake fluid (on any vehicle), period.
as I said, it only will get below min if you have a leak, the pads are gone totally, or something else that should trigger a more major repair.
if you "top it off" it may even overflow once you replace pads.
.
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Just make sure you add the proper brake fluid as listed in the owners manual. That being said, all brake fluid will pick up moisture over the amount of time the fluid has been in use. Depending on how many miles the car has it may not be a bad idea to at least think about replacing the fluid and at the same time looking at the pads and rotors sometime in the near future. For this procedure you could take it to the dealer but any good shop can do it.
Race Director
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be shure to chec ware the ware are. Cuz if it wears where you think it might be then it may be wareing wong.
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Team Owner
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Either way, it should be fixed promptly.
As mentioned, you may simply need to have the brakes renewed.
But...
If you do add fluid to diagnose the warning light; be sure to tell whoever works on your brakes, whether it's tomorrow or years from now.
When doing a brake job, the tech will squeeze the brake pistons back into their calipers. That will cause the fluid level in the master cylinder to rise back up to about where it was when the brakes were new.
But if you've also added fluid, you'll have too much after the squeeze job, and brake fluid can overflow the master cylinder and make an ugly mess under your hood. It also eats paint instantly.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Southern Utah
I may need to add brake fluid. The manual says not to simply add brake fluid. It's is take it to the dealer and have the brake linings checked and check tour a leak as well. My check brake fluid light is on. The level is barely below the middle mark on the reservoir. Can I simply add brake fluid or should I take it to the dealer?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
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Keeping in mind the number of pistons in the entire Corvette braking system, how many ounces of fluid do you think actually "Re-locate", for lack of a better/proper term, from the reservoir to the pistons as they pads wear...or is it "Ware"....lOL. ?
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13
If OP's fluid is actually down enough to trip a warning, I think topping off and then pushing the pistons back in would indeed cause an overflow.
Any volunteers?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
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From: Des Moines Iowa
Trying to remember how much our fluid had dropped in the reservoir by the time of our last brake job, I'd say it's enough to easily notice if you are looking, but not smack-you-in-the-face obvious. We did the brakes earlier than necessary.
If OP's fluid is actually down enough to trip a warning, I think topping off and then pushing the pistons back in would indeed cause an overflow.
Any volunteers?
If OP's fluid is actually down enough to trip a warning, I think topping off and then pushing the pistons back in would indeed cause an overflow.
Any volunteers?
position....this allows the old fluid to exit the brake hydraulic system, rather than pushing it backwards into the reservoir, which I've heard sometimes causes problems with the anti-lock brake valves on some cars.....not sure about this being true, or whether applicable to our corvettes, but just saying...
Me, I suck the old black fluid out of my brake reservoir ever year and add new fluid at the same time as I change / ranger method, my clutch fluid....probably not necessary at all, but makes me feel better and I like to see that new / clear fluid in the reservoir.