There are few parts more important to your safety when driving than properly working brakes. While checking brake pads might be your first thought when thinking about brake maintenance, brake fluid should be a close second. This overlooked product is vital to the function of your brake system and is something that needs to be monitored.
Most manufacturers give mileage estimates on when to change your brake fluid, but they aren’t always 100% accurate. Below we’ll explain how you can identify the signs that it’s time to change your brake fluid.
What is Brake Fluid?
Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid. It’s responsible for moving all of the different components in your Honda’s brake system. When you press down on your brake pedal, the brake fluid’s pressurized system pushes fluid to your Honda’s brake calipers, which in turn push the brake pads to clamp down on the brake rotor.
Over time, your brake fluid will age and break down. It also can become contaminated with water, dirt, and other foreign bodies. This will affect the performance of your brake system and can cause your brakes to not perform properly.
While brake fluid manufacturers give an estimated time of use before you need to replace your brake fluid, here are some signs that it might be time to flush your Honda’s hydraulic brake system.
Signs You Should Change Your Brake Fluid
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Your Anti-Lock Braking System Light Turns On: The first sign your Honda might give that it’s time to change your brake fluid is if your Anti-Lock Braking System, or ABS, light flashes on your dashboard. These lights, which are found in newer model vehicles, are a dead giveaway that there something might be wrong with your brake fluid.
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Brake Pedal Issues: A brake pedal that acts or feels different than normal is another clear sign that you should check your brake fluid. If your brake pedal suddenly feels harder to push down, or you find you have to push down much further to slow your Honda, those could be signs that you need to change your fluid.
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Brake Pads Not Working Properly: When your brake fluid becomes contaminated, it can affect the performance of your brake pads. This can lead to your brake pads wearing down and cause squeaking or grinding noises when you press your brake pedal.
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Burning Smell: Lastly, if you notice a chemical odor, or even see smoke from your wheels after applying your brakes, this can mean that your brakes are overheating. If you even think this could be the case, the best thing to do is to pull over and let your brakes cool down before you cause any damage to your Honda.
Changing Your Brake Fluid
Once you determine that your Honda’s brake fluid needs to be changed, the next step is to replace it before you damage your brake system and cause yourself an even more expensive issue.
Finding all the parts you’ll need is easy with Bernardi Parts Honda. We have everything you need, whether you’re looking for OEM brake fluid or need to replace a damaged OEM part.
For more information, please send us a message or give us a call at 800-924-1884.
Finding all the parts you’ll need is easy with Bernardi Parts Honda. We have everything you need, whether you’re looking for OEM brake fluid or need to replace a damaged OEM part.
Interested in more car maintenance tips? Check out our comprehensive articles collection for more insights on how to keep your Honda running smoothly.