Brake Fluid and Brake Pads

[MaraUCSD]

Hey guys,

I am going to change the front pads and am looking for some pad suggestions. I am not looking for performance pads, just something that works and will last quite a while. Better than OEM would be great.

Also, I read the how-to, and it seems like most other disc brake jobs, but how often do you change the brake fluid? I could bleed the system and replace the fluid, but I'd rather not if I don't have to. My car has about 30K miles by the way.

Thanks.

 

[SciFiMan]

Depends on what you mean by "last quite a while". The OEM pads are quite good and should last longer than a performance pad. Or find a premimum ceramic pad (tire rack reviews). If you go with a more aggressive pad you might want to think about changing to a DOT4 fluid, or if you happen to do a lot of braking. I'd change fluid anyway at that mileage since you're already in there doing the pads. It picks up water over time so it can't hurt. Remember if you do the pads yourself you'll still need to have the rotors turned (or replaced) so the new pads can mate to them properly.

 

[nautical2086]

s***, ive never changed the fluid and i have 106k now, should I change my fluid?

 

[SciFiMan]

I guess you'd have to ask a real mechanic. Because DOT3 & 4 "soak" up water over time and it reduces the boiling point (bad for repeated hard stops). I don't know what the life span of brake fluid is. I tend to do a fair amount of harder braking and I put on a lot of miles so for me it's worth the peace of mind for the small cost.

s***, ive never changed the fluid and i have 106k now, should I change my fluid?

 

[nautical2086]

I might as well change it anyway, its DOT3, Its been in there for 106k miles I believe, So I guess ill change it just to be safer than sorry cuz with brakes I really dont want to play around.

 

[nautical2086]

Hey guys,

I am going to change the front pads and am looking for some pad suggestions. I am not looking for performance pads, just something that works and will last quite a while. Better than OEM would be great.

Also, I read the how-to, and it seems like most other disc brake jobs, but how often do you change the brake fluid? I could bleed the system and replace the fluid, but I'd rather not if I don't have to. My car has about 30K miles by the way.

Thanks.

I have the brembo slotted/drilled rotors with the hawk HPS pads, So far im happy with the low speed braking, but Braking performance should increase when I bleed the system, cuz the level is too high. Otherwise I like them.

 

[MaraUCSD]

I guess I will go with some ceramics, or the OEM pads then. I haven't decided what to do about the fluid, though I was under the impression that it only got changed every other pad change or something like that....

 

[cbcbd]

Might as well change your fluid while you're down there. Get some speed bleeder valves or if not then just having a second person makes the job go real quick. I flushed my fluid when I changed my pads the first time and it was around 50K miles.
Brake fluid is clear, if your fluid is all dark then you should probably change it anyway. Over time brake fluid will lose it's water repelency and water particles can get in the line. Water compresses a lot under pressure so changing the fluid will give you better brake response.

A side note on brake fluid: If you have any left over in a bottle don't reuse it, just throw it out - as soon as you open up a bottle of brake fluid it starts loosing it's water repelency qualities.

 

[kurt]

Try this thread. It has a lot of practical information. You should change your fluid everytime you change your pads.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117091

By the way, I use Porterfield R4-S pads with ATE SuperBlue brake fluid.

 

[Hellnightkid]

how can we change the fuild by myelf?

 

[falsedawn]

Water compresses a lot under pressure

No it doesn't - water is incompressible, like all fluids. The water absorbed in brake fluid just lowers the boiling point.

It's the air that gets in your system that causes spongy brakes, and along with the water may even corrode metal brake pipes from the inside out.

I would change brake fluid every 2 years or 40k miles, or whatever it says in the service manual.

 

[MaraUCSD]

Yeah, I was going to mention the water compressing thing being BS...Since the overwhelming response seems to be to bleed the system, I guess I will.

 

[capnsavem]

i changed my pads rotors and calipers to an msp set after 35,000.... just did the regular bleed to get the air out, but didnt bleed the whole system out and replace fluid.. everything is fine.

 

[smurfedpro5]

i just got me some regular wagner braks and its been about 3 years since i changed them

 

[Douggie]

Just get some Duralast Gold pads from autozone. Works as good as stock (for regular driving), cheap and has lifetime warranty.

 

[gapeachsp5]

I have the ceramic pads from O'Reilly Autoparts (not sure of the brand) and they're great, and not too expensive. My boyfriend had some on his MP3 and he liked them as well.

 

[AceProtege]

Just get some Duralast Gold pads from autozone. Works as good as stock (for regular driving), cheap and has lifetime warranty.

i installed duralast pads from autzone sunday (21.XX, rear) and have a new duralast battery......

nice products cheap!!!!

 

[MaraUCSD]

Sounds good. I will pick some pads up from autozone this weekend.

 

[AceProtege]

Sounds good. I will pick some pads up from autozone this weekend.

might have to order them........say that you drive a 01' ES2.0. they have a hard time pulling P5 parts up when they are the same as the ES sedan!

you will be happy with them

 

[Douggie]

might have to order them........say that you drive a 01' ES2.0. they have a hard time pulling P5 parts up when they are the same as the ES sedan!

Yeah, I had the same experience as well. They gave me the wrong pads for the fronts and had to borrow a friends car to get them exchanged. What's up with that?