Posted on 2/27/2026
Brake fluid is one of those things most drivers never think about until the brake pedal feels different. The catch is that brake fluid can degrade long before you notice a change behind the wheel. When that happens, braking performance can get less consistent, especially during hard stops, hot weather, or long downhill driving. Changing brake fluid is about keeping the braking system working the way it was designed to. What Brake Fluid Actually Does Brake fluid transfers the force from your foot to the brake calipers. When you press the pedal, the fluid moves through brake lines and builds hydraulic pressure that clamps the pads onto the rotors. Unlike air, fluid does not compress much, which is why a healthy system feels firm and predictable. Brake fluid also has to handle heat. Brakes convert speed into heat every time you slow down, and that heat travels into the fluid in the calipers. Good fluid resists boiling so the pedal stays consistent when the system gets ... read more