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I think a lot of people have an exaggerated idea of how aggressively DOT 3 and 4 brake fluid attacks paint. If you have a leak, say from a master cylinder, and some painted steel stays wet with brake fluid for days to weeks before you find it - yeah, it will strip the paint. But if you spill a bit on a fender well and immediately wipe it off with a rag or paper towel - in my experience no damage.
For a while, and maybe they still do, Harleys came with DOT 5 fluid. Different people using different cars in different ways have various experiences with the stuff - but I don't see many people who track their cars or do autocross using DOT 5.
As BostonMike notes, DOT 5 is a favorite of people who have old restored cars or show cars, and don't drive them much, or hard.
Replacing brake fluid isn't essential, but it's a good idea, and your brake components will last a heck of a lot longer if you do. You don't even need a helper, just open one bleeder at a time and let each one gravity bleed until clean fluid comes out. Gravity bleeding works quite well actually. Unless your car has ABS.
Replacing brake fluid isn't essential, but it's a good idea, and your brake components will last a heck of a lot longer if you do.
Not essential, but a good idea? You can't have it both ways.
If you are keeping a car four years, then don't bother replacing brake fluid. If you are keeping it ten years or more, then replace every 3-4 years. Absorbed water in brake lines cause corrosion and rubber hose deterioration.
I have swapped flids on street cars kaybe after 3 years. Its not that the cwr doesn't stop the pedal feels better. Most sytems wih moisture you feel the edal go down a bit the. Start to cwtch.
Location: Butler County Ohio and Winters in Florida
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Plan on keeping your vehicle long term, change all the fluids on some time or milage table.
Just makes sense. Most folks have not heard of brake fluid changing but didnt really know it probably has been done at every brake job. Most GOOD techs will bleed and adjust the brakes.
I think brands like BMW etc, do have these services listed in the manuals.
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