Brake Questions

[gstang662002]

I am sure this has been covered somewhere, but I can't find it or my search is screwed up. Anyways:

1) A couple of posts say to change your brake fluid every 2 years to help prevent the dreaded failures with the module. Is this regardless of mileage?

2) Is there a procedure, a basic drain and flush (like on my Mustang), or is this a dealer only item?

3) Is there a benefit of the EBC rotors and pads over the original R-spec?

Thanks for any help. Learning a little since this is my first "foreign" car and there are minor differences in the way things are done.

 

[Gunkk]

1. It depends. If your car has DOT4 fluid, then it will absorb water more readily than DOT3 fluid. If you look in the reservoir and the fluid is dark brown or black (new to used motor oil color) it needs to be changed. If it's water-clear, then it's basically brand new and OK. Most times it will be somewhere in between. A clear light amber is mostly still OK. Changing every 2 years may be a bit extreme in a cooler dry climate, but down here in the FL swamp the fluid may age more quickly.

2. Yes. Just replacing the fluid in the reservoir at the master cylinder will not change all the fluid in the system. To do it correctly, you need to purge all of it out, which can be done DIY via traditional bleed techniques at the calipers. Or you can take it to the dealer or possibly a local brake shop where they will connect a machine to do it automatically.

3. Highly unlikely. The OEM brakes work just fine IMO for a 4200+ lb luxobarge and produce nearly zero dust. If you've got a soft pedal, then changing fluid (if necessary) and/or bleeding the system may firm it up a bit. Dropping $1000+ on new brake hardware isn't going to turn your Rspec into an IMSA GT4 car.