Just realized brake fluid absorbs water way faster than I thought

Was looking up why my buddy's calipers seized up after sitting for 6 months. Found a spec sheet from a fluid company that said DOT 3 can absorb 2% of its weight in water in less than a year just from humidity. That blew my mind because I always figured it took years for that to matter. Now I'm wondering if I should be bleeding customer cars more often than the book says. Has anyone else seen corrosion build up faster than you expected in humid climates?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason2833d ago

Funny you mention that, actually saw a video from a shop in Florida where they cut open a caliper that had been sitting for maybe 8 months. The inside of the bore looked like it had been sitting in saltwater (which basically it had, with all that absorbed moisture). The thing that got me is the fluid itself didn't even look dark yet, but the damage was already done underneath. Makes you wonder if the 2 year or 30k mile interval is really just a suggestion in some places.

nelson.finley3d ago

My buddy in Georgia had to replace calipers after just one winter because of that moisture absorption.