The Average Brake Fluid Flush Cost Is $74 To $94.
This price range is based on national averages for all vehicles and does not factor in taxes, fees, or your particular make and model. Related repairs or maintenance, such as brake pads and rotors, may also be needed. For a more accurate estimate based on your make, model, and location, use the RepairPal Fair Price Estimator.
Get a more accurate estimate for your brake fluid flush using RepairPal’s Fair Price Estimator
Cost at the Mechanic: $84 to $104
- Parts: $10
- Labor: $74 to $94
A brake fluid flush is a procedure that replaces the fluid in your vehicle’s braking system. It takes just an hour or two to complete. It’s possible to bleed the brakes yourself, but without a mechanic’s professional OBD2 scan tool you won’t be able to flush all of the fluid yourself. For that reason, as well as the reasonable cost of the service, it’s probably just as well to have a shop do it.
Cost to DIY: $74 to $94
- DIY Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Parts Needed:
Brake Fluid
It’s possible to bleed brakes yourself, which will replace most of the fluid in your braking system. If you’re a track day enthusiast, it’s good to give them a quick bleed in between events to make sure you don’t lose braking performance from overheating fluid. We have an article here detailing how to bleed brakes in your own garage.
What Is a Brake Fluid Flush?
Your brakes operate on a hydraulic system. Pressing the brake pedal pushes fluid through lines to your calipers, which press the pads against your rotors to slow or stop your car. For a more detailed explanation of how your brakes work, see our article on the subject.
Over time, brake fluid absorbs moisture and gets dirty, which reduces its effectiveness. A brake fluid flush, also referred to as brake fluid change or brake fluid replacement, completely replaces the old fluid with fresh new fluid.
What Happens If You Don’t Flush Your Brake Fluid?
Over time, the fluid can absorb moisture. It can also get dirty, which you can see if it’s turned brown instead of clear. If your brakes get too hot from constant braking down a steep hill, the fluid can boil, introducing gas into what is supposed to be an airtight system.
Any of these conditions reduce the effectiveness of your brakes. You may have to push the pedal harder to get the desired braking performance. Eventually, you may not get as much braking power as you need. You won’t be able to stop as quickly as you should, which is a safety concern. Read this article to learn how you can extend the life of your car’s breaking system.
How Often to Flush Brake Fluid
Generally speaking, it’s best to do a brake fluid flush every two years or so. If you are particularly hard on your brakes, such as driving in mountainous territory or on a race track, you should do it every year.
Check your owner’s manual and consult the maintenance schedule to see how often the manufacturer of your car recommends flushing the brake fluid. Some manufacturers have no recommended schedule. If that’s the case, follow the above guidelines, or you can learn the fundamentals of car maintenance by visiting our detailed guide here.
Common Symptoms You Need to Flush Your Brake Fluid
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor
- Reduced braking performance
- You may have to “pump” the brakes to get full braking power
Related Maintenance Services
The following services are commonly performed with a brake fluid flush:
- Disk brakes: Check or replace brake pads and rotors
- Drum brakes: Check or replace brake shoes and drums
- Check calipers and wheel cylinders, replace if necessary
- Now is an excellent time to rotate your tires, since they’re all coming off the car anyway. Learn how to do that yourself by reading this article.
Claim Your Custom Maintenance Schedule
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Recovering autocross and track day enthusiast. Once turned a VW Jetta into a pickup truck. Lives in a van down by the river. Dream car: 2001 Subaru WRC rally car.
