MOTORING NEWS - How often should brake fluid be replaced? Dewald Ranft, chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa), an associate body of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), says this is a common question customers ask their workshop mechanics.

The braking system of the vehicle remains one of the most overlooked systems in the vehicle and can be one of the most critical too. 

Ranft explains that brake fluid is essential for a car's brakes to work properly.

Over time, brake fluid can absorb moisture from the atmosphere which reduces its boiling point and therefore its effectiveness. 

This moisture absorption also compromises the integrity of the brake system components such as the rubber seals and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

"Brake fluid is a vital part of the brake system so customers are right to be concerned about proper maintenance," he says.

Most brake fluid manufacturers recommend changing brake fluid every 18 months or 60 000km.

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