Brake work recommendations - to flush or not?

I was at the dealer today for the 80K service (yes, I still go to the dealer for my services, I haven't found a local independent that I trust, happy to have recommendations around 94306). The truck is fine, will need pads "soon". But they recommended flushing the brake lines. I deferred, because this just feels like an upsell (and I hadn't noticed anything amiss at the m/c reservoir).

On one of my old cars, I might just crack the bleeders and pour some new fluid into the reservoir. But they don't have ABS. I have no idea how to work on an ABS system.

Is this really a thing? And if it's a thing, will it get done anyway when the pads (and presumably rotors) are done? I'm unlikely to do those myself, just because I treat the Taco as a toaster, not a hobby.

Thanks.

 

Brake fluid should be "flushed" every 2 years at minimum as it's hydroscopic absorbing water that can cause significantly brake issues, I do mine about once a year as I see a lot of rain here and water when off roading and too performance out of my brake system is critical to me.

A fluid exchange is not part of your typical pad slap and will definitely be an additional service and charge but when getting your pads and shoes replaced is a great time to refresh your brake fluid.

If you're doing it at the dealer have them cycle and purge the ABS solenoid block with their scan tool too as old fluid and air can easily get trapped in there and is bypassed when doing an at home gravity bleed.

 

^

 

Really? Every 2 years? Sounds like overkill.

 

IIRC that's what the owners manual recommends.

 

Toyota recommends that you change your brake fluid about every two years or 20,000 miles, although no two drivers are the same, and some may require their fluid to be changed more or less often

 

But you need a scanner to bleed them properly, found at the dealer. No wonder they Recommend it.

 

You need a scanner to cycle the ABS module solenoid block, you can do a gravity (or on TRD Off-Roads use the hydro boost pump to power bleed) 95% of the system otherwise (just minus the ABS solenoid block) which is what's recommend, doing the ABS block is really only needed if you suspect there's a problem, know you have contaminated fluid either water or air or want to be extra, I've had it done once and it made a significant improvement but haven't felt the need to the last several changes.

I still do it once ever 5 ish years though for beat VSC and ABS performance and reliability.

You can try the "slamming on the brakes on gravel roads with speed" method of "purging" the ABS solenoid block but if anything that made matters worse for me.

YMMV.

 

TRD models isnt a problem, actually easy. The base like mine is a bitch, have to use a scanner and still never right but all that is gone now.

 

It is always best to flush the brake fluid before a pad install because crap settles at the bottom of the system over time, in other words at the caliper. That crap can sit right next to the piston bore and when you go to retract the piston, can possibly get lodged in the bore and cause a sticking situation. There is a much smaller chance of any of that happening if you flush the fluid out because it mostly brings the settled debris with it during the bleeding procedure.

 

If you want to keep your truck for another 20 years and drive it into the ground, non sexy preventative maintenance like this is a good idea. You won't notice any difference aside from a lighter wallet, but your truck will thank you down the line. Everything Key said above is spot on.

edit: Looking through the official toyota maintenance guide and see no mention of replacing the fluid. At 80k miles, I'd wait.

https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publications/en/omms-s/T-MMS-17Tacoma/pdf/T-MMS-17Tacoma.pdf

 

I just pulled maintenance guide and dont see any references to replace brake fluid

 

Do it. I waited to do on my van. Lost the Vacuum boost cylinder due to corrosion. A whole lot more money than paying for the brake flush.
Lost it around 120K miles. Partial fluid had been done at 80K, when I replaced a caliper. Should have done all of it at 80K.

 

Huh, me neither.

https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publications/en/omms-s/T-MMS-17Tacoma/pdf/T-MMS-17Tacoma.pdf

 

I've been in rainy Settle for almost 3 decades and never had to replace brake fluid. Not to mention we have big ass hills here..

 

I’ve never replaced the brake fluid every 2 years on any vehicle of mine. That’s a dealership/mechanic cash cow recommendation to get people to do a service twice as much as it’s really needed, IMO. My truck is coming up on 2 years old, and the brake fluid is still almost brand new looking. There is nothing corrosive going on in there, it’s still clean, so there’s no reason to change it right now. I’ve never had water get into any brake system, even my 25 year old 4runner, which sees a lot of snow, rain and wet, muddy trails. In fact the brake fluid in that thing is at least 10 years old (but probably only 25K miles on it in that time). This thread is reminding me it’s time to flush that truck, because 10 years is pretty long. But my Tacoma is definitely fine for a while. I just flushed the brake fluid in my wife’s 2017 4runner when I did her pads last month, and it was just starting to look darker at 60K/5 years old.

 

Out of curiosity, how much was the quote for flushing the brake lines?

 

I just reviewed my 2019 Tacoma Maintenance Guide and all it has is to inspect brake fluid level/condition. Same as I’ve done on all my vehicles all my life. No requirement to flush anywhere in it. Someone’s going to have to post their official 3rd gen “Warranty & Maintenance Guide” that has a brake fluid flush requirement otherwise I have to throw the BS flag on any claim it’s in there.

 

@cak, this may help https://youtu.be/jpiXOBRkZs4

 

Use a turkey baster to lower the level in the master (not suck it dry) below the add fluid line and then add the proper fresh fluid.

Like an auto trans drain and fill, you get some fresh good stuff going in there.

In my non ABS SCCA car I had Speed Bleeders and changed the fluid every year. Never had a caliper or master issue. Can't prove the fluid helped that, but it certainly didn't hurt. Note, even on HPDE days I never cooked the brakes, so my changing wasn't based on boiling.