Berkeley Auto Repair

Tesla vehicles are marvels of modern engineering, in particular the regenerative braking system. Not only does it recover some of the energy during braking, but it is also easy on the brake pads and the braking system in general. But there is one aspect of the braking system that will need regular maintenance – brake fluid. Brake fluid needs to be replaced with some regularity. Tesla recommends brake fluid testing and replacement every four years. We disagree – brakes are vital to your safety, and Tesla, like all EVs, is a heavy vehicle (the high voltage battery is very heavy). So brakes need to be in optimal shape. The reason for brake fluid replacement is twofold. First and foremost, brake fluid is hygroscopic – it attracts and absorbs moisture from the environment. When the water content of the brake fluid exceeds safe levels, brake fluid must be replaced, or you are risking sub-standard braking, or in extreme cases, an outright brake failure. The second reason ... read more