reisjdmd

i'll be storing my '99 rx300 for about 8 months; 140,000 miles. i'm a little worried that the fluid in there now may have some water in it, and that the water might pit the calipers. should I have the brake fluid changed first? the fluid has never been changed.

fastnoypi

yes, brake fluid is hydroscopic and will absorb water over time. I change mine every 2 years for optimum performance and peace of mind.

Mikerodrig

It's good to flush it as like fastnoypi said, it is hydroscopic. Also, the corrosion inhibitors in the fluid will degrade over time. You can ask most local shops, namely a Firestone or Goodyear for a corrosion brake strip test (should be free) which will measure the amount of copper in your brake fluid. Brake lines are made out of a flat piece of metal which is rolled twice into a tube. The Bonding metal that creates the seal is copper. This is the most sacrificial metal in your brake system. It is similar to a zinc anode on a boat. Anything under 200ppm is good.

I usually do it if it gets close to 100. The other thing to be concerned with is your calipers. Any debris will usually end up there. Doing a brake flush will pull those debris out which will help prevent caliper leaks etc.

When in doubt, flush it out...