I had the wife take her 2007 RX in to the local Lexus dealer to have the brake fluid changed. They were actually cheaper $20 cheaper than the Toyota dealer and they gave her a 2013 RX to drive.

She picked it up and called me saying that the pedal feels different and it makes a noise just before stopping, like a semi bleeding off air from the air brakes. She had to move her seat forward to push the pedal far enough to make the thing stop. I said take it back. The pedal should be firm and you should not have to push to the floor to stop.

She went back. They guy who performed the service drove it. Could not get it to make any noise and told her the change in pedal feel is perfectly normal after this service.

I have done dozens brake jobs and replaced lots of brake lines in which I manually bled the air from the system. I have never had pedal feel worse after a job than before.

I must admit that my wife is not the best at accurately conveying information regarding anything car related. It is also possible that driving the 2013 RX for a day is changing her perception of what her 2007 brake pedal really feels like, so I will reserve judgement until I can drive it later tonight.

Does anyone know the procedure that dealers use for this service? Do they have a "Brake Fluid Sucker 2000" that pulls out old fluid and injects new with no need to manually bleed the system?

 

i have worked at two car dealers, and used that bleeder hundreds of times.

you are right, the pedal should feel like it did before it went in. sounds like air in the system to me. i would try to make sure you don't get the same mechanic again. some are good, and some are like him.

on another note, i find the brake fluid flush a bit of a scam. since when did brake fluid go bad?? the soonest it needs to be done would be like 10 years / 300,000miles in my opinion.

 

Brake fluid is hygroscopic. Moisture in the system can cause damage over time.

 

What he said. I called an independent mechanic and asked the same question. He said miles don't matter, just change it every 2 years.

It didn't feel bad to me when I drove it tonight. Maybe a touch spongy. It does not get firmer if you pump the pedal. I am going to drive it to Ann Arbor, Michigan tomorrow. It's about a 3 hour drive. So if you see a fiery crash on the news along I94 involving a silver RX, it's just me.

 

I do not entirely agree with your last statement but do believe the typical 30k change may be overkill.

Here is a good thread on brake fluid:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...826#Post510826

 

i understand that brake fluid is hygroscopic, i just think we are changing the fluid far too often. i view it as a money grab. go back 15-20 years, it wasnt done. its a way to get more maintenance money out of the customer. i bought my RX 5 years ago with 138,000km (now has 194,000km) and i will not waste the money on changing the fluid.

do i check it? yes. is it retarded dirty? No. it looks fine, its semi clear (looks like a nice light beer, perhaps a Stella).

if changing the fluid makes you happy and gives you peace of mind, then do it

 

Clear brake fluid can have water in it. When water boils in the brake line, your brakes are compromised.

I wish there were a non-hygroscopic brake fluid that didn't have other problems. Maybe some day.

Tom