What is brake fluid and what does it do?

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We all hear about brake fluid and the fact that it’s extremely important to keep an eye out for its current levels. The problem is that you don’t always know exactly what brake fluid does, whether you need to check it often, where and how to do that and so on. We are here to help you with that and provide some information that might come in handy.

What does the brake fluid do?

The fluid in your car’s brakes is designed to help move the components of your car’s braking system. A thing to note about it is that it always operates under high pressure and temperatures. However, without it there, the car will not be able to stop even if you press the brake. So it’s the fluid that puts everything in your hands and under your control as you try to make the braking process fast and very convenient.

What you will notice is that this particular fluid works in a very distinctive way. The driver will press the pedal, the pedal will compress a piston found inside the brake caliper and then the compression will increase the pressure found in the brake lines. This pressure is sending the fluid into motion and the fluid will make the brake rotors to squeeze down on the brake pads. That will make contact with the wheels and then the wheel rotation will stop. Simply put, the brake fluid is a crucial aspect of the braking process and without it, this will not work at all.

How often do you need to change your fluid?

Not a lot of people know this, but the fluid in your will absorb moisture from the air. That leads to degradation and the fluid not being able to work adequately. Which is why you must drain the fluid and replace it from time to time. If you talk with a professional mechanic you will be recommended to do that every year or two at most. Some cars have a specific brake fluid change requirement in the manual, so you may want to keep that in mind.

Can I drive with low brake fluid?

It is possible to drive with low brake fluid levels. However, it’s not recommended. You should always try to keep the brake fluid levels under control just to be safe. It’s a great and unique idea to consider and something that you must keep in mind. It will totally be worth it to add more brake fluid if possible. Low brake fluid levels can make the drive very bad if you’re not careful.

We recommend you to keep an eye on the fluid levels all the time just to be safe. The last thing you want is to deal with any issues while on the road. So, keeping a good eye on the brake fluid levels does make a lot of sense.

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What our customers are saying...

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Felecia Hernandez
July 17, 2026
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The people are friendly, fast and attentive. They explained everything they were going to do and what I should get done to keep my car in tip top shape. I highly recommend them.
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Robby Bostain
July 17, 2026
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Very professional and very understanding of how car maintenance can effect your day. They offer free rides back home and to come back and pick up making the convenience much easier. Highly recommend!!
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Clark Taron
July 16, 2026
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Awesome prompt service. Ac service same day friendly staff pricing is good aswell.
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Dex Com
July 13, 2026
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We have been looking for a trustworthy auto repair shop since our auto shop owner retired years ago, we have *not* had a good experience until we found G&G Auto Repair. Hands down these folks are the best, competent, honest, and trustworthy shop that I have run across, these folks are reliable like our old shop. They have done great work on our van at fair prices, and that’s all I can ask for :) They also go above and beyond by texting all repair docs, assessments, and diagnostic results to my phone for review and approval. I really wish I had found them years ago. I highly recommend this shop!
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John Puryear
July 12, 2026
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The staff was wonderful and knowledgeable no pressure or up selling! Done in a timely manner and they warranty their work!! Totally awesome the owner Richard even texted me to make sure we were happy with our repairs!!
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Marci Calley
July 8, 2026
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Good service, they listen to u. Very happy for the help they gave my car.
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Giovanny Plascencia
July 1, 2026
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I went to G&G to get my (damaged) oil pan replaced on my Toyota. However, when I got my car back, the technician had over tightened the drain plug leading to the gasket cracking, causing a fair amount of oil to leak out of my Toyota unbeknownst to me until I had gotten home. Fortunately, after a few phone calls, Shaun told me to return the vehicle after I told him the worsening severity of the situation, and my vehicle got promptly fixed after I had bought it back, and I commend them for owning up to their mistake. Overall, it seems they did a good job repairing the vehicle, and it’s priced a little on the higher side but for this state, and the overnight turnaround time it would say it’s more than reasonable. I would come back again.
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Sebastien Bauge
June 28, 2026
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They did an excellent job. So excellent that they corrected tire installation errors caused by a different shop in town for free. Super transparent, knowledgeable, and helpful. Will use again.
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Sharon Thomas
June 25, 2026
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I had to have my air conditioning repaired and also have some maintenance work done. They got it done quickly and everything is working great. The staff is friendly and helpful.

G&G Specials

G&G Auto Repair can handle your vehicle's oil change and tire installation. Call 661-679-7957 to schedule today.

Oil Change
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