At 12:58 PM 11/17/2000, PSavage wrote:
><snip>I look at it this way - it's cheap insurance, especially with an
>unknown history.

Agree

>  Brake fluid is designed to absorb water, so after 2 years,
>it's considered to be "contaminated" and should be changed.

Well, it isn't "designed" to -- it's designed to do the various things it's
supposed to do and oh by the way it absorbs water.

>  Of course, no
>one really ever does this except the anal retentive and racers.

True, I'm afraid.

>However, the cost of brake fluid changes every couple of years I'm sure
>offsets the cost of having to replace even one seized brake caliper due
>to internal rust.

The other (and primary) issue is that brake fluid gets *hot* and its
boiling point is drastically lowered by moisture.  If it boils, i.e. some
of it vaporizes in the system, strange things could happen such as the
brakes having a mushy pedal and/or not releasing when you let off the pedal.

>  I changed the tranny fluid in my 86 last weekend (and put
>Redline in).  It was a disgusting horrible smelly colour, and the magnetic
>plug had a good coating of fur on it.

Non-synthetic gear oil has a disgusting odor right out of the can...not to
say that it's not a good idea to change the stuff.

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"