Has anyone had Rivian NOT recommend the 3 year brake flush?

[impulsoren]

I have never flushed brake fluid in a vehicle as purely a maintenance item. It is a sealed system: if you never open it up you never can get water in. Just keep the reservoir clean so you can check the level without opening the cap. However, any time I have ever opened up a brake line for whatever reason I flushed the whole system. Old cars where you have to take off the cap to check fluid, flush it once in a while.

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[Holler Wanderer]

When my first R1T hit 3 years old I scheduled it, but the service center told me it wasn't necessary at that time. Truck only had 18k miles though.

Makes me wonder if Rivian is telling SCs to not do this because of such a service backlog. *shrug* This is exactly what happened to me today

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

66,000 miles and Rivian has never asked about it or suggested it, even when I brought it up. I check it myself with a simple tester like the ones on Amazon. I lean toward the sealed system mindset, and with very little hard brake use, it just hasn’t been much of a concern.

 

[Holler Wanderer]

66,000 miles and Rivian has never asked about it or suggested it, even when I brought it up. I check it myself with a simple tester like the ones on Amazon. I lean toward the sealed system mindset, and with very little hard brake use, it just hasn’t been much of a concern.

And yours has been fine with testing?

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

And yours has been fine with testing?

Yes, it has been.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

If it’s in the manual, I do it. I give them 0 opportunities to deny me warranty repairs.

 

[emoore]

I have never dome a brake flush unless I’m replacing the brakes. And usually I don’t even do it then. Unless there is an issue the 3 year brake flush recommendation is like the 3 month oil change. Just people trying to take money from you.

 

[ndmiller]

Once you had brake fade on the street or on the track based on moisture in your brake fluid, you'll get on the bus pretty quickly. Manufacturers say every 1 or 2 years as based on how fluid absorbs water over time, that's their estimate of when fluid gets to >3%. The system isn't sealed perfectly as indicated in this thread and that's how water gets into the system.

AI Overview​

Brake fluid absorbs moisture because it is hygroscopic (water-attracting), and the brake system is not perfectly sealed from the atmosphere. Moisture enters over time through microscopic pores in rubber hoses, worn seals, and the reservoir cap vent, even when the system is not leaking fluid. ​

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Generally, brake fluid will absorb at a rate of 1% or more moisture per year of service life. A two-year-old car will have 2-3% water in the brake fluid. 2% water reduces the boiling point of DOT3 brake fluid by approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius). 2% water in DOT4 brake fluid reduces boiling point by 81 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).​

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A Brake fluid flush has been an <1 hour job on every vehicle I've owned, auto and motorcycle and it will only matter when you're fluid boils and you're compressing vapor with limited to no braking. >3% water lowers the boiling point from >400F to <275F (near water) and for about $50 and an hour you reset the clock for another ~2 years. Had mine done in December, about 2 years after initial delivery. $300 due to the complexity, but probably not that complex I'll let SC do it next time. Most shops I've seen charge $100-$200, the low side if they are rotating tires or doing brakes.

This isn't intended to change your mind, it's the internet, everyone is always right, just wanted to add information.

Last thing I'll say is If you tow with a truck or car, I wouldn't wait on this type of service. Long downhills are exactly when you don't want fading brakes.

 

[mkg3]

Perhaps it depends on where you live and how the vehicle is used.

Our Tesla 70K.miles/7 yrs old, never had brake fluid flushed and original pads. We live in coastal souther CA with mild climate year around. It is my daily driver.

If the vehicle is operated in high humidity environment the brake flush on the regular interval may make sense.

I supposed it doesn't hurt testing with the Ph strip to deteriorate if water has been absorbed enough to change the Ph. That would be a very scientific way to determine if the fluid has been compromised or not - unlike arbitrary milage.

 

[Gasmiser12]

Per Rivian Service Center-
Rivian brake fluid flush requires a computer. Just had it done at Rivian service. $325 is worth it. Cheap insurance for not having brakes fad or premature wear from moisture on a multi-caliper ABS system. Never cheap out on maintaining brakes or installing quality top tier pads.

 

[CrazyOne]

When the calipers seize up after 5 years or more, Rivian won't pay for those brembo I calipers. 2-3 years flush is standard recommendation. It's $2000 job on a Mazda. I guess it will cost $6000(speculation) on Rivian.

Also, checking quality in the brake master cylinder is not sufficient. The black oxidized fluid typically is in the calipers and the tester won't help. I have flushed my motorcycle a few times, bit never done that on a car.

 

[Holler Wanderer]

The question is why the Service Center is saying not to. You would think they would know, right?

 

[Chinna]

I just checked at firestone, they said it $98 +tax , I am not sure , probably is it bad idea to go with them ?

 

[KKado]

Mine just came out of SC for 22500 check. I asked about brake flush, they checked and said it wasn’t needed. They documented it in my invoice. Estimate was 300 ish. I did not get it done as I almost never use friction brakes anymore. ‘22 R1T Quad

 

[Gasmiser12]

I just checked at firestone, they said it $98 +tax , I am not sure , probably is it bad idea to go with them ?

NOPE. I wouldn't use Firestone.
I just had full brake flush @ Rivian Service in Fresno. It required two persons and their Rivian computer software to reset the computer when finished.

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