Replacing brake or suspension fluids is a relatively common activity in a mechanical workshop, as it is ultimately a preventive maintenance operation. In many cases, the products are ordered on the spot if they are very specific or shortly after the customer has requested the quotation, without the need to store the products in the workshop. In other cases, however, spare parts are stocked in the same workshop in order to be able to carry out repairs much more quickly and provide a better quality of service to the customer.
Therefore, repair professionals must know how to properly store products that have very specific regulations and specifications in terms of composition, such as suspension fluids or brake fluids, also taking into account that they may affect the safety of the vehicles on which the maintenance or repair is being performed.
General storage recommendations
In general, manufacturers usually provide recommendations not only for use but also for storage. It is essential to store them in their own unopened packaging, in closed, clean and dry places at room temperature. It should be borne in mind that as the temperature changes occur, air can enter and leave the containers containing moisture which, when in contact with the product, can cause corrosion.
General considerations to ensure good condition are as follows:
- Unopened products should be stored with their seals intact and away from light. Small containers can be stored in a nitrogen atmosphere for up to two years, drums in a horizontal position or stainless steel containers for up to three years.
- Opened products should be used as soon as possible, at the latest within a few months due to water ingress.
- In the specific case of brake fluids, there are products that can absorb water, which can cause a significant drop in their boiling point, and therefore lower the temperature at which the braking system works properly in the wheel area. If this happens, the driver may notice that the pedal has sunk and the car will not brake. This is why it is so important to store fluids properly in the workshop, although there are also products that do not absorb this water and have purge devices to remove it.
- Finally, the considerations for storing suspension fluids are not unlike those for any other type of lubricant product. They should be stored in closed, well-ventilated areas and, in the case of drums, in a horizontal position. However, it is not advisable to use them more than five years after their manufacture, as they also have an expiry date.
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