Hey guys, long term lurker...

I have a 2008 350Z GT and am storing it for the winter, 4-5 months no driving period. It only has 10,000 kms on it or 6,000 miles. When booking the appointment to get the oil changed the dealership told me I should also get the "brakes serviced". The car is 2 yrs old, they told me told me that if I do not do this, the brakes will seize over the winter.

They also said this is a normal service procedure due to it being 2ys as well.

Should I do it, or just leave the emergency brake off when storing it.

 

I assume they are talking about flushing your brake fluid. Brake fluid absorbs water over time so it should be replaced every year or two. If your car is stored over the winter, I guess there is a possibility that the water in the brake fluid could crystalize or freeze. It's not like there is a large amount of water in it though.

 

The dealer is trying to pad the service bill.

 

I canceled the brake service, thanks guys.. f that.

 

Read this thread on winterizing...

https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance...he-winter.html

 

+1 Customer cars come in all the time after storage for failed master cylinders due to algae in the break fluid from being stored in a heated garage, we occasionally get them in for frozen lines which also kill the brake master, usually on older cars

 

Yes, leave your E-brake off definitely. Since I have Brembo's (aluminum caliper body + aluminum pistion) I spray silicon lubricant on the pistons/dust boot area to seal it up and prevent white rust (aluminum corrosion). A guy here at work was saying he had a Corvette with aluminum calipers/pistions which ended up seizing on him while he stored it for the winter.

 

I don't doubt that your friend had his pistons seize on him, though I do doubt the reason. All aluminum surfaces form an aluminum oxide scale layer (what you are calling white rust which gets the reader the point but is not really true). Once that monolayer of aluminum oxide (alumina) forms (like it does on all aluminum surfaces), it should be stable and not grow. Meaning, that when you spray with silicon lubricant, you are providing a temporary energy barrier to counter the formation of the oxide skin. In reality, that skin is already there (forms as soon as aluminum is exposed to the atmosphere). You are simply keeping the skids greased, which is a good thing.

 

The dealership would never lie to you about expensive and ridiculous maintenance.

 

Lol

 

I was somewhat hesistant to dismiss this as dealer fluffery. Not being from the frozen north wastelands, I'm not aware of all the additional precautions that are required for a car in that environment. If it was me, I'd spend the hour it took to bleed the system just in case there is the potential of fluid related issue.

 

This is true, except that aluminum caliper pistons should be hard anodized, which is a controlled layer of oxidation instead of the naturally occurring aluminum oxide. They will not corrode unless left in an environment that compromised the anodizing.

The only thing I would be greatly concerned about making sure everything was dry when it was parked. Humidity is not kind to many metal components. Fresh, 'dry' brake fluid is a good way to flush out moisture absorbed by the old fluid. Stainless steel braided lines are another way to keep moisture at bay. The Teflon inner liner does not allow moisture permeation over time like OE rubber lines do.

Chris