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How to Winterize Your Classic Car’s Brakes for Storage

classic car

Unless you live in a warm climate year-round, winter is coming.

That means it’s time to get your classic car prepared for storage and say goodbye to your baby until spring.

You may be familiar with the general winterization process, but do you know how to properly care for your brakes?

Here are three things you need to do to your braking system to get your classic car prepared for storage—plus some other winterization tips.

What Should I Do to Winterize My Classic Car’s Brakes?

There are three simple steps involved in winterizing your classic car’s brakes: change the brake fluid, bleed the brakes, and release the parking brake.

Change the Brake Fluid

Moisture often seeps into brake fluid when the cap is removed, as well as through the vent in the master cylinder lid. It also comes in through older rubber-brake hoses with pores that are small enough to allow air in, but not large enough to let fluid out. Sediment and other contamination can also creep into brake fluid over time.

The reason moisture is such a big enemy of brake fluid is that it can cause your brakes to fail. Brakes generate heat, which is not an issue for brake fluid because it has a high boiling point. However, water has a low boiling point. If steam from boiling water gets into the brake lines, the hydraulic system will not work.

You don’t want old brake fluid sitting in your car for the next few months. It’s likely already been in the system for some time, which means it’s attracted plenty of moisture and other elements that can weaken its performance. Leaving the existing brake fluid in the system will allow it to accumulate even more impurities.

Bleed the Brakes

Replacing your classic car’s old brake fluid with a fresh supply will help with moisture control. However, you also have to remove any air bubbles that the new fluid may have brought into the system.

Bleeding the brakes gets rid of air that’s camped out in the master cylinder, brake lines, calipers, and wheel cylinders. Like moisture, air is an enemy of brake fluid, too. If you’ve ever stepped on a brake pedal that felt spongy, you likely had air pockets in your brake lines. If there’s too much air, the braking system could fail.

You can use one of these three methods to bleed brakes:

  • Pump and hold
  • Vacuum pumping
  • Pressure pumping

Note: Your brakes need to be bled in a certain order. Check your owner’s manual for the right sequence.

Release the Parking Brake

This is the simplest step, but one that can be easily overlooked. If you set the parking brake after pulling your classic car into storage, be sure to release it before you leave.

If left in place, the parking brake could become stuck or even frozen in cold climates. The brake pads could rust to the rotors, and the brake shoes could warp the drums. Any of these scenarios could lead to safety issues and expensive repairs down the road.

If your car has an automatic transmission, just put the vehicle in park. If it has a manual transmission, put the car in first or reverse gear and use some tire chocks to keep it from rolling.

What Else Should I Do to Winterize My Classic Car for Storage?

Now that you’ve taken care of the braking system, there are a few other tasks to tackle before you put your classic car away for the winter.

Wash, Wax, & Vacuum

Having a clean car ensures nothing will be eating away at the paint while the vehicle sits in storage for several months.

Change Other Fluids

You took care of the brake fluid, but don’t forget about the oil, coolant, antifreeze, and other fluids in the vehicle.

Fill the Gas Tank

Use the highest-grade gasoline as well as a fuel stabilizer. Make sure to run the car for a few minutes to activate the additive.

Set Traps for Pests

Put mothballs and baking soda cartons inside the car, as well as in the trunk. Seal off the air inlet, air cleaner, and tailpipe so animals can’t get inside.

Disconnect Battery

Remove the battery from the car and store it in a protected place where you can keep it warm, dry, and charged.

Jack It Up

When your car sits for a long time, the tires will get flat spots. If you’re not able to put the vehicle up on jack stands, you should over-inflate the tires to compensate.

mustang

How to Winterize Your Classic Car’s Brakes for Storage

Now you know how to properly care for your brakes and get your classic car ready for winter storage.

Changing the brake fluid and bleeding the brakes will reduce the amount of air and moisture in your braking system, protect the brakes, and improve performance. Releasing the parking brake will help you avoid major headaches in the future.

You don’t want to cut corners when it comes to your classic car. Taking these steps to winterize your braking system will protect your investment, minimize the need for repairs, and prepare you for a smooth ride in the spring.