I know some manufacturers recommend it. Maybe all do by now?

Do you change yours? If so, how often?

At 50k when I do other major maintenance...transmission & transfer fluid, antifreeze, etc...

In 2010 I got my brother's 2000 Acura TL with zero lifetime service. A caliper was frozen, which I replaced. Then did a complete brake fluid flush. Wow, what an amazing difference.

I've just reacquired my '08 Subaru Impreza. Did front brakes and a full flush. That, along with the control arm bushings, has returned the handling to factory "new" specification.

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs water. Water compresses differently than hydraulic fluid, and can make the brakes feel squishy. Every four years would be a good replacement interval.

Honda says 3 yrs or 45k
My BMW owners manual does not say, however, it has a maintenance system that pops up when you need such changes, new brakes, etc. It seems like the brake fluid is on a 2 yr or 30k schedule.

Like Woodman said, it absorbs water and changing the fluid is a rather cheap way of maintaining your braking system.

I've done it before. Not a set milages even though the manual list one I'm sure.

Usually done it when the car has 50,000+ miles and I have to replace a caliper. Since I have to bleed the system I just do them all for a full flush.

I have a cheap vacuum system I bought at Freight Habor. Hooks to a compressor and then to the bleeder on your caliber. Also comes with a special bottle, you fill with fluid, that sits on your reservoir so you don't have to add fluid every minute.

Used to like it when you could get the blue brake fluid. Made it easy to tell when each line/caliber was fully flushed.

If you do bleed them buy new fluid and open it the day you're going to bleed them. As soon as a can of brake fluid is opened it will start to absorb water.

My 2002 truck manual does not say when to change it but at 100,000 miles I changed it along with the power steering fluid.

Every couple years, give or take. Mileage is irrelevant - it's absorbing water all the time whether stationary or driven. Regular changes will improve pedal feel, improve performance under high stress use (water boils way before fluid and will lead to fade on hills, aggressive driving, etc.) and getting the water out of the fluid and calipers where it tends to collect will improve service life on those too.

I've been using these Speedbleeders on cars beginning with a '93 Suburban and a '96 Cobra and they make the whole process SO much easier. One person can do it, and it is almost foolproof. Do have to make sure the items they send you are the right size and pitch of thread, but once in they are in.

Speed Bleeder

Their website admittedly does suck when it comes to being able to select a size fitment. Call them up and they will know for most cars, and if you have the thread size and depth of current bleed screws they can 100% hook you up.

I've read that most cars go to the crusher with the original brake fluid fill in them. It sure makes a nice difference when you do a flush, probably every two years. You can get by without it for street driving, but you won't last long in a track event with old fluid. I used to change it for every track event, which was several per season.

I change vehicles before they need a brake fluid change.

Nope, haven't changed it in any vehicle unless I needed a caliper replaced. Power Steering fluid as well. Every other fluid gets changed as recommended in the manual though.

I live in the rust belt and drive somewhat older vehicles. When a brake line rots out, I loose enough fluid so I don't have to change mine...

I change the fluid in my 911 every two years. If I tracked it, I would change it more often. It is pretty easy to do. With my 4R when we pulled a boat I changed the fluid out every fall.

The 911 fluid change cost me about $12 in materials and the 4Runner cost about $8. They both took about 45 minutes to flush. This was largely due to having to remove the wheels.

Can I tell a difference? Not really, but I cannot tell a difference when I change my oil either.

I change with each change of front rotors/pads. Usually every 40-50K miles. Rear rotors/pads just get changed w/out fluid changes.

I never have in the past but I think I will do both my 2006 Honda S2000 and my 2015 Mazda 3 this spring when I get home. The S2000 due to age and the Mazda due to miles - 55,000.
Mike

About every 30K I have done a "lazy flush" on my Honda by sucking out most of the fluid in the reservoir and replacing but I know my next brake job will involve at least one caliper so i will do a real flush then

The brake fluid should be flushed on a regular basis. Electrolysis can occur in the brake system and take out the ABS system and more. You can do a simple test with a DVOM, nd check for any voltage in the brake fluid. Any indication of voltage would make me flush the system.

I change mine out every 3 years.

I tend to keep my cars a long time, so I change it every year as part of my spring "check everything" ritual. It's not expensive and it takes me longer to get the car in the air and tires off than to do it, so I tend to do a lot of things at once.

When I do a brake job on my truck, I replace the fluid. Probably not as often as the manufacturer what prefer, but far more often than most vehicles get.

I swap brake fluid every two years regardless of mileage. Brake fluid absorbs water over time whether you are driving the car or not. When moisture gets into the lines it does two things. First it starts rust inside the brake lines. Second, when compressed the water boils and puts air into your system. If you have a power bleeder it makes the process pretty simple.

I have done brakes on friends cars that never changed the fluid. On some the fluid was so dark and dirty it actually damaged a caliper.