defender brake-check & brake fluid change

[popotla]

My Defender had been standing for many months without being driven. Eventually I got it to a LR mechanic and asked for a full check and service. I have security wheel nuts on all wheels, so left with the mechanic the special removal tool. I’d assumed that for a full service, the wheels would need to be removed in order for the condition of the brakes to be checked. (The brake fluid was also supposed to be changed, using the fluid that I’d bought some time ago and that I’d left in the vehicle.)

The check and service is complete, I’m told. When I asked for the return of the wheel-nut removal tool, the mechanic said he hadn’t got it. He hadn’t taken the wheels off, he said, so hadn’t needed it. This seemed a bit odd, as I thought wheels had to come off in order to check the brakes. (About brake-fluid change, I don’t know. Can someone please tell me whether brake-fluid is changed with the wheels still on?) Later in the conversation the mechanic said that in fact he’d had to take one wheel off in order to gain access to something but said he had a tool of his own, so hadn’t needed mine (which, anyway, he doesn’t have, he said).

This man repairs and services only Land Rovers and though I haven’t used the workshop before, I had reason to believe he does a good job. What do you think about this situation?

[Blknight.aus]

depends on what gear you have

brake fluid can be changed with the wheels on and if you have a good endo scope or you have a good mirror on a stick you can eyeball the condition of the pads without removing the wheels.

[justinc]

We hardly ever remove wheels especially alloys as there is plenty of room to check brake pads and undo bleeders. Only when repairs are carried out or a rotation is done do we remove the wheels.

JC