brake fluid

[lord_sharpy]

what sort of fluid do you guys recommend? ive seen dot 4, dot 5 and dot 5.1.
gunna do the whole lot and want a reasonably good fluid.
cheers
james

[hardhitter]

I've recently bought some Motul RBF 600 brake fluid to use when I fit the braided hoses and front calipers etc. Came recommended by a few a G40 owners who are know for driving hard.

[bstardchild]

what sort of fluid do you guys recommend? ive seen dot 4, dot 5 and dot 5.1.gunna do the whole lot and want a reasonably good fluid.
cheers
james

Dot 4 is fine - even for track use - I use it on all my cars

Brake fluid should be changed on an annual basis BTW if mineral fluid is used

Sorry to get technical here and apologies if everyone already new this

Brake fluid is Hydroscopic (picks up moisture from the air - the absorbed moisture will lower the boiling point - This will result in steam forming in the brake calipers under repeated applications of the brakes leading to spongy (at best) and pedal on the floor with no brakes (at worst)

Dot 5 and 5.1 (can't be 100% sure but I think 5.1 defo is) are synthetic/silicone rather than mineral compounds

- this is wonderfull cos if you spill it it doesn't eat the paintwork

- I doesn't absorb moisture from the air so has a longer shelf life

Drawbacks are

- It leads to a spongy pedal (just does - don't know why!!!)

- It doesn't mix very well with mineral fluid (a full clean of all the components is required before use)

Me I'd stick with a good quality branded DOT 4

- Bring it home from the shop & leave it to stand for 24 hrs before using it

- DO NOT ever shake the container (to mix it ) you'll be bleeding you brakes for weeks!!!

Last tip buy a Gunsons Easy bleed kit one person brake bleeding is soooo easy then

[Tahrey1043]

thought the only mineral type was the specialist stuff used in citroens? Or am i thinking of coolant..

DOT 4 is for normal road use but 5 for anything much heavier? (last time i asked myself that seemed the recco...) --- all to do with boiling points etc.

[lord_sharpy]

so i can take it that any of the above fluids will be fine in my system, pipes can cope with it? probably go for a synthetic one as i have little (or big) spillages every now and agian and i quite like my paintwork!

[tainmrk3polo]

Last tip buy a Gunsons Easy bleed kit one person brake bleeding is soooo easy then

or an automatic one like the garage used on mine- plug the seal onto the thing where you put the brake fluid- excuse my lack of technical terms, plug the connectors on thebattery, turn on, open the bleed nipples, turn up the pressure and force through until bubbles stop appearing, then turn off the pressure, tighten the bleed nipples and it will fill with fluid

[bstardchild]

Last tip buy a Gunsons Easy bleed kit one person brake bleeding is soooo easy then

or an automatic one like the garage used on mine- plug the seal onto the thing where you put the brake fluid- excuse my lack of technical terms, plug the connectors on thebattery, turn on, open the bleed nipples, turn up the pressure and force through until bubbles stop appearing, then turn off the pressure, tighten the bleed nipples and it will fill with fluid

Hmm same principle as an easi bleed then

[Tahrey1043]

i've got one, it worked well..... the one time i didnt totally maul the rusted-solid bleed nipple
(that one time was on a sierra btw )