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Post Info TOPIC: Disc Brake Fluid


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Disc Brake Fluid


I just installed disc brakes on the front end. What type of type of brake fluid should I be using? 

DOT-3 or 4 or 5?

 



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"you can't burn out, if your not on fire" -Jim Morrison


Guru

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Personally, I now use DOT-3 synthetic...get it at the local UAP/NAPA.

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http://importnut.net/brakefluid.htm

Water absorption and corrosion:
The big bugaboo with DOT 3-4 fluids always cited by silicone fluid advocates is water absorption. DOT 3-4 glycol based fluids, just like ethylene glycol antifreezes, are readily miscible with water. Long term brake system water content tends to reach a maximum of about 3%, which is readily handled by the corrosion inhibitors in the brake fluid formulation. Since the inhibitors are gradually depleted as they do their job, glycol brake fluid, just like anti-freeze, needs to be changed periodically.

DOT-5 contains silicone:
If silicone is introduced into an older brake system, the silicone will latch unto the sludge generated by gradual component deterioration and create a gelatin like goop which will attract more crud and eventually plug up metering orifices or cause pistons to stick. If you have already changed to DOT 5, don't compound your initial mistake and change back. Silicone is very tenacious stuff and you will never get it all out of your system. Just change the fluid regularly. For those who race using silicone fluid, I recommend that you crack the bleed screws before each racing session to insure that there is no water in the calipers.

New developments:
Since DOT 4 fluids were developed, it was recognized that borate ester based fluids offered the potential for boiling points beyond the 446F requirement, thus came the Super DOT 4 fluids - some covered by the DOT 5.1 designation - which exhibit a minimum dry boiling point of 500F (same as silicone, but different chemistry).



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owned ten 1967 Beaumonts, over 3 decades


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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For easily over 20 years now, i have used only silicone brake fluid in ALL my cars. You could not pay me to use that regular junk in my brakes. It is well worth the minor extra cost for the silicone stuff over the crappy regular stuff. When i started using silicone brake fluid, you had to win a lottery to buy it but now it is very reasonable. There are so many pluses to using it and so many minus's to using the other junk. Cheers. George.



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8



Poncho Master!

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Valvoline dot 3/4 is a good product, I have it in both my Acadian and Chevelle

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A Poncho Legend!

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I use  Car Quest brake fluid   its in a black container     Its called  Brake Fluid 



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Poncho Master!

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"Brake fluid" you say !

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68 custom
68 deluxe
67 custom
67 SD convertible (1 of 1)
16 Colorado 4x4 Duramax

Long live the Canadian arrowhead >

 Edmonton,AB



A Poncho Legend!

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yup     its seems good     I put some in my Yukon and its stops   biggrin



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