anybody changed braking fluid before? Any instructions on how to do it?

Does it improve the braking performance a lot?

 

helps out a lot.. brake pedal feel is great

changing it is basically bleeding the brake system.. read a chiltons or a haynes. its pretty simple

 

I was wondering. DOT3 is reccomended, but does anyone know if there are any benefits to using DOT4? Any adverse effects?

 

DOT 3 and 4 are both compatible. DOT 4 is supposedly more high performance

 

use the cheap DOT3, thats HEAVY DUTY.. works decent

 

There is something called the power bleeder which allows you to bleed the system of your car by yourself. The power bleeded cost's $50.00 and can be used on most japanese imports. It works great. Or you can just use the two man pump method.

 

DO NOT use DOT5 in the car. You can use it without any problems, as long as you drain out your old stuff. The problem is that it is silicon based, and your pedal will ALWAYS be mushy. I boiled DOT 3 in my Scirocco, and went to DOT5. I never had brake problems again, BUT the pedal never gave me any comfort, it was always mushy.

 

still DO NOT USE DOT5 in your car. the seals and other rubber parts in the brake system weren't designed for the silicone based fluid, and can fail before too long. it also does not mix with water (or your old fluid) so when water gets into the system- and it does, trust me- it will pool up at the lowest point in the brake system and will boil the second you really get on the brakes. it can also cause the steel lines to rust over time because the water is on it constantly. not a good thing.



simple thing is to buy a GOOD quality DOT3 or 4 fluid and change it once a year or so. the cheap stuff won't help much, but a godo fluid will make a huge difference in the feel and performance of the braking system.

 

two excellent brands are: Motul and the other is,

Ate Super Blue fluid - $10/L

Ate Typ 200 fluid - $10/L

which I ordered from www.bimmerworld.com but you might be able to get one of them from a local performance shop. I'm using Ate typ 200, which is amber(gold) in color, there is no difference in the Ate typ 200, and the Ate Super Blue fluid other than color. What makes these fulids better and longer lasting is the fact that there wet boiling points are very high.



To bleed the lines easily try http://www.speedbleeder.com/ I was going to get them but at the time I didnt have the $$ so I did it the old fashion way.

 

So i am tired of dealing with brake fade--almost totalled my car because of it--and am going to put in some Super Blue, but want to know much i need to buy--1 or 2 liters for a total flush. Searched my OEM manual and the list, so, anyone out there know...

Thanks

 

Use Pressure bleeder or brake bleeding in the search engine. All the info you need

 

1 liter should do just fine

 

do you guys recommend a more or less beginner at car maintinence to do something like this? i've done basic things like install ypipe, cai, spark plugs/wires fuel filter, brake rotors...

 

Sounds to me like you could easily handle bleeding your brakes. Get yourself a Haynes Manual, an el cheapo brake bleeder kit ($7.00) and check out WWW.Motorvate.CA for pictures of procedure. When you replaced your rotors you were 90% there already. All you needed was a 10mm wrench, bleeder kit and someone to push the break pedal. You'll laugh afterwards at how easy it was!