I just switch from DOT 4 to Dot 5. Is it good or bad? just wondering..

 

DOT5? silicone?

so when are you hitting the SCCA circuit?

 

Oh boy, Dot 5, the dot of death.

 

Over priced and pointless for 95% of the drivers out there.
As danny said "so when are you hitting the SCCA circuit?"
dot5 also is incompatible with dot 3/4
did you buy dot 5.1?

 

Brake fluid of god?

 

Quick followup to my earlier reply:
"What is the difference between DOT3, DOT4, DOT 5 and DOT 5.1 brake fluids?

DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 brake fluids are glycol based compounds that are compatible with one another. DOT 5 brake fluid is silicone based and should never be mixed with DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT5.1. DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 fluids may damage painted surfaces and DOT 3 and DOT 4 have lower boiling temperatures than DOT 5 (DOT 5.1 has the same boiling point as DOT 5). Furthermore, DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 fluids are "hygroscopic", which means they absorb moisture from the air. This causes the fluid to turn dark, indicating that it is time for the brake fluid to be replaced. DOT 5 fluid will not damage paint, has a boiling temperature in excess of 500ƒ F, and is not hygroscopic."

Courtesy of russell performance

 

DOT 2 DOT 3 DOT 4 DOT 5
Dry Boiling point 374 401 446 500
Wet boiling point 284 311 356


The DOT 2 spec is for drum brakes and is obsolete. If you have any DOT 2 in your garage, throw it away! DOT 5 is for silicone brake fluid. Silicone brake fluid (DOT 5) should be avoided because it is not compatible with regular brake fluid, it is hard to pour without introducing bubbles and thus results in soft pedal feel, and moisture still gets into your system and will pool in low areas like your calipers and encourage rapid corrosion. STAY AWAY!

 

thanks guy. I will flush it out and put the Dot 3 back .

 

good DOT 3 fluid is still more than you'll ever need.
I run ATE blue (about $10/quart at most race shops), which is a DOT 3 fluid... I ran a road course over the summer when it was 110 degrees outside. I heard reports from some people that they could see my rotors glowing on some corners, and the ATE held up great.

 

Napa DOT3 brake fluid, ~$3 a quart.

 

Yeah, but it sucks for performance driving.

 

Performance Driving? What's that?

 

i also agree...ATE Blue or ATE gold...(depending on what u have now) is a excellent DOT3+ fluid.

If i can't find any ATE i use Castrol LMA.

to add to the DOT5 silicone...it doesn't mix with water. so within the line you'll get sections of water and it usually settles in the calipers hence rusting them inside out.

unless you're doing some massiving racing and got some massive hp under the hood DOT4 is the highest you'll ever need.

 

that's called my commute to work in NYC.

 

Try my panic drive when I'm running late on a friday afternoon. 0-60-0-60-0-60-0 repeat every mile
My brakes really don't like that.

 

you need my brake kit then!

 

16 miles...takes me an hr and 40 min.

at least u get to 60.

 

Yup! I do need it
You take payment plans?

 

5 miles. side streets stop sign every block or so. lotsa dirty looks from people about exhaust and speed

 

Ha. $0.99 per bottle of cheap o' dot 3 from Kmart. Can you beat that? I am sure the performance sucks too.

 

btw guys, if I were to bleed my entire brake systems. How many quarts would I needed to refill it?

 

should be less than one, but I have 3 in my garage, lol.

 

if you've got ABS, you'll need at least a full quart. I'd have two on hand, just to make sure.

if you don't have abs, it usally takes just under a pint. I'd have a full quart available.

 

Cool. What about putting pressures back into those master cylinders, how do I go about doing that? Do I get a pump and just pump it? Up to to how many units would I need cuz I didn't remembered neither the Hayes or Chilton mentioned anything about pumping the pressures in.

 

Vaccum pump!
suck it all out through the bleeders.