Best Brake Fluid?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Campbell CA
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (VetteWave)
Ford's hi perf brake fluid. Ya, I know. Sounds scary to put a ford product in, but really, short of the $80 castrol, you won't find a better fluid. And the ford stuff is only $7.95 a bottle. Highly recommended by the folks at Baer Brakes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 9,713
Likes: 3
From: Sachse Texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (VetteWave)
Don't use DOT 5. I use the Valvoline Synthetic Dot 3/4 that comes in a big Gold bottle at Autozone. I change it about 3-4 times a year.
A lot of people talk about the Ford Blue fluid being an excellent fluid.
A lot of people talk about the Ford Blue fluid being an excellent fluid.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (Vette92)
DOT 5 is NOT for performance vehicles. It's for show cars that rarely get driven as it won't absorb moisture, but overall it's pretty terrible.
I use the Valvoline stuff. It's some of the best stuff you can buy at a parts store without making a special trip somewhere. After I boiled my brakes at the track one day and had my pedal fall to the floor at 112 mph, brakes suddenly became a high priority. You just don't think about them until they are not there.
I flushed my fluid out and haven't had any trouble out of the new fluid. I am still going to flush it every year though as part of my yearly maintanence scheduel.
I use the Valvoline stuff. It's some of the best stuff you can buy at a parts store without making a special trip somewhere. After I boiled my brakes at the track one day and had my pedal fall to the floor at 112 mph, brakes suddenly became a high priority. You just don't think about them until they are not there.
I flushed my fluid out and haven't had any trouble out of the new fluid. I am still going to flush it every year though as part of my yearly maintanence scheduel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (VetteWave)
DO NOT USE DOT5.
That said, I am using the Ford HD. The Ford dealer is my next door neighbor and his shop is less than 2 miles away, plus the price was @$5.00 a can last time I purchased. When I upgraded brakes & changed the fluid there were several strands on the Forum and one of the strongest contenders were best fluid was the Ford (especially when you factor in the cost).
That said, I am using the Ford HD. The Ford dealer is my next door neighbor and his shop is less than 2 miles away, plus the price was @$5.00 a can last time I purchased. When I upgraded brakes & changed the fluid there were several strands on the Forum and one of the strongest contenders were best fluid was the Ford (especially when you factor in the cost).
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 1
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (Nathan Plemons)
ATE Super Blue 200 fluid is great; Motul 600 is a little better- but more expensive and needs changing more often.
Here's a nice chart:
http://www57.pair.com/lane/bfluid.htm
Here's a nice chart:
http://www57.pair.com/lane/bfluid.htm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (gcrouse)
gcrouse, the ATE Super Blue and ATE TYP 200 are great fluids! Really good brake fluid without paying the $75 / liter for the SRF.
For those that must buy from a chain store, try to find something in a metal can, well sealed and flush at least every two years for street only use.
Or go to your local Ford Dealer and get the Ford HP DOT3 fluid, it is good brake fluid. Still needs to be flushed at least every two years for street duty.
DOT 5 fluid (silicone) is not usable in a vehicle with ABS brake systems. DOT 3, 4 or 5.1 is usable. I don't quite understand the 5.1 or "Super DOT" spec other then somebody who knows the stuff (involved with SAE) told me that it's a higher viscosity fluid (also some dampening effect on ABS -for good or bad).
In general: DOT 3 or DOT 4, metal can, sealed, highest WET boiling point you can find. Don't use DOT 5 (especially in an ABS vehicle).
Pete
For those that must buy from a chain store, try to find something in a metal can, well sealed and flush at least every two years for street only use.
Or go to your local Ford Dealer and get the Ford HP DOT3 fluid, it is good brake fluid. Still needs to be flushed at least every two years for street duty.
DOT 5 fluid (silicone) is not usable in a vehicle with ABS brake systems. DOT 3, 4 or 5.1 is usable. I don't quite understand the 5.1 or "Super DOT" spec other then somebody who knows the stuff (involved with SAE) told me that it's a higher viscosity fluid (also some dampening effect on ABS -for good or bad).
In general: DOT 3 or DOT 4, metal can, sealed, highest WET boiling point you can find. Don't use DOT 5 (especially in an ABS vehicle).
Pete
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 1
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (VetteWave)
First place has the best price; if you can get past the fact that they cater to Miata's.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/specmiat...supblurac.html
http://www.spmotorsports.com/lubricants.html
http://www.fisher.org/store/category...=Brake%20Fluid
You might also call your local BMW, Porsche, or Audi dealers...
[Modified by gcrouse, 9:57 PM 9/6/2002]
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/specmiat...supblurac.html
http://www.spmotorsports.com/lubricants.html
http://www.fisher.org/store/category...=Brake%20Fluid
You might also call your local BMW, Porsche, or Audi dealers...
[Modified by gcrouse, 9:57 PM 9/6/2002]
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Tx
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (gcrouse)
The Doug Rippie site has a nice chart comparing the various brake fluids.
Castrol SRF is the best, but by far the most expensive.
Motul and Ford fluids are very good and less expensive.
GM specifically does not recommend Dot 5 with ABS brake systems.
Castrol SRF is the best, but by far the most expensive.
Motul and Ford fluids are very good and less expensive.
GM specifically does not recommend Dot 5 with ABS brake systems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
From: Springdale AR
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (VetteWave)
I have not tried this yet, but one neat thing I have heard about the ford colored fluids (Blue and Yellow) Is, you can alternate between the colors, so when you flush out your fluid each time, you know you have gotten all the old fuild out when the color has changed to the new color. :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,904
Likes: 2
From: Anchorage Alaska
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (gcrouse)
ATE Super Blue 200 fluid is great; Motul 600 is a little better- but more expensive and needs changing more often.
Here's a nice chart:
http://www57.pair.com/lane/bfluid.htm
Here's a nice chart:
http://www57.pair.com/lane/bfluid.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (paulie)
I have been using valvoline syn. and have very happy with it.
The stuff is DOT 3/4... I think somewhere in the trades, they call that 5.1...
[Modified by bogus, 11:10 PM 9/8/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
Likes: 0
From: down that one road next to that big tree
Re: Best Brake Fluid? (93LT1)
motul 600 is probably the best dot 3/4 fluid i can think of off the top of my head, either that or AP racing 600. it will take about 100 more deg than your average valvoline dot 4 or the good ford dot 3.
