Braided brake lines and fluid question

[Silverfang]

Been looking into replacing the old rubber hoses and the fluid in my brake system (both are about as old as the car i guess! )

Goodridge lines are a no brainer, but as for fluid I'm not sure what to go for. I do need the car for a daily runner but i'd like to take it on the odd track day when i can afford it....

Heard Dot 4 ATE Blue is very good , though 5.1 would be the ultimate, however that does need changing yearly and i don't fancy doing that too often

[JimmyC]

Dot 4 will be fine, with regular change

I know of race M3's running dot 4 with changes after each meet, i'll be doing the same in mine

[Silverfang]

I'm guessing that's race meets, I don't have the funds Thanks though, Dot 4 was what i was thinking, just don't know any particular good make of fluid.

I'm thinking more occasional track day use (1 meet in every 2-3 months when i can afford it)

[JimmyC]

Sorry maybe i wasn't clear, they are running dot 4 fluid, nothing special and that survives a real hammering

So I meant go for DOT 4 and change regularly and you'll be fine (I would say use on the road, do the trackday, then change or maybe push for 2 trackdays) Dot 4's cheap so wont cost much at all, and a fluid change takes no time

Brand wise I just have some cheap stuff

[Silverfang]

Ah right , thanks for the help Dot 4 it is

[fuzzy]

whats the difference between dot4 and dot5? is it just a higher boiling point on the dot5?
i also recently replaced my rubber hoses for some goodridge s/steel flexi's and noticed an immediate improvement in braking with a firmer less spongy feel on hard braking .

[maxfield]

Yes, mainly boiling point I believe...

Also different type of substance... Like some have a really high boiling point but need changing every track day/race due to chemicals in the brake lines...

Well I think? Usually wrong

[UweM3]

don't use DOT5, you need DOT5.1

DOT5 is silicone based.

I use Halfords DOT5.1 and just bleed the brakes before I got for a trackday. Halfords does a very nice
"one man" bleeding pipe for a fiver which really works a treat. Don't buy a pressure bleeder.

[JimmyC]

Totally disagree re pressure bleeder, they are the easiest and best way to remove air and flush/bleed the system IMO

[UweM3]

Totally disagree re pressure bleeder, they are the easiest and best way to remove air and flush/bleed the system IMO

Didn't say don't buy a pressure bleeder because they are crap.

Said buy a simple pipe for a fiver. works as good (at homeor anywhere else without air supply!) and saves some dosh.

[BadDave]

whats the difference between dot4 and dot5? is it just a higher boiling point on the dot5?
i also recently replaced my rubber hoses for some goodridge s/steel flexi's and noticed an immediate improvement in braking with a firmer less spongy feel on hard braking .

Dot 5.1 has a higher "wet" (once it's absorbed moisture) boiling point.
I'd recommend the ATE Super Blue (Dot 4)
Has a higher "wet" boiling point than most of the Dot 5.1 fluids
If it gets to the point where your boiling the fluid on a regular basis then I suggest some AP 550 or 600 race fluid and change it after every meet.
It's extremely hygroscopic

[mattyb240]

May I ask as a complete novice here, what advantages do the braided hose lines have for a day to day car? as I know of people who are insisting on having this on there day to day runners? (various engine sizes, some modified, some standard)

But I can't see the advantage and I am telling them that but they won't listen.

Thanks

[BadDave]

May I ask as a complete novice here, what advantages do the braided hose lines have for a day to day car? as I know of people who are insisting on having this on there day to day runners? (various engine sizes, some modified, some standard)

But I can't see the advantage and I am telling them that but they won't listen.

Thanks

Firmer brake pedal
Hoses less likely to expand under pressure
Hoses are encased in a stainless steel braid
Unlike rubber hoses, they are a lot less likely to crack/bulge etc

Got mine here
Just can't get time to fit them

[mattyb240]

Cheers 'BadDave' maybe I shall take them things back then!

Would you recommend them? or is it only if you are doing a lot of heavy braking?

Just curious is all at how effective they would be for the average driver?

Thanks again

[BadDave]

I know from experience that they do indeed make a difference on my bike

Wouldn't want to use standard rubber hoses nowadays

The only reason i'm still running with the rubber ones,is purely down to the fact that the mot had to come before anything else,otherwise they'd be on and some ATE super blue being pumped through them

[mattyb240]

Thats good to know, thanks for the information Dave!

[Weeman]

I run 5.1 ferodo fluid and OMP teflon lines

[JimmyC]

I've just bought 5 litres of the ATE Blue off the recommendations here only £9.95

Will let you know how it performs Will be changed after each race meet

[BadDave]

I've just bought 5 litres of the ATE Blue off the recommendations here only £9.95

Will let you know how it performs Will be changed after each race meet

Can you tell me where you got it @ that price please
It normally sells for between £14-£20 per litre

Dave

[JimmyC]

Ah in that case i'll check the invoice and see what I actually bought

[BadDave]

Ah in that case i'll check the invoice and see what I actually bought

Could have been the normal ATE fluid at that price
If it is Super blue then can you get me 5 litres as well and send it up?

Dave

[JimmyC]

Invoice says:

Brake Fluid ATE SL 5 Litre DOT 4

Guessing I may have a life time supply of clutch fluid now

Oh well it will do whilst i'm running the car in

[BadDave]

Looks like it may just be there standard stuff you've got

If you take the lid off the container and check the colour
Super Blue is Blue in colour.

HTH

Dave

[JimmyC]

Ah I changed the clutch fluid on Sunday, the fluid was yellow

Oh well, i'll use it and then switch, should still be fine for track abuse if I change it regularly

[Simon13]

i've never melted my brakes round the ring and done some hard laps back to back. ATE super blue is where it's at! but castrol SRF seems to be the don, and Davetouring+Karan really rate this stuff even more. It's also a DOT 4

Motul CBF (think it's the name) dot 4 has an even higher rating for wet and dry boiling points but i've yet to try it. I've got some in the garage though!

Super blue is fine for on the road aswell as the odd track day. Unless you're an animal you're not going to melt a standard brake setup in good condition imo

[Colonel Sanders]

ive just gone an bought dot 5 for mine.
bad idea?

[BadDave]

ive just gone an bought dot 5 for mine.
bad idea?

Best to chuck it in the bin and get some DOT 5.1

[Colonel Sanders]

think it cost around a tenner for a litre....

[BadDave]

Dot 5.1 at my local car shop is about £5.99/litre

The DOT 5 stuff doesn't absorb moisture

SO

You've got to make sure that none of the old stuff is left in the system

[Simon13]

dot 5 is no good. It's dot 4 or 5.1 thats it

[BadDave]

Any moisture thats left in the system with along with the new DOT 5 will just start to corrode stuff because it can't be absorbed into the fluid like it can with the std stuff
DOT 5 is synthetic and NOT hygroscopic(it wont absorb moisture)

As I said earlier
Chuck it in the bin or fob it off on some unsuspecting chav
Get some decent stuff in there

[UweM3]

DOT 5 is silicone based and all the other Dot's are mineral based. Some rubber components to not like the silicone stuff either and swell up.
for the sake of a tenner (new bottle of DOT 5.1) I would not risk it.

[Colonel Sanders]

ok then il get some other stuff, any stuff i should be gettin??

[BadDave]

Cheap Dot 5.1 would do
The better (higher spec) ones are ATE super blue/Castrol
Poss a few others

[Colonel Sanders]

think igot castrol dot 5?