Brake fluid change would you do it?

[Dopey]

Always put brake fluid specified for your car in your car. Later ones may not like the older seals.

Too late !! :doh: I'm sure DOT 5.1 is not as aggressive as the old mineral type fluids, (as an e.g. it doesn't strip paint or degrade rubber like the older type ones)

Saint.V8

Thanks for that, cleared up my thoughts on it, now I'm wiser to the fact

 

[Dopey]

I got it back from the shop, they did put 5.1 in (its one my receipt so it must be true!! ) makes a good bit of difference, hasn't ever been changed in 14 year?? since new anyway, less travel on the peddle before it bites and when it dose its shorter (less travel) and is a lot firmer as well, so there must have been some contamination (not surprising after all them years) it took 2lt of DOT 5.1 to do it all, anyway they seemed to have done a fine job, and I couldn't have done it myself that cheaply with all the get and 2lt of fluid, OK I probably could have but for £50 all in, was it worth the hassle? I would have just saved a few ££ and if I had screwed the job up then it would have cost me a lot more

 

[Mr Noisy]

Dot3 is generally your cheap and cheerful, suits the same as most dot4 systems. Dot5 is a silicone based fluid but it ****s up most brake systems. Doesnt absorb water though I think. Dot5.1 is what you might call a performance fluid, good boiling point and decent resistance to hygroscopicy.

However, dot4 is the spec which has the benchmark performance fluids. The best fluids you can buy are dot4 (higher boiling point means "better" fluid) but these race fluids need changing every 6 months really because they love a touch of water.

The best fluid for everyday now is 5.1 or whatever is current, if you're considering performance then use a high temp dot4.

Cheers

 

[jamesmartin]

but whos ever boiled dot 4 in a landy i get people trying to get best spec etc when they wont fit new discs just pads ,

 

[StuckAgainSteve]

I've run DOT 5.1 in all sorts of cars - never had a problem with seals. I use Castrol Response Super DOT 4. (which is DOT 5.1) Fantastic stuff, completely clear so you can see when it's contaminated, just doesn't boil and doesn't hurt paint. Mixable with any non-synth DOT 3&4, they've renamed it recently dunno what it's called now. I'll need to get some soon as I'm going to replace the fluid in my P38. Sainsburies Homebase used to be the cheapest place to get it from (cheaper than my trade motor factors!)

 

[Mr Noisy]

but whos ever boiled dot 4 in a landy i get people trying to get best spec etc when they wont fit new discs just pads ,

I use dot3!

 

[StuckAgainSteve]

I use dot3!

I use Dot Cotton.

 

[Mr Noisy]

I use Dot Cotton.

Not spotted that in Haynes!