11 replies to this topic

[Johno]

I’ve got drums on rear, discs in front.

LX torana.

What brake fluid should I use?

I’m no mechanic and just want to get this right given it’s the brakes.

[S pack]

Anything DOT 3 rated

[RallyRed]

As Dave says...or Castrol React Dot 4 ( <$20).
We use in in track/ race cars, no dramas. Recommended by race brake guru as well.

[yel327]

Just don't mix different spec fluids if you can. Will often work but I've seen the results of incompatibility too.

[Johno]

I’ve been told to use dot 4?

Is it the case that if the car is dot 3 compatible you can use dot 4 but not the other way around (if it’s dot 3 rated you can use dot 3 or 4 but if it’s dot 4 rated you can’t use dot3).

Also how would I flush whatever is in it out as I don’t know what’s in it. Just keep bleeding it out and topping up with new fluid?

[yel327]

I think it’s Dot5 that you don’t mix with the others. You should have no issues using Dot4. Just bled it a bit to flush the old stuff out.

[RallyRed]

Yeah, my understanding is you can go up, not down e.g. you can use 3 or 4 in a system that calls for 2 or 3.
Normally the stuff you flush out is dirty, opaque, brown whereas the new stuff is all but clear, just keep pumping until it looks nice.. with a helper topping up the res., otherwise you will pump air and need to start all over. From memory a good purge takes about 3 bottles.
p.s. there are REAL brake gurus on here...que Datto...

Edited by RallyRed, 08 June 2024 - 08:12 PM.

[claysummers]

Dot 4 specified for the Mal Wood slave cylinder I installed. Therefore I run it in the 1965 era brakes also.


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[rexy]

If it’s old cruddy fluid then i usually empty the master with a syringe, add new fluid and start bleeding from the furthest point - passenger rear brakes. Then drivers rear, front passenger and drivers side. 

 

Keep an eye on the reservoir.

Make or buy a plastic tube fitting over the bleed nipple into a clear plastic container to avoid spillage of the old fluid.

 

Shouldn't need more than one small container of new fluid to do the job unless you over flush.

 

Avoid supacheap fluid. The one time I used their DOT4 home brand the new seals in the front calipers on the LX swelled up.

[dattoman]

Never use silicone (DOT 5)

But any decent DOT3 or 4 will work fine for your application

[tuxedoss]

Dot 4 has a higher boiling point but the downside is it absorbs more moisture . So unless you’re on the track I doubt you’d be getting hot enough to boil fluid . So I’d stick with 3 and less chance of moisture

[Shiney005]

Never use silicone (DOT 5)

I made this mistake once. Everything that was rubber swelled up.