Brake Fluid

Author
Discussion

steve-5snwi

Original Poster:

8,665 posts

93 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Anyone running uprated fluid in their Mini ? Mines due for change very soon and i've got the HEL lines to put on so thought I might as well uprate the fluid at the same time.

Whats the current recommend fluid ?

mon the fish

1,416 posts

148 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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steve-5snwi said:
Anyone running uprated fluid in their Mini ? Mines due for change very soon and i've got the HEL lines to put on so thought I might as well uprate the fluid at the same time.

Whats the current recommend fluid ?
I've used ATE Super Blue for a while and been happy with it, it's now changed to ATE Typ 200. Motul RBF600 also gets a good name but I've no experience of it

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

184 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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I've only had original BMW fluid in, half a dozen track days and three different brake systems, two different hose systems, no issues.

E-bmw

9,219 posts

152 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
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Ate Super blue/type 200 user for the last 5 years on e36 328/r53 here with no issues.

SlimJim16v

5,660 posts

143 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
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Is it going on track? If not, ordinary DOT4 is good enough, better even.

thebraketester

14,226 posts

138 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
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Use OEM fluid unless you have a specific reason to use/warrant using a higher performance fluid.

steve-5snwi

Original Poster:

8,665 posts

93 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
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thebraketester said:
Use OEM fluid unless you have a specific reason to use/warrant using a higher performance fluid.
potentially on the track ... although i said that 4 years ago and still haven't been. Who makes the OEM stuff ? although its easy to get something from ECP, i think we are using Pagid fluid at work at the minute ...

thebraketester

14,226 posts

138 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2017
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Dunno. I'd stick with Mini/BMW OEM dot 4 or if you really want (and its easier to get) ATE TYP200.

GiveItSomeWellie

3,007 posts

196 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
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I use RBF600 in my R53, only after a lap and a half on the Nordschleife have I ever noticed the brake pedal start to go long (I'm running R56 S calipers with DS2500 pads up front and Yellowstuff on the back). Very impressive performance, I've also used it before in our old Ford Puma track car, and we never had an issue with fade, even around Spa.

Only thing is you need to change it once a year, you definitely notice a difference in braking performance after much more than a year.

E-bmw

9,219 posts

152 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
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GiveItSomeWellie said:
I use RBF600 in my R53, only after a lap and a half on the Nordschleife have I ever noticed the brake pedal start to go long

Only thing is you need to change it once a year, you definitely notice a difference in braking performance after much more than a year.
Those comments aren't very encouraging.

The 'Ring isn't tough on brakes due to the long distances between heavy braking zones.

Drop off in performance after only a year isn't good either.

All other things being equal (which I am sure they aren't) 20+ laps of Cadwell park with no drop off in performance and there are 3 very heavy braking zones & several other braking zones in just over 2 miles is MUCH heavier on brakes.

Also, although I always change the Type 200 every year, I have never noticed a change in performance.

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

184 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
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I agree, a lap and a half? But that is with R56S which although bigger aren't brilliant. People are having to mess with different compounds and still stand on the pedal, and yellowstuff? Not for me, but a lot of people like them. I'd rather use genuine pads, people underestimate them. It's still a single piston sliding caliper, not the most robust is it really.

If I only got a lap and a half before my brakes started to suffer I'd be doing something to address it if possible.

Having said all that I disagree that the ring isn't hard on brakes. It's extremely hard on them. Any advice I gave anybody that went was to make sure in terms of car reliability (or bike) that the brakes were up to it. I have had brake fade there, in my Rover Mini Cooper 35SE of all things, (it had to be done haha) so I understand why it's important. You don't know what brake fade is until your doing over 100 mph in a 10 foot Mini with standard trim..... and brakes haha. 6 laps was enough madness. Poor little car. It still has those brakes in it, I pushed it out of the garage it's been stored in since, only the other week, and bits of the pad material fell out!! No surprise really, I know it isn't a fair comparison to anything here, it just made me think of it.

Anyway.............

A late Mini, should stand several laps back to back in my opinion. I will be going back at some time and like to think I've built this car for it, maybe some people are heavy on the brakes, I know I can be, but my honest opinion, is over there brakes matter! There's no run off to speak of, and it's a fast place.

E-bmw

9,219 posts

152 months

Friday 24th November 2017
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CarsOrBikes said:
Having said all that I disagree that the ring isn't hard on brakes. It's extremely hard on them. Any advice I gave anybody that went was to make sure in terms of car reliability (or bike) that the brakes were up to it. I have had brake fade there, in my Rover Mini Cooper 35SE of all things, (it had to be done haha) so I understand why it's important. You don't know what brake fade is until your doing over 100 mph in a 10 foot Mini with standard trim..... and brakes haha. 6 laps was enough madness.

Anyway.............

A late Mini, should stand several laps back to back in my opinion. I will be going back at some time and like to think I've built this car for it, maybe some people are heavy on the brakes, I know I can be, but my honest opinion, is over there brakes matter! There's no run off to speak of, and it's a fast place.
Whilst I totally 100% agree that brakes need to be 100% when on any track and especially on the 'Ring that is true, the 'Ring has long straights/fast sections to allow brakes to cool down between heavy braking zones.

There is one section that springs to mind where you are completely flat out without braking for nearly 3km, that is virtually the length of a full lap at Blyton Park that has 5 heavy braking zones/lap.

That is why the 'Ring is not heavy on brakes.