Brake fluid?

[V6 JDT]

Prior to fitting the VXR brakes, my mechanic in Edinburgh suggests changing the brake fluid to a higher DOT number and synthetic one. What type can I use, where do I source it and how much do I need? I've been reading up on this a little and not sure whether you can use a silicon based one or not. DOT 5.1 (glycol based) or DOT 5 (silicon based) or other?? Any ideas would be most welcome.
Jeff.

Edited by V6 JDT on Saturday 30th September 10:22

[Well_Fans]

dunno if it helps much but at Donnington Mark from LSV warned that the higher dot fluids if used in the clutch system could quickly corrode the seals if the wrong one was used and that there was no need to change. That being the case it kinda suggests that you do want to make sure you get the right fluid to avoid any such problems with the brakes! General consensus on here is to upgrade fluid to reduce brake fade but I wouldnt like to say which of the two you should be using.

[v8d]

Dont use Silicon (DOT 5) in any system with ABS, or if you intend to track the car. I use Motul 600 in my Vette which essentially has VXR brakes. Think it has the highest wet and dry boiling point except for Castrol RBF, which is an order of magnitude dearer! Hope that helps a little !!

[V6 JDT]

Thanks guys, hope I get a few more responses yet.

[sid447]

Castrol Response,

Super Dot 4 is about the best kind you'll get. There are other manunfacterers that make Super Dot 4 also.

Some call it Dot 4/600 as the 600 denotes it's dry boiling point in degrees F.
Which along with it's higher wet boiling point makes it the best available for any road car and a good help in our kind of vehicle.
The specs are higher than Dot 5.1, it is also ABS compatable.

Example details here:
www.castrol.com/castrol/productdetailmin.do?categoryId=8290045&contentId=6007556

Product info can be found on Google.

[caspy]

Another black art it seems......

Interesting read and product comparison table at the end.

www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_brakefluid_1a.shtml

[davetye]

I would go for the latest DOT5 (non silicon), this has a slightly higher boiling point than DOT4. If you track the car use Castrol SRF, very expensive though. I bought a complete box for my track car (cheaper that way). I have a few bottles spare if you want some.

[caspy]

DOT 5 or 5.1 ??

[v8d]

caspy said:

DOT 5 or 5.1 ??

I think that DOT 5 is the silicon stuff, DOT 5.1 is regular synthetic stuff and is fine in ABS systems.

[V6 JDT]

Went for this stuff in the end. It has a slightly higher wet boiling point than 5.1 apparently. MOTUL RBF600 DOT 4 Racing Brake Fluid - Motorsport. 2 x 500ml bottles enough? £9.99 on e bay.

[v8d]

V6 JDT said:

Went for this stuff in the end. It has a slightly higher wet boiling point than 5.1 apparently. MOTUL RBF600 DOT 4 Racing Brake Fluid - Motorsport. 2 x 500ml bottles enough? £9.99 on e bay.

Ive used the Motul stuff in the Vette, and never boiled the buggers yet even with some spirited stopping! Will fit it in the Monaro when its due a change. Not sure what Picador put in the system when the APs were fitted, but it seems just fine.

[caspy]

The AP kit comes with DOT 5.1.

[v8d]

caspy said:

The AP kit comes with DOT 5.1.

Thanks Caspy, Guess that would be the AP lockheed stuff? Whatever it is its been just fine to date. I'm no expert driver, and those AP things, like the rest of the car, probably have abilities far beyond what I can get out of them.

[ywn]

hi i am about to change the brake fluid in my holden (vp commodore) it has stock brakes with up graded disk (slotted and x-drilled) and want to know what would be the best to use and i do not have abs if that helps

[monkfish1]

Use DOT5.1. I've used DOT 5 (silicon) and was not impressed. I have had seal problems with the DOT5 too.

Can't go far wrong woth DOT 5.1