Brake Fluid & Trans Fluid

[SteveW]

I'm going to fill up the brake system in the next day or so with fluid, I'm guessing I should run DOT 5.1 ? How much fluid will I need to fill the system from scratch?!

Also what trans fluid are you guys using?

Thanks
Steve

[Joe_G]

Steve, you could try using this for your brakes  http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8658&frostProductName=Silicone+Fluid+%281+litre%29&catID=14&subCatID=&FrostCat=Brakes&FrostSubcat= it doesn't harm your paint and doesn't need changing.

[SteveW]

Cool that looks good, so that's DOT 5 which is silicone based then. This fluid's boiling point is 260°C, i'm guessing that would be ok for drag racing as we're not on the brakes for long periods..

[SteveW]

Hold on a minute.....I might have just twigged Joe

[Joe_G]

Hold on a minute.....I might have just twigged Joe

lol, i hadn't thought of it that way!! hope it's all getting sorted?

[Bernard Newbury]

What Joe said about the brake fluid. Been using it for a few years ,no problem

Also what trans fluid are you guys using?
Thanks
Steve

I use a regular 75-90 semi synthetic, again no problem. Bernie

[SteveW]

Joe, it's getting there, just sorting out the 'other details' now

I spoke to Chris Isaacs today who has manuals on the Strange brakes and it recommends to only use DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 but only of a glycol base not silicone. Because of the silicone based fluid not absorbing moisture, if any does get in the system then it sits on the calipers and damages them (I can't remember the exact wording it uses but its basically that..)

I just picked up some ordinary synthetic DOT 4 so I'll try that.

Thanks
Steve

[Bruce]

. Because of the silicone based fluid not absorbing moisture, if any does get in the system then it sits on the calipers and damages them .....

That's the rhetoric the deniers always state.  Since silicone juice doesn't absorb water from the air, it won't be in the calipers to corrode them.
15+ years of the same silicone juice in my brake system.  No problems at all, and it rains a LOT here. 

For a drag car that gets driven only in the dry, why would you worry about it?

[Harry/FDK]

75W90 Full Synth Kendall for the Tranny. Mercedes Brake fluid every year for brakes, because it's "available".

[SteveW]

. Because of the silicone based fluid not absorbing moisture, if any does get in the system then it sits on the calipers and damages them .....

That's the rhetoric the deniers always state.  Since silicone juice doesn't absorb water from the air, it won't be in the calipers to corrode them.
15+ years of the same silicone juice in my brake system.  No problems at all, and it rains a LOT here. 

For a drag car that gets driven only in the dry, why would you worry about it?

Because I don't have 15+ years of experience to go back on!! It rains a hell of a lot here too (and especially when your at the racetrack!) so I thought DOT 4 would be fine.

Thanks for the advice everyone