Suggested Brake Fluid Inquiry

Gatorman1369 · Jul 20, 2005

Hey gang,

I will be changing out my rotors and pads with Brembo and Hawk HPS respectively this weekend. I have read up on some brake fluids which some being quite exotic. (Casrtol SRF being the highest at around $70.00 a liter by way of Froogle). I don't want that is an obvious statement. But I do wish for something beyond a "commercialized repair location" job. So, I think I have narrowed it down to the following vendors.

1. Castrol LMA @ $ 6 - 12oz.
2. ATE (pronounced Ah-tay as I have been told) Super Blue - or it's exact counter part the 200 series which is amber in color @ $11 - 12oz.
3. Ford Heavy Duty - $ @ not sure, I have to go to the dealer here in Gainesville.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I have read enough on the topic to know terms like "Dry and Wet boiling point", "Hydroscopic" and "borate esters " along with their meanings so don't be shy on the verbiage. I also know some advantages and disadvantages between the DOT3 and DOT 4 stuff. Don't worry, I won't be putting DOT5 silicon in there

TIA!!!

newstangman · Jul 20, 2005

Gatorman1369 said:
Hey gang,

I will be changing out my rotors and pads with Brembo and Hawk HPS respectively this weekend. I have read up on some brake fluids which some being quite exotic. (Casrtol SRF being the highest at around $70.00 a liter by way of Froogle). I don't want that is an obvious statement. But I do wish for something beyond a "commercialized repair location" job. So, I think I have narrowed it down to the following vendors.

1. Castrol LMA @ $ 6 - 12oz.
2. ATE (pronounced Ah-tay as I have been told) Super Blue - or it's exact counter part the 200 series which is amber in color @ $11 - 12oz.
3. Ford Heavy Duty - $ @ not sure, I have to go to the dealer here in Gainesville.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I have read enough on the topic to know terms like "Dry and Wet boiling point", "Hydroscopic" and "borate esters " along with their meanings so don't be shy on the verbiage. I also know some advantages and disadvantages between the DOT3 and DOT 4 stuff. Don't worry, I won't be putting DOT5 silicon in there

TIA!!!

I've had good luck with Castrol LMA. The "LMA" means Low Moisture Absorbtion and moisture is the #1 killer of brake components! Glad to hear you are not going with DOT5 crap!

Gatorman1369 · Jul 20, 2005

Yea, knew about the LMA was an acronym for that.

Thanks!

MT1083 · Jul 20, 2005

I went with the Ford Heavy Duty fluid when I upgraded mine. Its only like $3 a bottle and it seems to have a nice wet/dry boiling point for the street. If you are racing though I would probably go with something with a higher dry bp. I just figured since I don't auto-x then the ford stuff should be fine.

Kilgore Trout · Jul 20, 2005

I got mine from the Ford Parts Counter and that is what I would generally recommend. However, a lot of people say that when flushing it is nice to use different colors of fluid so that you can easily tell when all the old stuff is flushed out by the color change...

Here's a link to some more info:
http://www.bullittarchive.com/html/modules/articles/article.php?id=68

Gatorman1369 · Jul 20, 2005

No, I won't be racing.

From a standpoint of "seeing" when the fluid was new was my idea on the series of blue and orange from the ATE fluid. That way, I stick good to my Gator colors!!! Seriously though, I know that all 3 will probably be just fine. Glad to hear that 2 of the 3 has an approval.

I will read from the link you posted.

Here is one from me if you gentlemen are interested.

http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/brakefluid1a.htm

Again, thank you for your inputs.

EDIT: Ahhhh, I see that man in the posted link using some ATE 200...

Gatorman1369 · Jul 20, 2005

Update:

I have been reading that although Ford Heavy Duty has a high dry BP and is great for racing it is not a recommended product for street use because of it's extremly low wet BP once there is around 3.7% water in the system. It is noted that that fluid should be changed every 3 or 4 months.

For the ones using Ford based Brake fluid... are you sure you didn't get the performance brake fluid and not the heavy duty? Just Asking.

As for the ATE, this looks like mabe I can pick this up at my local BMW dealer? Hmmmm....

blackink00 · Jul 20, 2005

i used the castrol LMA and its done good. i think there isnt to big of a difference if your just going to drive it down the street.

MT1083 · Jul 20, 2005

hmmm...looks like I might have to keep a close eye on the Ford fluid in mine then. Thanks for the warning.

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