Aaron Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 I know this has been discussed in the past, but I need to be sure... I have just replaced my entire brake system, all cylindars and all lines EXCEPT the two short lines in the back wheels that connect the rear cylindars. Those I cleaned well. Can I use DOT 5 fluid now? Quote
TodFitch Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 I know this has been discussed in the past, but I need to be sure... I have just replaced my entire brake system, all cylindars and all lines EXCEPT the two short lines in the back wheels that connect the rear cylindars. Those I cleaned well. Can I use DOT 5 fluid now? Sounds like it. But why not simply replace those two lines as well. Then you will be sure of the condition of all the components. If you don't replace them, I'd at least remove them and flush them well with something like alcohol, dry them then reinstall. If/when you use DOT5, take it slow and easy. It is easy to get small air bubbles in it if you agitate it and those can take a lot of time and effort to remove. I put DOT5 in my 1933 (totally rebuilt/replaced components) in 1997/8 and have had no problems since. Quote
grey beard Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 I use dot 5 and am happy with it. Should outlast me, since silicone is a rubber lubricant. JMHO Quote
Aaron Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Posted April 5, 2008 Do you have to bleed the cylindars in a particular order? Quote
MBF Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Hope I'm not sticking my nose where it doesn't belong-but if you've been running DOT3 in that system and put in DOT5 you may turn all of the rubber parts to mush and it will show up at the worst time. Have seen it happen many, many times on forklifts before we found out what was wrong. It wasn't until we got the manufacturer & factory lab involved that we found out that their initial recommendation that it was ok to mix the two types was wrong. They updated their processes to require the replacement of any rubber part that came into direct contact with the fluid if you were going to change fro DOT3 to DOT5 or vice versa. Mike Quote
Rich Gengo Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 I agree with MB. If it wasn't designed for dot5 I wouldn't use it. If you chose the wrong ignition part and it fails, you walk home. If you chose the wrong brake part and it fails, well it aint gonna be pretty. Dot3 worked for the last 50 yrs I'm sure it well still work. If you want to be safe just bleed the brakes every few yrs when the fluid gets dark. Quote
MBF Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Rich-I didn't mean to imply that DOT5 shouldn't be used, all I was saying is that the 2 different types cannot be mixed. For a vehicle that sits alot the DOT5 may be a better alternative as it won't wick moisture like the DOT3 will. I'd probably convert my truck myself if I didn't have to go through the entire brake systems again. You do offer good advise on maintenance. I try to flush the systems on all 3 antique vehicles every couple of years. Same with the cooling systems. Amazing what accumulates in those systems over time. Mike Quote
Aaron Posted April 7, 2008 Author Report Posted April 7, 2008 I am going to call Kanter Auto tomorrow and see what they lubed the inside of my new wheel cylindars and master cylindar with and as long as it wasn't DOT 3 fluid, I will use the DOT 5 for fluid. Also I attached a picture I took about 30 minutes ago... I was hoping winter was over! Quote
MBF Posted April 7, 2008 Report Posted April 7, 2008 I think a call to your weatherman telling him it has been Spring for a couple of weeks is in order. He doesn't seem to be getting it. Mike Quote
Rich Gengo Posted April 7, 2008 Report Posted April 7, 2008 I was told by the Bendix tech. rep. that the cylinders are manufactured and assembled using Dot3 so contamination is always there. You can flush the system with brakleen and you might get it all out. I used Dot5 in my T bucket and my Cuda when I built them. I had to rebuild all the rubber components on the T bucket and didn't have a problem with the Cuda but I did flush the system and went back to Dot3. Didn't want to take any chances. I guess its a crap shoot- dammed if you do and dammed if you don't Quote
Aaron Posted April 8, 2008 Author Report Posted April 8, 2008 I did get a call back from Kanter Auto, and they said that they did try to find out what is used to lube the wheel cylindars but they are not sure. Could be anything is the answer I got. They also said they have never been asked that question before! They said if I want to use DOT 5 I should take them and use brake cleaner and really go through them. I already have everything on, and I am not going to pull everything back off to clean, so I will be using DOT 3! Thanks for everyone's input. Aaron Quote
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