Manual Tranny and Brakes, WHAT FLUID?
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DeathBus
- Posts: 1176
- Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 1:01 am
Manual Tranny and Brakes, WHAT FLUID?
What type of Brake fluid should I look for?? both systems are completly empty and there is no fluid in the resevoir.
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11912
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
They all use the same fluid as you may have noticed....the slave cylinder pulls its fluid from the brake resoivoir. Don't worry...it has a baffel down the middle to keep the clutch from acciedntly draining the brakes.
I saw some ratings awhile back after debating the topic of DOT 5's with Bruce2. ATE super blue and Bosch super blue are excellent. Even Castrol LMA gets very high marks for temp and mositure absorption> I use the LMA...because its plenty good...and readily available everywhere. I drain the system once a year...because it keeps my unobtanium parts spankin new. Ray
I saw some ratings awhile back after debating the topic of DOT 5's with Bruce2. ATE super blue and Bosch super blue are excellent. Even Castrol LMA gets very high marks for temp and mositure absorption> I use the LMA...because its plenty good...and readily available everywhere. I drain the system once a year...because it keeps my unobtanium parts spankin new. Ray
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MGVWfan
- Posts: 825
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:23 pm
I've only used Castrol LMA since 1977 (and it was darn hard to find then). Never had a fluid related problem with any of my cars, including the finicky Lockheed and Girling brakes on my Brit cars. It's good stuff.
Lane
73 VW 412 (the Nomad, dropped valve seat land now, argh!)
67 MGB (Abingdon's Finest)
76 Plymouth Duster /6 (runs like a top)
99 New Beetle 2.0 (never gives any trouble)
04 Golf TDI (45 MPG)
09 JSW (love it, love it, love it!)
73 VW 412 (the Nomad, dropped valve seat land now, argh!)
67 MGB (Abingdon's Finest)
76 Plymouth Duster /6 (runs like a top)
99 New Beetle 2.0 (never gives any trouble)
04 Golf TDI (45 MPG)
09 JSW (love it, love it, love it!)
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vwbill
- Posts: 970
- Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 12:01 am
Any rubber issue?
So is there any rubber parts issues with the new fluids? I use the castrol 3/4 type. bill
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11912
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
None of these fluids listed in this thread are new. they have been around for ages....but there is a lot new in fluids. In cars of this age with NOS parts, avoid the new synthetic fluids. The boiling point is poor, the rheology with old rubber is unknown....in my opinion...and the yare expensive. I had a little tiff with Bruce2 about compatability of DOT 5 silicone fluid. As I noted....while it is true that silicone fluid has few...or fewer...problems with he new rubber formulations, it still has huge problems with old rubber formulations, and with contamination. It only takes a few drops of DOT 3/4 to contaminate the whole system. It also compresses once it suspends water ...(because it does not absorb water)....which causes a permanent spongy pedal, give the brake balance valve a hard time and causes spotrust in low areas.
In short...unless you slave over brand new rubber parts from a brand new type of vehicle....which is know n to run correct EPR rubber parts...you should never need to be using DOT 5. Just stick with the excellent dot 3/4's that are cheap, effective and readily available .Ray
In short...unless you slave over brand new rubber parts from a brand new type of vehicle....which is know n to run correct EPR rubber parts...you should never need to be using DOT 5. Just stick with the excellent dot 3/4's that are cheap, effective and readily available .Ray