brake and fluid questions

[tweak666]

i'll be rebuilding my brake calipers soon and getting new rotors, pads, and ss lines, but what about the fluid? i want to upgrade to a fluid more suited to track use, and i read somewhere that you shouldn't let different fluids mix, as they may corrode lines and seals. so, how would i clear the brake system of old fluid? whats a decent fluid for say autocross and/or drifting? would i use the same/upgraded fluid in my clutch master cylinder? :1zhelp:

 

[IJ.]

I always flush the system with denatured alcohol when I do a fluid change.
(it helps remove any water moisture that could be trapped)

I'm using Motul 5.1 here in the brakes and had it in the clutch.

 

[Poodles]

DOT4 can be mixed with DOT3

I think DOT5.1 is too, but DOT5 is NOT compatible...

 

[IJ.]

Why on earth would you take a chance?
(it's not like brake fluid is super expensive)

BF being hygroscopic means if it's been uncapped it's attracting water so it's a good move to fully flush the system and replace it at least yearly.
(saves a bundle on Callipers and Master cylinders as well)

 

[tweak666]

how do i go about flushing the system, do i just bleed out all the fluid, then fill the master cylinder with alcohol and bleed again?

 

[IJ.]

You don't really need to bleed it with the alcohol (impotrant that it's denatured) Just fill the master open a bleeded and pump it through repeating for each wheel.

When done you need to fill with fresh brake fluid and repeat till it pumps it out clear then you can fill and bleed.

It might take 1/2 >1 qt to do it correctly but when you factor in the cost of Toyota Master Cylinders it's cheap insurance doing it every 1>2 years.

 

[drjonez]

valvoline sythetic is a pretty good option. it's relatively cheap and has nearly the performance of motul....given that if you're serious about it you'll be bleeding the brakes before every event, it's a cost-effective compromise.

 

[mkIIIman089]

I like RBF600... I've seen it take some pretty hard abuse in race cars so I'd say its way more then enough for a comparably tiny/slow auto cross course.