quick: what brake fluid to use?

**homerjay** · 07-12-2006, 05:06 PM

Gotta bleed my juicys. It says DOT 4 or 5.1 on the reservoir. Is there any difference besides boiling point? Do I go to the auto parts store? Is the Avid brake fluid just DOT 4 marked up 500% and put in a smaller container?

**MarsB** · 07-12-2006, 05:17 PM

No.
DOT 5.1 has a higher boiling point.
If they carry motorcycle stuff, they should have it.
Yes.

**bagtagley** · 07-12-2006, 05:26 PM

Auto parts store too.

I've been using the Castrol SynPower cause it was on sale, and has "Syn" in the name, which is important.

**marshalolson** · 07-12-2006, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Auto parts store too.

I've been using the Castrol SynPower cause it was on sale, and has "Syn" in the name, which is important.

is it syntastic?

**pde20** · 07-13-2006, 09:28 AM

First time brake bleeder, long time listner. My Hayes 9 hydraulics are to the point where I can tell they need bleeding and I'd like to learn to do this myself as it seems pretty straightforward. This info on getting brake fluid at the auto parts store rather than paying for a 2 oz jar in a "bleed kit" it great for starters, but where do you folks get the tubing and any connector nipples for attaching to the reservoir entry and exit points? Is that something you have to buy custom for your brakes in one of the kits? I've seen people using use plastic wound irrigator/syringes attached to tubing, but also clear condiment type squeeze bottles and any old plastice bottle to catch the replaced fluid....anyone have some knowledge to drop on where to assemble this stuff?

**pechelman** · 07-13-2006, 10:05 AM

Goto Homedepot and go back to where the plastic hoses are.
Look for a 1/4" ID x 10ft long clear plastic tube. If youre smart, youll bring a leatherman with you and clip off 10" cause thats all you need.

Buy a bottle of water or steal an empty one from somewhere. Drill a hole in the plastic cap of the bottle and shove the tube into it a little bit. If you want to get fancy you can epoxy the tube to the cap to make sure it doesnt come out or leak, but if you drill it undersize, you shouldnt have any trouble.

I do reccomend getting a syringe, as it will make refilling the resevoirs much much easier and you want get fluid everywhere. I also reccomend syringes over condiment bottles because they expose the fluid to much less air.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs H20 from anything including the air.

I also reccomend buying some cheap gloves to protect your hands from getting fluid on them. If you do, youre hands will probably just dry out and maybe crack, so if you get it on you, just run your hand under some cold water and then dry off any left over residue.

Other than that, make sure you get a nice tight fitting wrench for your bleeder screws.

if you got other q's ask away

edit: oh yea, protect your brake pads during bleeding to keep from getting fluid on them.
either use old ones, or stick something between the pistons, or wrap up the caliper best you can with something like electrical tape.

**pechelman** · 07-13-2006, 10:12 AM

OH

And a big fucking huge FYI about DOT4 vs 5

They ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

You need to get out all of the previous fluid if you use something different.
They contain chemicals, that when mixed, create a byproduct that dissolves the rubbers in the seals of your brakes.

Also DOT 5 is not the same as 5.1
5.1 is however compatible with 4.

edit: actually, heres a good article for everyone about brake fluids
http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/chap10.html

**homerjay** · 07-13-2006, 10:18 AM

I love ghetto-rigging stuff as much as the next guy, but I'd just buy the bleed kit. Then buy cheap DOT 4 fluid at the auto parts store. The kit for my Juicy's is slick, the syringes have clamps, fittings thread cleanly into the bleed ports, etc. If time is money, you'll spend more time trying to figure things out constructing your own bleed kit than you will money on a bleed kit.

**pechelman** · 07-13-2006, 10:23 AM

Yea I spent a total of 20 minutes and 3$ driving to Home Depot, finding and clipping off the hose I needed, finding a left over water bottle, buying gloves, and aquiring a syringe.

Thats rough. I cant speak for avids, but this setup worked perfect for my hopes.

edit: if thats too difficult, theres a standard brake bleeding kit im sure you can buy at an autoparts place or motorcycle place for under 10$
looks something like this
http://www.autobarn.net/lis19200.html

**flowtron** · 07-13-2006, 10:39 AM

Hopes (and Hayes) are ghetto rig-able, Avids....not so much, threaded fittings. The Avid bleed kit is nice, they have a kind of long, but effective and straight forward bleed method too.

**homerjay** · 07-13-2006, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by flowtron

Hopes (and Hayes) are ghetto rig-able, Avids....not so much, threaded fittings. The Avid bleed kit is nice, they have a kind of long, but effective and straight forward bleed method too.

roger, I've only dealt with the Avids, and the presence of threaded fittings made me think that the kit is the way to go. Didn't know you could rig the other types, so I stand corrected, smart ass pechelman.

hey flow, avid tells me to move my pad contact adjust all the way out. After I bleed, they don't engage instantly, I need to keep the contact dialed all the way out for my desired feel. Not a huge deal, but I don't like having any type of adjustment maxed in either direction. Seems like I need to add more fluid, but I've bled the fuckers 3x with the same result each time. Do I need to squeeze in some more fluid from the levers? I topped the bleed port off each time, but not under pressure.

**pechelman** · 07-13-2006, 10:59 AM

I stand corrected as well. I should have known that after looking at that weird perpendicular bleeder port cap screw deal on avids. I always thought that was weird.

Im in favor of bleeder nipples if for no other reason than to have an excuse to say nipple.

**homerjay** · 07-13-2006, 11:03 AM

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that nipples are good.

**pechelman** · 07-13-2006, 11:06 AM

unless theyre hairy

**homerjay** · 07-13-2006, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by pechelman

unless theyre hairy

You just brought back a very disturbing memory from my early 20's.

**Rontele** · 07-13-2006, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by homerjay

You just brought back a very disturbing memory from my early 20's.

I once knew a girl that had the HAIRIEST nipples. My buddy is now married to her

Squatch · 07-13-2006, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Rontele

I once knew a girl that had the HAIRIEST nipples. My buddy is now married to her

the question is, can you milk hairy nipples?

**homerjay** · 07-13-2006, 11:36 AM

I fucking love the fact that we can go from brake fluid -> hairy female nipples in only 15 posts.

**Rontele** · 07-13-2006, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by homerjay

I fucking love the fact that we can go from brake fluid -> hairy female nipples in only 15 posts.

I think what it does prove is that when together the maggot collective can reduce each individuals maturity level by about 10-15 years.

(~.~)(~.~)

**pde20** · 07-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

OH

And a big fucking huge FYI about DOT4 vs 5

They ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

You need to get out all of the previous fluid if you use something different.
They contain chemicals, that when mixed, create a byproduct that dissolves the rubbers in the seals of your brakes.

Also DOT 5 is not the same as 5.1
5.1 is however compatible with 4.

edit: actually, heres a good article for everyone about brake fluids
http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/chap10.html

Back to fluid...the variety that may or may not be coming from a hairy nipple but works my brakes.

The hayes bleed kit comes with DOT 4 fluid....I assume that means that all hayes use DOT 4 and that is what I should stick with?

Edit: Doh! Checked the reservoir and it says right there.

**pde20** · 07-24-2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

I do reccomend getting a syringe, as it will make refilling the resevoirs much much easier and you want get fluid everywhere. I also reccomend syringes over condiment bottles because they expose the fluid to much less air.

Where the hell do I find one of these syringes? I have looked everywhere Ican think of...hobby shops, paharmacies, auto parts stores, home depot. Eneded up finding a six dollar kit of tubes, fluid receptacle, nipples at an auto parts store, but have been stumped on the syringe thus far.

**Andy_B** · 07-24-2006, 12:12 PM

Did you try a Medical supply store.

**pechelman** · 07-24-2006, 12:13 PM

I could have sworn Ive seen them at home depot.

Other options are to goto a hospital and ask for a big honker of a syringe without a needle. I did that at my college health center when I was rebuilding Fox dampers like a mad man one spring and they hooked me up big time. Even gave me a few 18gauge needles big enough to stick into a horse.

Maybe check at a pharmacy type place, walgreens etc.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...id=prod1491343

If you live near denver\want to pick it up, I can get you a big one for free.

another option might be an eye dropper type bottle\dispenser.

**pde20** · 07-24-2006, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Andy_B

Did you try a Medical supply store.

that would make too much sense. i don't know where medical supply stores are, but google will tell me. what size, in terms of cc's, is going to be sufficient?