Notices
Brakes & Suspension 350Z stoppers, coils, shocks/dampers

Trying to understand brake fluid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-11-2009, 09:09 AM
  #1  
redlinedifterzx
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
redlinedifterzx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: thousand oaks california
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Trying to understand brake fluid

This is my fisrt time doing the brakes on the z Im going with new powerslot rotors hp pads and stoptech steel braided brakes lines. Iv done. Some reading on the whole process of making the install but iv been left blank on a couple of questions I had about the brake fluid.

When it comes to driving my z is a daily driver but I do canyon driving as well as the occasional track and was looking for any recomendations towards the best fluid.

1. Is brake fluid like other parts of the braking system where as if I use a high performance fluid will I not have decent brakes till there heated.

2. Can I use dot 4 as well cause it seems that alot of the hp brake fluid are
mostly dot 4 and the maneul recomends dot 3

Last edited by redlinedifterzx; 11-11-2009 at 09:11 AM.
Old 11-11-2009, 09:17 AM
  #2  
StopTechErik
Vendor - Former Vendor
 
StopTechErik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

DOT3 and 4 fluids can be interchanged with no issue. Many new fluids sold these days are not even labelled as one or the other, just as DOT 3 and 4 compatible.

As far as the usage, brake fluid is just hydraulic fluid, designed have as little compressibility as possible to transfer pressure from one location to another as efficiently as possible. The benefit of high heat fluids is their resistance to boiling. When fluid boils, it becomes a gas which is very compressible and the pedal gets soft and spongy until it recondenses back into the uncompressible fluid. There should be no difference in pedal feel from a standard DOT3 or 4 vs a high temp DOT 3 or 4.

If you havent done a bleed in a while, you will probably notice improved pedal feel from getting fresh fluid into the calipers.
Old 11-11-2009, 09:35 AM
  #3  
redlinedifterzx
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
redlinedifterzx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: thousand oaks california
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanx much appreciated and recomendations on a high temp fluid?
Old 11-11-2009, 09:44 AM
  #4  
Z1 Performance
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (564)
 
Z1 Performance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 19,266
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

if you're on a budget and want a nice all around fluid, ATE Super Blue works great

Motul RBF600 is also popular

if you want something that has even higher temp thresholds and works very consistently on the track, we have the Endless RF600 - expensive, but it's worked amazingly well for us so far!
Old 11-11-2009, 10:46 AM
  #5  
redlinedifterzx
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
redlinedifterzx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: thousand oaks california
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Any idea on how many bottles of the. Enless 600 I'd need to replace all my fluid?
Old 11-11-2009, 10:50 AM
  #6  
Z1 Performance
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (564)
 
Z1 Performance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 19,266
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

depends what you're using to bleed them, but 2 bottles to do the brakes if you're using a power bleeder. If you're bleeding them manually, I'd suggest getting 3

or you can get 3 bottles, and might as well do your clutch at the same time (uses the same fluid)
Old 11-11-2009, 01:16 PM
  #7  
sektor 11
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
sektor 11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: cincinnati
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

get three....its always nice to have some for track days JUST in case.
Old 11-11-2009, 01:45 PM
  #8  
DavesZ#3
350Z-holic
iTrader: (26)
 
DavesZ#3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 15,887
Likes: 0
Received 23 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Here's a good read on Brake Fluids...

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...fluid_1a.shtml
Old 11-11-2009, 05:45 PM
  #9  
JETPILOT
New Member
iTrader: (51)
 
JETPILOT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Vero Beach, FL
Posts: 6,319
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

There is no way you need Endless fluid. Endless fluid is prohibitevely expensive. It's used in Formula 1 and other competition cars.

Motul RBF 600 is also overkill unless your a really good river and lapping a fast road course (autocross not incuded).

If your doing autocross or short road courses then the ATE will be what you want.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Obadabot
Maintenance & Repair
16
06-18-2023 11:31 PM
burglapfd
Maintenance & Repair
9
12-06-2020 01:04 PM
hajwoj
Autocross/Road
27
11-01-2015 05:25 PM



Quick Reply: Trying to understand brake fluid



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:50 AM.