Brake Fluid recommendations please...

[Peakz]

After seeing Graham's brake fluid boil at the Prodrive Driver Dev Program I asked Doug to put Castrol SRF in my car when I had my B7-RS4 (S8 rear) brakes fitted back in June.

I've done two trackdays without any boiling though the fluid did get quite hot, and have covered around 8000 miles without any problems. I don't abuse my brakes on the road, plenty of gentle braking to keep them warm and pad-deposit free.

[Ads4]

Doug's putting SRF in mine while it's there. The higher temps it can reach should stop it boiling, as mine did at Castle Combe, even after Jeff had tought me to drive

[Virdee Autos]

I used ATE super blue when i fitted my RS6 setup.

Blue in colour so you know once its flushed out!

Supposed to be better than normal fluid. Most DOT5 fluids ain't all that, and SRF requires regular replacement, or at least thats what I've heard!

[imolas4uk]

im using ferodo dot 5.1 with no probs on stock calipers and discs with ebc red pads,good pedal feel but the pads are a bit to hard

[GrahamS4]

I use SRF.

You didn't when you did mine for me. You made me think twice but my skid marks (and lack of them) helped me stick to my guns and go for the good stuff! Hope your decision to change wasn't so hairy! You seemed to think highly of the regular Castrol stuff.

It seems a few have had the same boiling experience (pre SRF) as me so I don't feel such a plonker. Glad to be of service Paz - it was enough to change anyone's mind! Paz was taking pics as usual and on my last lap (under instruction) we were going to pic paz up before retiring for lunch. He must have wondered why we cruised on by abandoning him, not realising we had zero braking since the last corner!


Anyway, this talk of changing brake fluid when doing track days. Probably a stooopid question but would that be before (to ensure good on track) or after (to ensure teh fluid is ok once back on the road), or both?

[Doug_S2]

graham - i used to use the castrol super respnose dot 4 - as that is really good (and a lot cheaper) but now use srf since the car gets abused a lot.

[R5YUG]

After seeing Graham's brake fluid boil at the Prodrive Driver Dev Program I asked Doug to put Castrol SRF in my car when I had my B7-RS4 (S8 rear) brakes fitted back in June.

I've done two trackdays without any boiling though the fluid did get quite hot, and have covered around 8000 miles without any problems. I don't abuse my brakes on the road, plenty of gentle braking to keep them warm and pad-deposit free.

Peakz - any chance you could post a picture of your rear B7 RS4 brake setup please... I'm interested to see how the callipers and discs fill the space.

TIA Guy

[GrahamS4]

graham - i used to use the castrol super respnose dot 4 - as that is really good (and a lot cheaper) but now use srf since the car gets abused a lot.

So what is your take on changing fluid when tracking the car?

Anyway, this talk of changing brake fluid when doing track days. Probably a stooopid question but would that be before (to ensure good on track) or after (to ensure the fluid is ok once back on the road), or both?

[p.binks]

I use the AP-Racing fluid that is specific to my kit,it was recommended for my set up by a few people I talked with regarding new fluid and brake pads for track use etc,pedal feel is excellent with no fade or a*se clenching moments and very reasonably priced too.

Cheers "Bingo"

[derdle]

In my case the fluid is due to be changed under the normal two yearly cycle. I was just wondering whether there is a recommendation for a fluid that is better suited for track use. If it's Ok for the track tehn it'll be fine for the roads was my reasoning.

What was also in the back of my mind was whether any fluids shouldn't be used - for example are there any fluids which may cause some types of piston seal to harden or fail?

Paul

[DolphiN_Tech]

So does anyone else feel as thought the SRF goes off so quickly (i.e 4-5 months) or has DolpiN Tech really "abused" his brake fluid to some real extremes?

Lol...I know I'm hard on brakes, but I think I'd really have to be going some to boil SRF under normal circumstances! I'm fairly sure that the problem was the fluid sucking up moisture, which then allowed me to cook it - since I switched to LCF600 it's been ok.

Or perhaps I shouldn't have gone Evo and STI chasing in the Integra

[derdle]

was the fluid sucking up moisture

That is what I was concerned about - is SRF actually more hydroscopic than other fluids which means it has to be changed more frequently?

Paul

[Peakz]

Guy - I have B7 RS4 front brakes & S8 rear brakes, sorry for my confusing post above.

[mikeyquattro]

I'm thinking of getting this.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 3DWatching

I like the idea of seeing when it's been flushed through

[Virdee Autos]

Thats what I used on mine, when I did the '6 upgrade.

Not only for its blue colour, but I wasn't totally convinced with DOT5 fluid, so stuck with a high performance DOT4 fluid.

I'm happy with it, and it's highly recommended everywhere.