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Plan- |
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With the new brake
lines and
speed-bleeders in place on my Supra, now is a good time to
completely replace the brake fluid. I didn't want to go with DOT 5
as it is a true synthetic, it doesn't mix well with other fluids
requiring the brake system to be spotlessly clean, and is hard to pour
without making bubbles. DOT 5.1 has similar properties but is
non-synthetic and fully compatible with other fluids. I had to try
a couple of places before I found someone that had even heard of
Motul and DOT 5.1. |
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Project- |
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I used a baster to remove the fluid from the master cylinder and
then took off the fluid reservoir. With carb cleaner, q-tips,
and rags on the end of a screwdriver, I removed all the gunk and
sludge from the reservoir, inside and out, then reinstalled it. After filling
the reservoir, I started with the back right brakes and worked my
way to the front left. All I had to do was loosen each bleeder
1/4 turn, attach a line from the bleeder into a jar and pump the
brakes. After 20 pumps I refilled the reservoir and checked
the lines to see if I saw any air bubbles or dirty fluid and then
continued as needed. My old brake fluid was very brown, so it
was very easy to see when the new fluid had made it past the wheel
cylinders. With the new bleeders, this was done in a matter of
minutes. |
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Difficulty- |
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1- Finding DOT 5.1 fluid was the only problem I had. Even a couple
of the motorcycle shops gave me the "deer in the headlights" look. |
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Problems- |
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1- None. |
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Payoff- |
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The brakes haven't felt this good in years. Nice firm pedal and no
fade. With how easy it is to bleed the brakes now, this was well
worth the price. |
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Stock- |
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Minimum boiling points (actual points vary from brand to brand)- Dot 3
dry 401° and wet 284°,
Dot 4 dry 446° and wet 311°, Dot 5 dry 500° and wet
356°, Dot 5.1 dry 518° and 375°. Dry boiling point is with
clean fluid and wet is with 3% water by volume. |
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Upgrade- |
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Basically, the boiling point equals brake fade, the higher the number
the more you can abuse the fluid without problems. Notice that Dot
5.1 is far above the others.
For more info. |
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Last updated:
Freitag Oktober 21, 2005
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Materials &
parts |
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4.5 Liters Motul brake fluid-
$27.50 |
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Carb cleaner spray- on hand |
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Tools |
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8mm wrench |
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Phillips head screwdriver |
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Small flat
head screwdriver |
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Baster |
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Rags |
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Q-tips |
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Drip pan |
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