I am soon to be replenishing my entire brake fluid and just wanted to ask,
is this Purple DOT5 what I should use now... ?

I have a new pair of brake calipers and am going to replace my old ones.

Plus.... This build is quite amazing 

Peter

Thanks for the kind words Peter 

I went for dot 5 fluid, it's the first time I've used it. I like the sound of no moisture absorbsion when it's sat idle over the winter, and if it ever leaks I shouldn't lose any paint!

Thanks, I wasnt sure thats all.

I will get some fluid from the little shop nearby my work place as I get a lot
of discount there due to work, I use an old easy bleed bottle hooked up to a wheel barrow wheel
for the pressure, it all sits on the floor and is self contained

I do like the push rod tubes you have used, do they come in stainless ? as I want to have my engine overhauled soon,
its been a while since it was done.

Your buggy is coming along very well indeed 

Peter

Hi Peter, the tubes are MST brand, I got them from limebug. I like the internal springs, looks a bit neater.

Worth checking the dot 5 will not have an effect on the seals in the system long term as it is not compatible to mix with dot 4 stuff.

I cleaned my complete system out with brake cleaner before switching over. Touch wood that has worked fine as the fluid in the system is still clean and clear. 
As Snoopy said do not mix DOT 5 with anything else.

Be aware that because it is non hydroscopic any moisture that does get into the fluid will form small droplets that will collect in the callipers or slave cylinders which could cause corrosion, I do a 1 pump bleed on every nipple when I do the yearly service.

In theory there should be no need to do a complete fluid change and as already said it is paint safe so bleeding and topping up is a much more user friendly job.

Thankyou, interesting stuff, I am not sure what my stuff is designed to be used with and a complete purge of the system
will be needed.

Is Snoopy saying that the internal seals in a system are designed to be used with only
one type or another, ie DOT 4 or DOT 5.

I dont want to complicate it all and may just use DOT 4 fluid seeing as the calipers are new but the rear slaves are not.

Anyway, I seem to be hijacking a thread here... 

Thanks everybody 

Very interesting Flags. I changed to front discs, went to a tandem master cylinder at the same time. Six months later fitted rear calipers. Wish I'd changed to DOT 5 at the same time. Now, too many ifs 😱
Paul

Got the headlamps fitted, flatlands units with an indicator bulb tucked inside


Finished off the drop down wiring panel and final wiring. Happy with this as I hate wiring, I may have mentioned this before!


Not that exiting to look at, but this took some work to line up with the slope of the bonnet. Happy with it now!


Fitted us sized plates with Meyers plate surrounds for that authentic look!


It's getting so close now, I can feel some wheels and an MOT coming on soon!


Couldn't resist this cheeky little badge- I'll be in trouble with the wife!


Front plate mounted. Need to fit the front shocks now. I have some cheap oil shocks that in going to drill, drain the oil and then fill with 5w motorcycle fork oil to reduce the damping a touch. Worked really well on my last Manx, can't recall where I saw this idea originally.

Is Snoopy saying that the internal seals in a system are designed to be used with only
one type or another, ie DOT 4 or DOT 5.


This has been my understanding Pete.

I think most modern rubbers used in braking parts will be OK with silicon dot 5. I think the grey area is mixing them, or using one in a system that has been using the other. If the rubber in the brake parts can withstand Glycol fluids, then silicon shouldn't trouble it.

that's what i'm hoping anyway! I replaced everything so starting from fresh.

You can mix dot 4 and dot 5.1 as they are mineral dot 5 is silicon. The damage was just my thoughts as I have had vehicles needing expensive repair as they used an hydraulic oil not brake fluid by design and people putting brake fluid in caused brake failure as it attacked the seals over a period of time.

Ah yes, is that the mineral oils used in old citroens?

Ah yes, is that the mineral oils used in old citroens?

Never even thought of the citroen all in one hydraulic system Keith my life was spent on mainly larger vehicles.

Another memory dredged up from the past... Does anyone remember the Citreon DS brake button... No pedal just a foot operated button type thing. This felt very, very odd to use.