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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Type Of Brake Fluid To Use

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Type Of Brake Fluid To Use     murphy1936 07-04-2014 @ 5:14 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Nov 2013 1941 Ford. What type brake fluid should be used please thks all Early Super Deluxe 41 Coupe trjford8 07-05-2014 @ 7:50 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4203 Joined: Oct 2009 murphy, is it a new system(new mc, lines, cylinders, etc)? Dot 5 is synthetic which is less maintenance over time. A little tougher to bleed and you have to make sure all the fittings are really tight to prevent weepage. You cannot mix any other type of fluid with Dot 5. Dot 4 is one step up from Dot 3 which is the standard fluid. I prefer the Dot 5, but my next choice would be Dot 4.You can mix 3 with 4. 1934 Ford 07-06-2014 @ 6:41 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 568 Joined: Oct 2009 Trjford8 is right, I 100% Agree. We prepared a 1940 Ford Pickup for the 1984 Great American Race in 1984 and used DOT 5. That truck is still used regularly without any brake issues for over 30 years! Unfortunately the rules changed to 1936 & older for that and subsequent races, so the 40 never did it. Used a 34 Tudor with mechanicals instead. I use D 5 in newer cars too, as directed in previous reply by trjford8. 1934 Ford's since 1972 This message was edited by 1934 Ford on 7-6-14 @ 6:42 PM TomO 07-07-2014 @ 6:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7243 Joined: Oct 2009 I hope that you are not trying to use Dot 5 in cars with ABS. The ABS action can cause the DOT 5 to foam. Tom murphy 1941 07-07-2014 @ 11:51 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Nov 2013 Don't know what kind is in the system. Doesn't appear to be a whole new system. What is ABS. That was mention by Tom? What do I do or do u suggest John Early Super Deluxe 41 Coupe carcrazy 07-07-2014 @ 12:04 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1588 Joined: Oct 2009 I would only use DOT 3 brake fluid in the system. DOT 3 is the most common brake fluid used over the years and if your system has not been completely rebuilt the chances are good that DOT 3 is currently in there. If the car is an unknown to you, I would flush all of the current fluid out of the system via the brake wheel cylinder bleeder screws with new DOT 3 Brake Fluid. Before filling the system with new fluid make sure there are no leaks. Especially check the master cylinder, all of the wheel cylinders, and the flexible rubber hoses of the lines. murphy 1941 07-07-2014 @ 1:05 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Nov 2013 Don't know what kind is in the system. Doesn't appear to be a whole new system. What is ABS. That was mention by Tom? What do I do or do u suggest John Early Super Deluxe 41 Coupe TomO 07-07-2014 @ 4:26 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7243 Joined: Oct 2009 Murphy, I am sorry, I should have directed my reply to 1934 Ford. ABS is used on modern cars to shorten stopping distance in slippery conditions. DOT 5 brake fluid is purple and DOT 3 and 4 are clear. If you cannot tell what kind of fluid you have in the system, flush it with alcohol from the hardware or paint store and then rebuild the cylinders and fill the system with your choice of fluid. If you have DOT 3 or 4 (clear fluid), you should flush the system every couple of years to remove the accumulated moisture in the fluid. Tom 1934 Ford 07-10-2014 @ 5:37 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 568 Joined: Oct 2009 Tom O, When I said I use Dot 5 in newer cars, I mean newer collector cars like my 66 VW and 81 El Camino. I may also point out that some in cars with a "ïdiot light" for brakes, the light won't recognize the Dot 5 and light up. No, I would not try it with a ABS car. 1934 Ford's since 1972 misfit 07-27-2014 @ 8:21 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 10 Joined: Dec 2011 Make things simple use dot 3 and change it every few years Best Regards Len

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