Volvo 480 Club Europe

I am just wondering what sort (brand and type) brake fluid you all use ??
Cause I read a lot about the mechanical part of brakes and not about the fluid allthough that is very important.

I am planning to do a brake coversion and need to know a good fluid for mild sport use. (I must change the fluid anyway, so) (only DOT4).

Oh yeah, in addition to earlier messages ::: On the filler cap of a 95 turbo with tracs and abs stands ::: use only DOT 4)

Thanks and greetz

In two of our turbo's we are running dot 5.1 so far no problems

Might i add that laserowl was very happy that i was running 5.1 when we were in lux.

Just done the switch to 5.1.

Just reading the back of a bottle is enough to convince me. Something along the lines of 'this product supersedes dot3, dot4 etc etc' it can be mixed with..'

Threw the bottle away!

My brakes are so much better. Drained the system as best I could and filled up with the new juice. Was a bit worried i'd done a shit job as the pedal felt pants to start with. Soon sorted itself out though.

Nice

pol

Welcome to the world of 5.1 its great

Might i add that laserowl was very happy that i was running 5.1 when we were in lux.

Hmmmm, Doesn't stop the brown stains, but does stop the car, and im here to tell the tale

Maybe if you use dot 5.1 on an older 480 turbo you can get in trouble.
Mine is from 91, so I will stick to dot 4.
Somebody can advice a good brand and/or type for mild sport use ???

Thanks and greetz

I dont see why?

pol

Well, I am guessing, but I do not know in wich year dot 5.1 saw the first light.

Maybe the seals and the thingies people think to go to heaven when using dot 5.1 are designed for dot 4 on earlier types, not on dot 5.1
(even on a 95 GT with abs and tracs you can reed on the filler cap that you only should use dot 4 .

Greetz,

Jeroen

Earlier cars will have seals made out of viton, which 5.1 will break down.

Ah, the same stuff volvo used in some parts of the cylinder head, must be carefull if Viton got really hot, could potentially be poisoness.

But, just what I thought

Thanks chris.

greetz

Its a fluoroelastomer I believe - forms hydrofluoric acid if heated above 400 deg C.

Dissolves glass - nice stuff!

I have been running 5.1 in a 1992 and two 1993 480's. The oldest of these the 1992 has had 5.1 for 2 years now and now signs of problems but stops so much better than dot 4.

Even the old GT6 we restored 3 years ago runs 5.1 and no problems yet. My mates Spitfire also runs 5.1 and has no problems.

I cannot praise dot 5.1 enough. Just because it might eat the seals replace them. I wouldn't even piss on dot 4 since going over to the dark side of 5.1

With every reaction there is an equal or opposite reaction.

Could this improve my spungy ABS? (Freg turbo)

No it won't improve the ABS, since your car has a power braking system. The ABS pump supplies the force, and what you are pressing against is a big spring. Nothing will change the pedal feel to any degree.

I have used a syntetic dot4 fluid and it has done all the things that people have said dot5.1 would. Since I have a 94 car I may make the change to dot5 at some point to see what happens.

Richard

Thnaks Richard - I did wonder if I was going to have to work through the system.
What is all this about 5.1 being better? Surely hydraulic fluid is incompressible and therefore I do not see how one can be different from the other

SteveR wrote:Thnaks Richard - I did wonder if I was going to have to work through the system.
What is all this about 5.1 being better? Surely hydraulic fluid is incompressible and therefore I do not see how one can be different from the other

i think its all to do with the viscosity.....its like saying all motor oils the same....nah!
rgrds
rob

I suppose if it sthinner there is less friction and easier flow thorugh restrictors but hey there is not a lot of flow surely.

It's more to do with boiling point. Also how easily gas desolves into the fluid. The boiling point of new fluid is quite good, but as it absorbs water gets lower. Also the gas disolved in the fluid will come out of solution when it gets hot, and that can make the brakes feel less than firm.

The synthetic DOT4 fluids seem to be better at not absorbing gas, so may be slightly better. They also seem to exceed the DOT4 spec for boiling point (both wet, and dry) some by a good margin.

All brake fluid other than DOT5 absorbs water, so needs changing ever year or so.

Richard

That logic I understand.
Many thanks.
In that case if there is controversy regarding the effect of DOT 5 on seals I will go for DOT4 for my flush out (the car's that is).

All cars from 93 onwards (having the new type ABS) will be able to use DOT5. But you have to remove all the DOT4 fluid (remove the calipers and drain them, blow out the lines etc) as the two don't mix.

As for DOT5.1 (is compatable with DOT4) ATE say it should be ok on cars after about 92, but that it may not do the seals on earlier cars any good. The chances are it will be fine, but they won't garentee it.

93 onwards cars will be fine with DOT5.1 for sure.

DOn't confuse DOT5 and DOT5.1 as they are completly different. DOT5 is based on a silicone syntetic oil.

Richard