I'm going to be installing new stainless steel brake lines and flushing out the system at that time. It's a 2002 F-150 and I would like to use a better fluid. It has 4 wheel ABS.
DOT 5.1 brake fluid
- Thread starter kaboom10
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5.1 is overkill for your app but if price isn't issue the go for it. Best bang for the buck would be Valvoline DOT3/4 on sale or Prestone DOT4 at Wal-Mart.
Is this your trucks first brake bled?
Is this your trucks first brake bled?
It's not the cost of what I use but the return I look for. It's the first brake bleed. Mileage is 42k.
Kestas
Staff member
I agree with cos, it's overkill for our area. If you did a lot of repetitive high-speed stopping or mountain driving in hot weather, then maybe you'd have an argument for DOT 5.1. Otherwise, DOT 3 or 4 with regular flushes is more prudent.
I drive my truck hard unloaded and just about as hard loaded. I've had stopping issues with it before I replaced the rotors and pads. It's better but there's roomfor improvment.
Kestas
Staff member
What kind of stopping issues? If brake fluid boil is the problem - which is the only thing a DOT 5.1 over a DOT 3 or 4 would help - then you would experience a scary pedal-to-the-floor situation.
If you have hard pedal because you are overheating the pads, changing the fluid won't do a thing. You may want to look at better pads, ceramic if not already.
Brakes are designed to convert mechanical energy to heat and dissipate it. Maybe you just need to cool it a little.
Brakes are designed to convert mechanical energy to heat and dissipate it. Maybe you just need to cool it a little.
Pedal firmness is not a constant. At times it's spongy and at times hard. ABS works fine as I have tested it many times on the snow.
Pads are carbon/kevlar and rotors are steel. This in itself made a noticable difference.
Brake rotors are cast iron.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sets brake fluid standards for the dry and wet (3% water) boiling point.
http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/fluid.shtml
DOT4+ and DOT5.1 basically are fluids with the same chemistry as DOT3 fluid but wet boiling points equal to DOT5. The specs do not specify the chemistry, but since the first fluid to meet the DOT5 spec was silicone based, we use 4+ or 5.1 to show fluids that are not silicone. (the chemistry of 4, 4+, and 5.1 are slightly different from DOT3 to give the result of the higher boiling points.)
Kaboom,
the benefit of a higher spec brake fluid is the higher boiling point. That's it. The brake friction material that is suited for the heat you build up by your driving needs and driving style is most important.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sets brake fluid standards for the dry and wet (3% water) boiling point.
http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/fluid.shtml
DOT4+ and DOT5.1 basically are fluids with the same chemistry as DOT3 fluid but wet boiling points equal to DOT5. The specs do not specify the chemistry, but since the first fluid to meet the DOT5 spec was silicone based, we use 4+ or 5.1 to show fluids that are not silicone. (the chemistry of 4, 4+, and 5.1 are slightly different from DOT3 to give the result of the higher boiling points.)
Kaboom,
the benefit of a higher spec brake fluid is the higher boiling point. That's it. The brake friction material that is suited for the heat you build up by your driving needs and driving style is most important.
The rotors are made by Brembo and are drilled and slotted. The carbon metallic pads I had on there didn't perform as well as when I had the stock rotors. The move to carbon kevlar was what worked with these rotors. If I had had the money to upgrade to their brake kit and larger wheels/tires needed I would have. Wilwood doesn't make better calipers back to 02.
May I ask why you've waited so long to change the fluid?
It pretty much goes south after 3 yrs. Fresh fluid should result in a firmer pedal along with better modulation and overall feel.
Let us know what you choose and how it performs.
It pretty much goes south after 3 yrs. Fresh fluid should result in a firmer pedal along with better modulation and overall feel.
Let us know what you choose and how it performs.
My truck was a 3 yr lease I bought at the end of the lease. With 42k the actual use is that of a 3-4 yr old truck. I was getting physically where I couldn't do anything till lately. Now I want to tackle it.
I'll tell ya how it comes out as soon as I'm done.
I'll tell ya how it comes out as soon as I'm done.
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