SuzukiSavage.com - break fluid question

Tiefighterpilot Senior Member Offline Daily Rider Posts: 346 San Francisco	break fluid question 07/15/10 at 23:26:26 1. Is it safe to mix different break fluid? Clymers says no. 2. Can I use any DOT3 or 4 from autozone? thanks
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jabman Senior Member Offline Posts: 411 England Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #1 - 07/16/10 at 00:09:09 i just use DOT 4 fluid they generally state they are suitable with older systems requiring dot 3 With the brand of fluid buy the best you can shake the bottle the thinner the better for the best brake feel. PS i use motorcycle specific brake fluid of the racing verity
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #2 - 07/16/10 at 06:38:15 You can blend 3 and 4. Forget that DOT 5 is made. I just use whatever kind is handy, I go through a lot with one of my vintage pickups, so whatever is cheap at Wallyweird is what I have.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: break fluid question Reply #3 - 07/16/10 at 07:37:52 Theres a silicone based, extreme heat fluid made that doesnt mix w/ DOT 3 or 4, so be careful. The parts guy at the Kawa shop told me the difference tween dot 3 & 4 is temperature it can handle. IDK if it it goes beyond that. I got a little bottle that says DOT 3/4. Kawasaki sells it, so Im guessin its good enough fer the W.
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Routy

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Re: break fluid question
Reply #4 - 07/16/10 at 08:18:14

Lotsa times books are wrong (website answers too)
Answer is yes. And yes, I'm a self made expert from many moons of experience Wink

There are books that tell you to remove battery caps while charging too. Enough said ? Roll Eyes

Tiefighterpilot wrote on 07/15/10 at 23:26:26:

1. Is it safe to mix different break fluid? Clymers says no.
2. Can I use any DOT3 or 4 from autozone?

thanks

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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Tiefighterpilot Senior Member Offline Daily Rider Posts: 346 San Francisco	Re: break fluid question Reply #5 - 07/16/10 at 09:04:32 what is preferred? DOT3 or DOT4?
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #6 - 07/16/10 at 09:09:09 DOT 4 is called out on the lid of the master. It has a higher temp rating then DOT 3. So if you brake heavily, this is what you should use. However DOT 3 is acceptable, I would just increase the change out rate. In other words, bill shouldn't use it.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #7 - 07/16/10 at 09:14:57 I use the fluid Suzuki puts in it it last for years
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #8 - 07/17/10 at 04:27:40 Ya but if you boil it out, (happens all the time ) what would you put back in, 3 or 4 ? bill67 wrote on 07/16/10 at 09:14:57: I use the fluid Suzuki puts in it it last for years
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #9 - 07/17/10 at 04:39:23 I've been riding for 40 years I have never seen brake fluid boil and have never had to add,I would use what ever the manual said.
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: break fluid question Reply #10 - 07/17/10 at 04:47:44 Thats my point. So I'd use the can on the shelf that says "brake fluid" somewhere on it
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ArGaT YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 43	Re: break fluid question Reply #11 - 07/18/10 at 03:06:14 Ami right in thinking that when the brake fluid boils you get brake fade? or does that happen before the fluid boils? As I managed to get brake fade quite a lot back in the day with a duc m900 twin 4 pot brembos on the front with braided hoses and dot4, but i was alot younger and more reckless back then as well.
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Re: break fluid question
Reply #12 - 07/18/10 at 06:19:01

Quote:

Ami right in thinking that when the brake fluid boils you get brake fade? or does that happen before the fluid boils?

As I managed to get brake fade quite a lot back in the day with a duc m900 twin 4 pot brembos on the front with braided hoses and dot4, but i was alot younger and more reckless back then as well.

I think brake fade has more to do with burning up the pads than the fluid. That's why they put slots and holes in performance brakes to help prevent the pad from burning up. With that kinda setup on your brakes you can deffinately burn them up. With compression on the suzuki and leasurely driving I hardly use my brakes accept for stopping at a red light or stop sign.

It's usually recommended that you can use a higher grade brake fluid than the manufacturer calls for, but not a a lower grade.. so if the bike calls for dot 4 don't use dot 3. It probably won't hurt it, but for the 50 cent difference in price at the counter it's probably not worth it.

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