SSBC & DOT 5 fluid

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WildCat

WildCat

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I installed SSBC disc brake conversion on my Dart and used DOT 5 brake fluid

everything was OK for 4,000 miles and then going to the car show a few weeks ago the pedal felt soft, once there fluid was leaking onto the left front wheel & tire

I called SSBC and they said send it back, ask if the DOT 5 fluid might have been part of the problem, they said might have.

Do you use DOT 5 brake fluid and have you had any problems?

These parts were new and never had any other fliud in them.

Could the DOT 5 fluid caused the rubber seals to deteriorate/ will I need to replace both sides?

It will be interesting to hear what SSBC has to say about the problem. I think they must have wanted to see the part and why it failed. He did not suggest a rebuild kit, just send it back.

What do you have to say?
 
I get a lot of different opinions on this one myself but at the same time I am running castrol syn in my valiant that has the kelsy hays disc's on it with no problems, in fact it brakes better than ever.

this is what I use

Photo 483.jpg
 
I have an ssbc kit too, At first I used Dot 5... has some troubles with soft pedal, and changed back to DOT 3. within about 2000 KM's, I had to do a caliper rebuild kit as they were leaking.. Since then.. All dot 3, no leaks
 
As far as I remember, castrol gt lma is what I used in my british cars that had british rubber. If you used standard DOT it will rot the rubbers in quick time..just around 1 year ot two. For my american metal..I use what ever is the highest DOT at the time...I would be curious where the rubber was manufactured.

BTW, what was recommended ?

Grassy
 
Although I don`t have the SSBC system I`ve used the DOT4 fluid and have had no issues with it whatsoever. DOT5 being a silicone fluid is slightly compressable so the pedal will have a somewhat softer feel. In addition the fact that DOT5 won`t absorb water results in puddling of the moisture that does get in the system. I`ve read many things about problems with DOT5 eating rubber parts especially when it first came on the scene. Initially certain "swelling" additives were causing leaks in systems. DOT5 was reformulated and supposedly those problems are now a thing of the past. Most problems with DOT5 now are being attributed to small amounts of DOT3 or 4 being left somewhere in the system. Make sure your system is completely cleaned out and be certain the fluid you buy is the freshest you can get.
 
Longgone said:
Although I don`t have the SSBC system I`ve used the DOT4 fluid and have had no issues with it whatsoever. DOT5 being a silicone fluid is slightly compressable so the pedal will have a somewhat softer feel. In addition the fact that DOT5 won`t absorb water results in puddling of the moisture that does get in the system. I`ve read many things about problems with DOT5 eating rubber parts especially when it first came on the scene. Initially certain "swelling" additives were causing leaks in systems. DOT5 was reformulated and supposedly those problems are now a thing of the past. Most problems with DOT5 now are being attributed to small amounts of DOT3 or 4 being left somewhere in the system. Make sure your system is completely cleaned out and be certain the fluid you buy is the freshest you can get.
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Thanks Guys

kind of what I was wondering. It only had dot 5 in it but since the fluid was bought about 6 years ago (bought to change into Prowler then read had to make sure all the dot 3 was removed and flushed real well I put in Dart)

All the parts on the dart were new when installed.

Looks like I'm going to have to rebuild whole brake system, so much for the DOT 5 advantage
 
Longgone,

That was an excellent summary. My son races MX and has asked about some of the issues you have brought up. Now I understand.

Dot 3 or 4 for us.

Grassy
 
Hum..... I put DOT5 fluid in my Cuda when I rebuilt the brakes about 5 yrs. ago. I installed every part new so there was no DOT 3 or 4 in the system. To this day they work great and no leaks. Good firm pedal too. I wonder what was different about mine that it works?
 
fishy68 said:
Hum..... I put DOT5 fluid in my Cuda when I rebuilt the brakes about 5 yrs. ago. I installed every part new so there was no DOT 3 or 4 in the system. To this day they work great and no leaks. Good firm pedal too. I wonder what was different about mine that it works?
Click to expand...

Naturally there`s much more success with DOT5 than failure but the key is to start with a completely clean system which is free of contaminants like old fluids or moisture. Starting with everything new is definitely the best way to eliminate the chance of something failing later.
 
Longgone said:
Naturally there`s much more success with DOT5 than failure but the key is to start with a completely clean system which is free of contaminants like old fluids or moisture. Starting with everything new is definitely the best way to eliminate the chance of something failing later.
Click to expand...

mine was all new parts never any other brake fluid in it. new Master cylinder, new SS brake lines, New rubber hoses, new calipers and wheel cylinders, new unopened DOT5 brake fluid

Guess it is my luck, if not for bad luck I would have none at all
 
WildCat said:
I installed SSBC disc brake conversion on my Dart and used DOT 5 brake fluid

everything was OK for 4,000 miles and then going to the car show a few weeks ago the pedal felt soft, once there fluid was leaking onto the left front wheel & tire

I called SSBC and they said send it back, ask if the DOT 5 fluid might have been part of the problem, they said might have.

Do you use DOT 5 brake fluid and have you had any problems?

These parts were new and never had any other fliud in them.

Could the DOT 5 fluid caused the rubber seals to deteriorate/ will I need to replace both sides?

It will be interesting to hear what SSBC has to say about the problem. I think they must have wanted to see the part and why it failed. He did not suggest a rebuild kit, just send it back.

What do you have to say?
Click to expand...

I got my caliper back today, they said i should flush the DOT 5 and put DOT 4 in.

I must say the service I got at SSBC is very unexpected. I called and they said to send it to them. After a week and a 1/2 I was going to call to see what they found out and why it was leaking, but it was already here. Called and ask what was wrong and they said seals were leaking and they replaced them. When I ask what they thought happened they said probably the DOT 5 and I should flush it out. When I ask about the other side they thought it would be OK but if it ever started to leak send it to them and they would fix it too.

I would give them 2 thumbs up
 
It seems odd that they told you to put DOT 4 in it; they sell silicone fluid, their part#A1106.
I use DOT 5 in both my Duster and my Flat Fender Jeep with no problems.
The Jeep has been together for 18 yrs.
Both systems were all new when assembled though.
 
Synthetic will find any hole that regular fluid won't seep through. On a chebby 5.7 boat- synthetic= leak; regular oil, no leaks. And this is a reman with only 12 hours on it.
 
WildCat said:
I got my caliper back today, they said i should flush the DOT 5 and put DOT 4 in.

I must say the service I got at SSBC is very unexpected. I called and they said to send it to them. After a week and a 1/2 I was going to call to see what they found out and why it was leaking, but it was already here. Called and ask what was wrong and they said seals were leaking and they replaced them. When I ask what they thought happened they said probably the DOT 5 and I should flush it out. When I ask about the other side they thought it would be OK but if it ever started to leak send it to them and they would fix it too.

I would give them 2 thumbs up
Click to expand...

Glad to see they gave you good service. Good luck with it Larry.
 
well another few weeks with the Dart down

Got the cliper back and put on last night. Let the new dot 4 brake fluid drain all night on it's own. Tonight started to bleed the brakes and what I was afraid of happened. the right caliper started leaking as I was bleeding the brakes

So, guess it is back to SSBC for them to rebuild. I had ask about getting a kit and they said to just send it back.

Phone call tomorrow will tell me how to proceed, them send me seals, or me send them caliper

was really wanting to have it out this weekend, oh well Sh*t happens

IMO........Do Not Use Dot 5, unless the complete system is designed for it
 
I did a complete system on my e body years ago and the place it leaked
was at the flares on the ss tubing. The silicone for some reason always found
those areas no matter how tight I could get them. I read from fine lines I think
that ss has that problem of sealing because the ss is harder than the steel lines.
 
i had dot 3 in my system bought new steel brake lines and drained master and added dot 5 bleed brakes working for 8 years. i put dot 5 in all my cars.
 
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