Brake Fluid Renewal

[SaffronC70]

Hi guys

I'm pretty confident doing this job - I was just wondering if there were any "Volvo suprises" I may encounter on the way ?

Also, what fluid is recommended - just use what it says in the manual ?

(I'm aware that the clutch shares the fluid as well).

Same goes for oil renewal as well - anything I should plan for ?

(I'm keeping the 5k old filter, as it's good practice to keep on using it as it filters better iirc)

Thanks

Chris

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Dot 5.1 is more than adequate for you, as for engine oil any synthetic, Mobil 1 is too watery for my liking, theres lots of oily threads on forum if you look around.

[andi t5]

make sure you get dot 5.1 and not dot 5 !well worth getting a pressure bleeder makes life a lot easier,how come your keeeping the old filter or have i misread your post?

[SaffronC70]

Hi.

I like to keep the filters for 10k miles. This is after a discussion with my last car specialist (Citroen). He always kept the filters during the intermediate change as they filter slightly better.

Chris

[SaffronC70]

Job done. Thanks guys.

Brakes are quicker to bite - exactly what I was hoping. Cluth has become smooter as well, so thumbs up all round.

Chris

[Andrew]

Nice job Chris - when you coming to do mine ?

[stuAWD]

make sure you get dot 5.1 and not dot 5 !well worth getting a pressure bleeder makes life a lot easier,how come your keeeping the old filter or have i misread your post?

Noticed you stated get DoT 5.1. Is this because the DoT 5 is silicone based, and dot 5.1 is normal brake fluid with a higher boiling point than DoT3 & 4. Reason I'm asking is because I'm considering a complete change to DoT5, I believe from other sources that DoT5 inhibits corrosion within the braking system, Whereas normal brake fluid is hygroscopic (takes in moisture from the air) and so has a long term slight corrosive affect on the brake components.
Has anyone else considered this and is it advisable to carry out the change on modern Volvos i.e 850s and V/S 70 T5s.

[SaffronC70]

On the shelf in Halfords they have DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 - nothing else !

Christ, hope I've put the right stuff in !

Chris

[stuAWD]

Sorry if I confused the issue with my last post. DoT 4 or 5.1 is fine.

[elliot]

your right dot 5 is silicon based,the only reason not many people use it is it gives a slightly soft pedal and cannot be mixed at all with 3,4 or 5.1 it just sits on top.Your right with it not absorbing water into the fluid though,however the brake system still absorbs the water and becasuse it cannot mix with the dot 5 silicon fluid it sits ontop of it,thus dramactically reduces the boiling point of the fluid.Belive it or not dot 3,4 and 4.1 are esigned to absorb the water.Dot 5 is naff

[andi t5]

your right dot 5 is silicon based,the only reason not many people use it is it gives a slightly soft pedal and cannot be mixed at all with 3,4 or 5.1 it just sits on top.Your right with it not absorbing water into the fluid though,however the brake system still absorbs the water and becasuse it cannot mix with the dot 5 silicon fluid it sits ontop of it,thus dramactically reduces the boiling point of the fluid.Belive it or not dot 3,4 and 4.1 are esigned to absorb the water.Dot 5 is naff

spot on mate ,follow elliots good advice stuawd dot 5 is trouble stick with glycol based fluids such as 5.1

[stuAWD]

your right dot 5 is silicon based,the only reason not many people use it is it gives a slightly soft pedal and cannot be mixed at all with 3,4 or 5.1 it just sits on top.Your right with it not absorbing water into the fluid though,however the brake system still absorbs the water and becasuse it cannot mix with the dot 5 silicon fluid it sits ontop of it,thus dramactically reduces the boiling point of the fluid.Belive it or not dot 3,4 and 4.1 are esigned to absorb the water.Dot 5 is naff

Thanks for the info. I'd not considered the boiling point aspect, just the corrosion reduction. Got the idea from an article in the VOC mag, but the guy who wrote the article is more into preserving older vehicles, rather than tuning newer ones. Thanks again, it's good to be put right.
Having the wheels refurbed Monday, will put some pics up later in week.