brake fluid

bige386

bige386

Senior Member
Can some one here tell me what type brake fluid should I use in my 46 ford.
3 - 4 Dot or something else.
Thanks
 
Generally its Dot 3, however I use Dot 4 with no problems. With Dot 3 you should flush every year but with Dot 4 you can go two years .
If it hasn't been done before, get yourself some speed bleeders for your wheel cylinders and its so much easier you can do it all yourself.
 
Thanks you Sir. I have two bottles of break fluid 3-4 dot but wasnt sure which to use.
Thanks again.
 
Talkwrench said:
Generally its Dot 3, however I use Dot 4 with no problems. With Dot 3 you should flush every year but with Dot 4 you can go two years .
If it hasn't been done before, get yourself some speed bleeders for your wheel cylinders and its so much easier you can do it all yourself.
Click to expand...

Both need to be flushed at the same interval, which will be dependent upon how the vehicle is used and how often the system is opened. Every 2-3 years is probably sufficient.


Talkwrench said:
Just don't mix them.. Flush with one type well.
Click to expand...

DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5.1 can be mixed with each other

DOT 5 cannot be mixed with anything but itself.


bige386 said:
Thanks you Sir. I have two bottles of break fluid 3-4 dot but wasnt sure which to use.
Click to expand...

Use whichever hasn't been previously opened. If neither have been opened, go with the DOT 4.
 
Filler ur up with DOT 4 left about a 1/4" air space or should I fill it to the brim ?
Now I have never had any problems with the breaks on my car until yesterday I pull it out of the garage for a ride and the pedal went to the floor. I was able to pump it up but it didn't stay up. (Fir Pedal ) I pulled the floor board apart and found that the M/C was low on fluid yet there are know signs of any leaks any where wet inner tires drip spots Nothin. So I'm not sure what happened. After filling it up the seems to be firm again. Could it be the break pads are wearing out ?
Thanks again.
 
Sounds like you have air in the system. Probably from a bad wheel cylinder or master cylinder. Sometimes it can take a while for a wheel cylinder leak to show up on the tire.

The shoes may be out of adjustment, but if you didn't have excessive pedal travel when you parked the car, that's probably not the problem.
 
Well sense I filled up the reservoir with break fluid the break pedal seem fine now. Iv never had any problems before with the breaks. Oh well I guess JT is right. It just does.
 
No don't fill it to the top more like 1/2" from the top . If I were you I would keep looking at the bottom of your backing plates, check for leaking ! As I said get some speed bleeders, do it all yourself and they work.
 
The next time that the whole brake system is rebuilt, used Dot 5 Brake fluid. No more worries as Dot 5 doesn't absorb water like Dot 3 or Dot 4 does. Some of our cars will sit for a couple of years at a time before being driven. I have not had a stuck wheel cylinder with Dot 5 yet.
 
You are right, DOT 5 does not absorb water but water still get in the system and collects in all the low places in the system to cause problems. Pay your money and take your chances. DOT 3 or 4 for me and a system flush every couple of years.
 
No I didn't fill it to the top. my shop manual said fill it with in a 1/4 so that's what I did. I just went out and hit the peddle and its right where it should be.
Thank you all for the help and kind words.:).
 
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