Dot 5 brake Fluid

[Norm reynolds]

What To Know what most Of you are using
A Friend of mine pulled his vette out of his garage the other day and found his brakes were not working. Found that one of the calipers were leaking . Found the part BUT Corvette paramedics out of south New Jersey Is telling him That I am wrong for trying to use dot 5 brake fluid. They are telling him it should be dot 3 ?????
It was and has been my understanding that you use dot 5 for a car that sits a lot
The last time this car was out was last Oct This is a 1966 Corvette It is also my understanding that if dot 5 was in there would have been a less chance that the caliper would have leak in the first place from sitting he had the same problem two years ago with a caliper leaking after sitting for a while with dot 3 I told him that was the problem but corvette paramedics are telling him I do not know what I am talking about?? So My question is AM I right what are you guys using This is on a 1966 Corvette no abs that goes to car shows in the spring and summer then sit in his garage the rest of the time
On mine I have used dot 5 for years and NEVER had any problems. I am 90 % sure that I am right but wanted to see here what every one else is using

The manufacturer of this car has only ever recomended Dot 5. Thats what I use and would not change for some other products claim that their product is the "best thing since sliced bread"

[jasonL78]

I have used Dot 5 also for all the reasons you mentioned. I was also told DOT 5 doesn't hold any moisture like DOT 3. It has been 6 years since I restored my 68 L78 with disk brakes and I have had no problem either. Just my 2 cents.

Jason

[SS427]

I have been using Dot 5 in 95% of all of my restorations and have been since 1981 and have yet to ever hear of any issues.

[mockingbird812]

Dot 5 is more expensive, less likely to absorb moisture, less corrosive, and your brakes will not be as firm. There are trade-offs, but may be right for you.

[Norm reynolds]

Thanks that is what I thought
Getting to old to get in a pissing match
Told my friend that it was his car do as he
Please I just did like the so called corvette
Exprets saying I did not know what I was doing
But hey like I said it is his car
I can do mine the way I think is right for me
It just a Shame that this hobby is just as fun as it
Used to be Like every one helping each
Other and. Not put you down
Always said I know a lot about cars BUT
I do not know every thing learn something l new
Each day and do not go around calling people
Jackwagons

[Verne_Frantz]

Norm,
I've heard numerous complaints from Corvette owners that the DOT5 causes problems for them with disc brakes. I'm guessing it's the design of the caliper and the location of the bleed screw which makes it very hard to bleed them without trapping air bubbles.
Aside from that, I'm sure it can be done right with a careful filling and bleeding procedure. The last thing you want to do with DOT5 is shake the bottle or aggitate the fluid. It tends to trap microscopic air bubbles that take forever to float to the surface. Slow and easy is the ticket.
Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Also, it helps to put the calipers on their correct sides - sort of puts the bleeder screw facing up instead of down. Makes a world of difference when bleeding brakes - not that I've ever mixed them up and was cursing the DOT 5 fluid..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

[Norm reynolds]

Verne.
I have a brake bleeder kit kind of remindes of the old
Bug spray cans you pump up I have used it
Before put The cap on the master cylinder that has
A hose connected to the pump , pump up 10 psi
And go down and open a bleeder and watch the fulid run out
no need to pump the
Brakes Its not my car because if it was there
Is no question that I would use dot 5
The only problem would be if the bleeder was frozzen
The next problem is getting this old body of mine
Under this thing This past winter tore me up have been in a lot of pain
Does not help to be 60 ethere
Wish I was 40 again. Ha ha
I

[Mr. Chevy]

I converted both my Nova and Chevelle to DOT 5 and it was the best thing I ever did!!

Great Stuff!!

Rich