BRAKE FLUID

[Spook]

Manual says DOT 4
I went to the local auto parts store and they only had DOT 3/4, no DOT 4
my big harleys use DOT 5
Is this a Buell thing ???
My front brake is REALLY mushy .. at first .. then does the rear wheely ... figured the fluid might be bad ???

[Baal]

Go to a different store. 3/4 is almost certainly fine. I use Valvoline Synthetic, which I believe is DOT4. Castrol LMA is also good.

If your brake is mushy, a good bleed should take care of it. If the fluid is more than a year old, flush it until the fluid comes out clean then finish the bleed.

Good luck, and be careful the first ride after you do this. :D

[pur pony]

DOT3 and DOT4 both absorb water over time. Is your fluid brown? DOT 3/4 should work but it wont hurt to go to a different store and get DOT4. I believe the only real difference is the boiling point between the 2. Do a complete flush and bleed!

DOT5 is a whole different animal and should be not be used in a DOT3 or DOT4 system. It is silicone based.

For some reason the cover that came on my XB reserve says used DOT5 only, and the Manual says DOT4. So I asked Erik Buell Racing and they said DOT4 only. I have NO IDEA why the lid of mine says DOT5.....

[Mike Van V]

I flush my brakes every 8 months or so.

On my 1125 Buell, the clutch gets flushed every 6 months.

You should be able to find some DOT4. Try different stores.

And no...it's not a Buell only thing. All of the sport bikes I've ever had said DOT 4 required.

Mike

[d_adams]

http://ltbautosports.com/mobrfl.html

Motul RBF600. Dot4.

[master_bader]

yea, dot 3 and dot 4 are basically interchangeable. brake fluid is hygroscopic(water absorbing) and dot 3 has a lower boiling point than dot 4. dot 5 can't be used unless you do an alcohol flush through out the system. but dot 5.1 can be used without a flush

[netty2424]

Sort if off topic but in same family, are the speed bleeders required, or just a luxury item? I need to flush my brakes and was planning on just pumping the brakes.

Are the speed bleeders worth the money?

[McMurphy]

You don't need them, not that they aren't nice.

[jimijeans]

Yep just a item for helping you out when working alone there are other easy ways as well. Napa and Autozone have started to carry those. I prefer to do it the old fashioned way OR with my Mighty Vac cause it works good and fast. Dot 4 you can find in Most places. Flush the brakes fluid every year or 7,500miles to keep it stopping and less trouble.*Jimi