Brake fluid?

[Jz260]

Hey guys,

 

May sound like a rookie question but which brake fluid do the z's require?

It's a '76 260z if that makes any difference.

 

Thanks!

James

[pauly_adams]

any dot 3 or dot 4 should do it, i personaly run castrol dot 5.1 or bendix dot 4

[PZG302]

James,

 

Depends on what you are doing with the car.

 

As stataed below, just a 4 dot fluid. The cheap, $7 a bottle, supercheap fluid is fine.

 

If you are doing track work then spend a bit more and get the Penrite SIN brake fluid. It has a higher boiling point and again is relatively cheap. There is no need to spend a forune on big brand fluids or specialist race fluids.

 

The only other trhing I would be doing is regular fluid changes, about every 12 months will do you for a road car.

 

For track use, just a bleed of the brakes before each event.

 

[dat2kman]

Castrol make a product called SRF,( synthetic race fluid?) it retails at a very high price, approx $100 a litre

The Penrite SIN is also a synthetic fluid, retails around $15 a bottle

In Supacrap Auto shops, there is a plethora ( been waiting to use that word!) of regular fluids

 

The DOT 5.1 is a synthetic, the lesser dot 4's are normal, just stick with normal, so that you dont run into problems with incompatible fluids interfering with various rubber components, ie the DOT 4 stuff.

 

Do a full drain and rebleed

[luvemfast]

Is that SRF any better Jason?

I've got some in the garage, but never used it.

Currently running the Penrite SIN.

Worth draining and swapping over?

[peter mc]

Racing break fluid needs changed all the time do not use it for a road ,,

[dat2kman]

Simon, stick with the Penrite SIN you are running, compatability issues etc.SRF Castrol has been around for many years, was the go for race use, but they havent repriced it.

If your container is still sealed, hang onto it , you never know, you may need to top up at a teack day sometime.

The SIN/SRF is nowhere near as hydroscopic as the more regular Dot4 normal stuff!

 

Hydroscopic means it absorbs water moisture from the air, over time, thus reducing the boil point of brake fluids, ie a no pedal/pedal to floor situation, which comes after, a "oohh my brakes are really smelly"  on a teack day or driving down steep mountain roads.

 

Pete, the SIN stuff is so low priced, a annual changeover, or just a caliper dump and refill is no biggie.

 

Ithere is strong recomendations about NOT going back to a DOT 4 fluid after you have setup your system with DOT 5 ( synthetic stuff) as the rubbers can swell and go gooey.

 

If considering a dot 5, start with a full system rekit, all calipers, masters etc, yes a PIA, but the higher boil temp point does give much added peace of mind.

Although my stock braked car gets its limits explored at some tracks with a falling pedal due to excess heat, but never had a total brake fade situation, yet! Others have, in Z cars in Group S stock prod racing.

I do 12 laps at Morgan Pk, 22 laps at Eastern creek, 12 laps at PI, etc, so yes they get pushed. Pad choice helps too. I am still getting lock up when stabbing pedal too hard, ie emergency/avoiding spinning cars, etc!!

[PZG302]

Is that SRF any better Jason?

I've got some in the garage, but never used it.

Currently running the Penrite SIN.

Worth draining and swapping over?

 

Simon, as Jason said stick with the penrite SIN. I used it in mine and never had an issue. The only time I did have a problem with fluid was at Morgan Park and we boiled the fluid, cheap Dot 4 with Hawk Blues. Changed fluid and pads and brakes were then really good, even Jason was impressed with the stopping ability of the Hawk pads.

 

What pads and rotors are you using all round, as that can have a big effect as well.

[Jz260]

Thanks for the help guys!!

 

Yeah my car is running with bendix db86ct's.. standard kinda pads.

 

Brakes are also squealing so damn much!

I ordered some shims for them though, hopefully that helps

 

Anyway, I'll replace the fluid before I next take it up the mountains!

Sounds like I'll get some penrite sin fluid.

[luvemfast]

I've been using the SIN for years without issue. Been running 2 drivers at sprint meets and I've never lost pedal/brake pressure once.

But I'm running 4 spot up front, standard rears, with slotted rotors all round and S/S braided hoses.

So for road use, it will be more than fine.

If you're not happy with your Bendix pads, try the Lucas TRW ones. Cheap and good bang for buck.