Brake/clutch fluid recommendations?

[nkw8181]

Ok guys let's here what you recommend or plan on using for brake and clutch fluids?

[Hindsight]

This stuff: http://www.amazon.com/ATE-706202-Original-Brake-Fluid/dp/B003VXRPL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426859377&sr=8-1&keywords=ate+super+blue

It used to be available in blue color which was nice because when bleeding or flushing, you could alternate between regular and blue.

[suttonb3]

I have heard good things about the ATE. Forgive my ignorance, but my 2006 WRX donor calls for DOT3 fluid. Is there a reason to use DOT4? Also, considering we have to fill both brake and clutch lines from dry, do you think 1 liter is enough?

[xxguitarist]

I also use the ATE 200/superblue ($). Do miss the blue stuff. I may give RBF600 ($$) a try too, since ATE lost the big advantage in the states.
The RBF is the same price for half the fluid, but for a bleed/flush, 1/2 L is enough.. So unless you do a couple cars at a time, and can use the other half of the ATE can, it works out the same price. You don't want to leave it sitting around after opening for the next flush.

Wheel to wheel, I'd go RBF or castrol SRF ($$$$), but it's probably overkill for autox use.

DOT 3, 4, 5.1 are compatible. DOT 5 is NOT.

1L will JUST perfectly fill and bleed on the 818 per our experience.

[JeffS]

I'm not endorsing anything StopTech, but I found this paper helpful in explaining the trade-offs in brake fluid... a lot of mis-information is out there

http://www.stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/brake-fluid


Here's an interesting brand comparison kindly borrowed from the UK Volvo Club...

https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/BrakeFluidComparison.html


Happy Reading... Jeff

[nkw8181]

Thanks guys for the feedback!

[nkw8181]

Just ordered ATE and will be here Sunday!

[Scargo]

For racing nothing beats Motul RBF 660. It's overkill for the street. If you do spirited driving and might get into the twisties you might want to consider the new "Blue". I had brake fade one time coming down out of the mountains and it was scary. However, I was pushing it and accelerating as I went downhill.:p
The biggest thing is to change it yearly since it is hygroscopic and if it gets too much moisture in the brake fluid it will boil, and if it boils the gasses readily compress, so no brakes!
I had silicone in my disc braked 64 Nova SS. Don't cheap out and buy straight DOT3.

[xxguitarist]

RBF600 is Dry: 594, Wet: 401 ($18/ 500ml)
RBF660 is Dry: 617, Wet 400 ($24/ 500ml)
ATE 200 is Dry: 536, Wet 388 ($19/ 1000ml)
Castrol SRF ($$$) is Dry 590 Wet 518 ($65/ 1000ml)
Prestone cheapo dot4 is Dry 510, Wet 311. ($4/ 12 oz=350ml)

There are definitely advantages to the higher end stuff, but for auto-x, even with repeated runs, assuming you flush at least yearly, you should be fine with the ATE.
The SRF will allow longer change intervals (good wet performance). Not difficult or expensive enough to do a quick flush to justify the cost to me.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Here is a nice web page comparing fluid.
https://www.lelandwest.com/brake-fluid-comparison-chart.cfm

[Scargo]

Amazing how good the super cheap EBC is if you change it out regularly.