well i went to the ford dealership (stealership) this afternoon and got ford brake fluid... from last time i looked it up, i recall the ford HD stuff as one of the better choices...

well i just looked at the can i got... its "ford focus only" DOT4 brake fluid.. and it says not for DOT3 systems.

now i know DOT3 and DOT4 to be compatible... DOT5 is silicone and NOT compatible...

but im just curious, did i just spend $20 on the wrong brake fluid?

im flushing the whole system out, and installing braided SS flex lines, a line lock, and adjustible prop valve...

before i go fill/flush my system with this, is it the right stuff?

 

I used the Ford HD on my Baer setup. Seems ok to me for the last 3K miles

 

Dot 4 is fine. What is the Wet and Dry boiling point? That is the important part. DOT 4 typically has a higher Wet Boiling point that DOT 3.

Here's some excellant info:

http://stoptech.com/whitepapers/brakefluid1a.htm

 

I'll toss this in here for reference....

Dry Boiling Point Wet Boiling Point Viscosity @ -40°C Viscosity @ 100°C
DOT 2 374°F N/A
DOT 3 401°F 284°F
DOT 4 446°F 311°F 1800 max 1.5 min
DOT 5 (silicone) 500°F 356°F
DOT 5.1 (non - silicone) 500°F 356°F
Castrol LMA DOT 3/4 446°F 311°F N/A N/A
Ford Heavy Duty DOT 3 550°F 290°F N/A N/A
ATE Super Blue Racing 536°F 392°F N/A N/A
ATE TYP 200 536°F 392°F N/A N/A
Motul Racing RBF 600 593°F 420°F N/A N/A
Motul DOT 5.1 N/A 365°F N/A N/A
Motul DOT 4 473°F 316°F N/A N/A
Motul DOT 3 462°F N/A N/A N/A
Prospeed GS610 610°F 421°F 1525 2.5
Castrol SRF 590°F 518°F N/A N/A
Performance Friction 550°F 284°F N/A N/A
AP551 527°F 302°F N/A N/A
AP600
(not DOT approved and not compatible with any other fluids)
572°F 410°F N/A N/A
Ferodo DOT 4 446°F 311°F N/A N/A
Ferodo DOT 5.1 500°F 356°F N/A N/A
Wilwood 570 570°F N/A N/A N/A
Valvoline Synthetic DOT4 502°F 343°F

If you get the boiling points of Ford HD DOT4, we can add it in that list.

 

My vote

I use all Motul fluids in my mountain bikes, customer bikes and my car. I work for a dealer so its cheaper than the store stuff.

 

If it wasn't so expensive I'd run Castrol SRF.

For me, pricepoint, and ease of getting it. ATE gets my money.

 

I run Valvoline Synthetic DOT4. You can get it just about anywhere so its easily axcessable, its fairly inexpensive, its compatable with all DOT3 & 4 fluilds so you can mix it, and it has a dry 502* and a wet 343* boiling points.

 

Same here w/ ATE Super Blue. Ever since Bondurant racing school I'm rough on brakes, and this stuff holds up extremely well.